Lee believes younger bowlers will sustain regular injuries unless they cut back on lifting weights

Former Australia pace bowler Brett Lee has revealed that the national team’s emphasis on constantly lifting weights is responsible for the increasing number of injuries fast bowlers sustain.

Lee noted that if young bowlers like Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins continue to lift weights all the time, then it is highly likely that they will continue to break down regularly throughout their international careers.

Lee stated that his secret to being an outstanding pace bowler was to always ensure that he was not carrying a lot of upper-body muscle.

“I reckon there’s too much emphasis on strength and conditioning, getting in the gym being nice and strong,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Lee as saying. “I know me personally, I was the opposite. I was my quickest when I was whippy.

“I bowled 160km/h without lifting a weight. Patto at 22, he’s a solid unit. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing but I just think personally guys sometimes are a bit too tight doing squats and lat-pulls and that type of stuff.”

However, Lee also mentioned that if the pace trio of Pattinson, Starc and Cummins were to just lift light weights on a regular basis, then it should not be too detrimental to their health and fitness.

“Sometimes I reckon that can be detrimental to their conditioning,” Lee added. “As long as they’re doing smart weights, not real big heavy lifting weights. I personally found sit ups and push ups and running was the best thing for me.”

The former Australian pace bowler also believes that younger bowlers should spend a lot more time in the nets working on their fitness and technique.

“The guys need to get their workload up in the nets to make sure when they do get out here on a flat wicket, their body isn’t going what the hell is going on?” Lee said.