The opening Test of the storied Ashes series in Perth began under a significant cloud for Australia, as their two premier fast bowlers, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, were sidelined due to injury. This absence threw a spotlight on a perennial and painful question in cricket: why do the fastest bowlers break down so frequently?
The Inevitable Physical Toll of Extreme Pace
Former Australian captain and legendary batter Greg Chappell, writing for ESPNCricinfo, provided a stark analysis. He stated that bowling at extreme speeds forces athletes to live permanently on the edge of what the human body can endure. The skeleton, soft tissues, ligaments, and nervous system are pushed to their absolute limits. Chappell explained that the price for this speed is paid twice: first during adolescence when bones are still developing, and then again around the age of 30, when years of accumulated physical impact inevitably take their toll.
The current scenario exemplifies this crisis. Pat Cummins, the Australian captain who led his team to a famous Border-Gavaskar Trophy win earlier in the year, is recovering from a bone stress injury in his lower back. His participation in the second Test at Brisbane remained uncertain, with selectors set to make a final call. Cummins has faced a string of injuries, missing the Champions Trophy due to an ankle issue, the Sri Lanka tour, and recent white-ball series against South Africa, India, and New Zealand. His last appearance for Australia was in the West Indies in July.
His partner in crime, Josh Hazlewood, was also ruled out of the initial Ashes contests with a hamstring injury, adding to a history of fitness issues that previously included a hip problem that sidelined him from the Champions Trophy.
A Historical Pattern of Breakage and Resilience
Chappell illustrated that this is not a new phenomenon but a historical pattern. He recounted how Dennis Lillee was told in 1973 that multiple spinal stress fractures had ended his career. Through sheer will, pioneering strength work, and a remodelled action, Lillee made a legendary comeback. Similarly, modern greats like Dale Steyn saw their careers decline after a shoulder fracture required a screw insertion.
The article also mentioned contemporary stars Jasprit Bumrah and Cameron Green, who have undergone surgeries involving screws and titanium wire to stabilise stress fractures in their backs. "Very few men of pace seem to avoid the inevitable," Chappell concluded, highlighting the sheer physical lottery of the profession.
The Exceptional Few and the Modern Challenge
However, Chappell also pointed to bowlers who defied the odds through biomechanical efficiency and robust physiques. Glenn McGrath enjoyed a 14-year Test career with minimal injuries thanks to a textbook, efficient action. Courtney Walsh bowled smoothly until 38. Jeff Thomson, with his whip-like action, suffered only one serious bowling injury, though scans later revealed he had unknowingly healed from three stress fractures, likely during an off-season break.
Chappell noted that these durable bowlers often shared traits like lean, strong frames that absorbed shock, and some, like Richard Hadlee, even sacrificed a yard of pace for longevity by shortening their run-ups.
He emphasised that the modern challenge is magnified by the demands of three competitive formats, leaving little time for proper recovery. The outcome of the 2025 Ashes series, Chappell argued, may well be decided by which team manages to keep its fast-bowling resources fit and operational for the longest period. With Cummins and Hazlewood replaced by eager but untested youngsters, Australia's campaign is a live experiment in managing this relentless physical attrition. The brutal truth, as Chappell framed it, is that no amount of sports science has yet repealed the fundamental laws of nature governing the human body under extreme stress.
