CORNER Hurt?

If “hurt”, the player knows he can still make a performance despite the external factors Flashbacks to some of the world’s greatest ever innings such as Steve Waugh’s broken ribs in the West Indies, Dean Jones’s dehydration, and more recently Graeme Smith’s broken hand and Michael Clarkes barrage in Centurion a few seasons ago show what is capable of a “hurt” player What these players do successfully is mentally engage their resilience and bring their best to the situation, and in doing so gain respect in and out of the team

The “injured” player must seek professional help as soon as is possible. This can not only bring a quicker recovery but also clarity on what the problem exactly is to avoid speculation which often takes hold during this period It is the professionals opinion that one must take into consideration and once a course of action has been prescribed it can then be planned with the coach and the player. In ideal situations specialists in the area of concern should be consulted. For example, if a fast bowler is struggling with a back injury it is best to see someone who has complete understanding of the region to provide his diagnosis and expertise.

Having said this, there have been many occasions recently where specific players have received 3 completely differing opinions from professionals sliding on the scale of “Manage the injury but continue to play – to take a rest for a few weeks to recover – to completely out and surgery must be done immediately”. This paints a blurry picture for the athlete and the coach and ultimately puts all parties in a compromised position

Speaking to some experts in the field on this they agree with Rob Roy’s assessment and urge players to know the distinct difference between hurt and injury. A fast bowler is often not at 100 percent each time he takes the field but can perform through niggles and smart load management If there is something more serious at play, then take a cautious approach as this can be career affecting in the short and long term.

In conclusion, the advice given is to get your athlete to know himself and develop awareness of his body to diagnose the hurt or injury as accurately as possible and on the different side of the same coin, as a coach, know your athlete, his personality, his defaults and characteristics as well as his body too in order to achieve the best possible results both presently and in the future.