Very pleased with the shape the players have returned in: South African physiotherapist

Earlier this week, 45 South African cricketers resumed their outdoor training session following a three-month break owing to the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

The South African physiotherapist, Craig Govender, claimed it was a tough challenge for him, considering that he had not been with the players in the last three months. 

However, Govender presented customized fitness charts to the players during the lockdown to maintain their shape, and he was very pleased with the way the players responded to it.

"Not being with the players these last few months has been a challenge. I had to trust them to do the activities that had been put in place for them. It was quite nice to see that all of them have done what they were supposed to. We're always communicating so if there were problems we have been rectifying them but overall, things look extremely good and I am very happy with the shape the players have returned in, " Govender was quoted as saying in a release. 

The elected high-performance squad would train with their closest franchise teams in small regulated groups.

Talking about the players who were nursing their injuries, the physiotherapist believes that the lockdown was indeed a  blessing in disguise as it enabled the players to rejuvenate themselves and reinforce the areas of concern.

"Each one had a programme and that has obviously allowed guys to get much better during this period. They obviously allowed their bodies to rest and get these certain areas better over time."

Govender opined that it will take a reasonable period of time for players to get their usual flow back. 

"Everyone's excited to go outside and to get the sun. Vitamin D on the body is a big thing, but we also have to put some rope around the guys and make them understand that they can't go really hard. They still need to make sure they need to have all those muscles activated before activity. They need to build up and get their bodies in tune with the requirements, so it's about progression and very good warm-ups will be essential and that's something we will be emphasising as training resumes," he added. 

Several cricket analysts and physiotherapists, weighing in on the current situation, claimed that it will be tough for pace bowlers to find their rhythm post lockdown. The Proteas physio mentioned that the training schemes for the pace bowling contingent will be conducted in a phased system so that they can gradually find their footing and get back to their normal pace.

"Everything has to be done progressively. So for instance, with the bowlers, we can't get them to go straight out of the block. We have to do it in a phased system and that's pretty important," Govender concluded. 

[TOI inputs]