John Gloster’s Fitness Files

Gloster reveals the physical stress the team underwent during the Australian tour.

Playing uninterrupted cricket from May 2007 and March 2008 may sure have taken toil on the bodies of Team India’s players but the sugary taste of victory at the Gabba must have obliterated the weariness. They return home and the physical aftermath is one to evaluate.

This is a CricketNirvana.com Exclusive! Revealed are the outgoing India physio John Gloster’s reports during the taxing tour of Australia.

Zaheer Khan underwent a 2003 tour evocative upshot and finished his campaign by participating in the solitary Test match during the 2007 Test series Down Under. His absence came as a blessing in disguise as it opened the doors for the emergence of the supreme discovery of the expedition – Ishant Sharma.

While Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma and Yuvraj Singh are the few of who have been advised sizeable rest by the outgoing team physio John Gloster. The new fitness team comprising of trainer Paul Chapman and physio Paul Close have advised rest to the members of the triumphant ODI squad. ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag and few others are being prepared to wrestle petite, niggling injuries.

The Fitness Reports

• Injury/Illness Summary: The players had to scuffle a lot during the taxing tour of Australia and here we analyse the physical repercussions.
• Investigations and Medical Interventions: A comprehensive list of all medical interventions that each and every squad member had to undergo during the 3-month tour.
• Weekly Injury Report: The younger players dived around the big grounds and gave it their all, keeping Gloster and co. very busy.
• Post Tour Rehab Advice and Protocols: The tour is done and dusted but the outcome for a few players has proven quite painful.

The veterans who did not participate in the successful CB Series campaign – Test captain Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly are completely fit and ready to lock horns with South Africa starting March 26 at Chennai. Although, the youngsters who fielded their skins off at the large grounds in Australia are still recovering from the repercussions of just about pushing their bodies to the limit.

Yuvi wanted to play a little bit of football during a training session and aggravated the knee injury that he has been fighting for over a year. Budding young batsman Manoj Tiwary may not have suffered any physical injuries but got extracted an infected tooth on February 29! So much for the scorching weather in Australia!

All can be put to rest as the professionals are at their relevant chores and the men in blue are back home. Let us hope that they can regain full fitness in order to battle a fired up South African outfit that arrives here in less than two weeks time and prepares for battle.