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[Twelfth Man]

Hello there I'm a 17 year old left arm seamer,  I've got a problem with my action which is causing me pain in the lower back and was wondering what are people's thoughts and idea's on how to improve/alter my action to help relieving stress and possibly help getting quicker in the process, if possible. 

Here is an image of two pictures showing my bowling action from in front and behind:




Two years ago I injured my lower back bowling in a game and stopped playing for a bit to give it a rest but then for the rest of the year I couldn't bowl on it without feeling it "pull" . In the off season I went to a specialist and they said that it could have possibly been a stress fracture, which after a few x-rays turned out it was (only?) torn muscles across my back. I had physiotherapy for it and it felt okay when the season came around but when we started playing games it just kept coming back. This resulted in me wearing a back support for the entire season as a precaution and for it allowing me to continue to play with less worry.

It now seems as if I feel I can't bowl without the support two years on, as I'm worried that I might get injured again if I don't wear it. With it on, I feel minimal pain if any but if I don't then sometimes I feel that pull of the back muscles again. Is it all in my head or do you think it could still be helping?

Are there any thoughts on what I need to do/how to improve my action to aid me in the future?

Many thanks.

[Red Ink Cricket]

where is your front arm when bowling? pics show it very low. also which area of the lower back hurts? is it one side or all over? your run up is it straight or angled?

[Buzz]

I would classify myself as a batting coach who knows a bit about bowling, but isn't an expert.
having said that I can see a few issues with your feet and body position which could cause you problems.
I would strongly urge you to go to a good cricket school and get some professional coaching which will take a few sessions, consider this an investment in your health and cricket.
I am sure you will get plenty of helpful suggestions from forum members but the changes in your action need to be built in slowly and the best way to do that is over a few sessions.

[tim2000s]

As a reasonably quick bowler for 20 or so years, with my fair share of injuries, I'm going with Buzz on this one. You should get some professional advice from someone who can watch you throughout your run and delivery.

Just looking at two pictures, there are many things that we can look at as not "classical" bowling action that may have no impact. There are a couple of things that suggest why you may be getting a bad back, but really we aren't going to be able to provide good advice.

Although a coach will cost you, you will get better advice and probably better for you advice too.

[Red Ink Cricket]

Agree with Buzz. any changes need to be slow. Few points i would comment on from the images ( also reasons i asked the above questions)
1. you front foot is pointing towards leg slip/ fine leg to a RH.
2. hard to tell from the pic but id guess you dont use your front arm very much so its pulling u down one side. 
3. your head is very much towards the leg side .

your not front or side on in your action. Mixed actions can be ok if managed correctly but if not they can cause all sorts of issues. i would guess your leaning over in the delivery and with your foot in the position it is and the lack of front arm movement to pull you forward its pulling you round and your twisting.

in an ideal world i would try and get the front foot pointing down the wicket, get higher in your action using your front arm to reach high and pull down in a straight line (continuing so your hand brushes your outer thigh) and stand nice and tall in the action. this should hopefully stop you leaning over and reducing that twisting motion i suspect your getting. some decent coaching would benefit. where are you based? 

[Twelfth Man]

I would classify myself as a batting coach who knows a bit about bowling, but isn't an expert.
having said that I can see a few issues with your feet and body position which could cause you problems.
I would strongly urge you to go to a good cricket school and get some professional coaching which will take a few sessions, consider this an investment in your health and cricket.
I am sure you will get plenty of helpful suggestions from forum members but the changes in your action need to be built in slowly and the best way to do that is over a few sessions.

Last year in the off season I did some session with a Level 3 coach who has previously played First Class cricket and it was him who had worries of a stress fracture so I went to have that checked.

I'm also currently in my Suffolk under 17's winter training which is where this video analysis was done, and we've not spoken about my bowling yet so I was wondering whether anybody on here had any idea's on what training/drills they would advise or any advice they had so I could bring it up at my next session 

[Twelfth Man]

Agree with Buzz. any changes need to be slow. Few points i would comment on from the images ( also reasons i asked the above questions)
1. you front foot is pointing towards leg slip/ fine leg to a RH.
2. hard to tell from the pic but id guess you dont use your front arm very much so its pulling u down one side. 
3. your head is very much towards the leg side .

your not front or side on in your action. Mixed actions can be ok if managed correctly but if not they can cause all sorts of issues. i would guess your leaning over in the delivery and with your foot in the position it is and the lack of front arm movement to pull you forward its pulling you round and your twisting.

in an ideal world i would try and get the front foot pointing down the wicket, get higher in your action using your front arm to reach high and pull down in a straight line (continuing so your hand brushes your outer thigh) and stand nice and tall in the action. this should hopefully stop you leaning over and reducing that twisting motion i suspect your getting. some decent coaching would benefit. where are you based?

Thanks for your idea's on what to do, I'll make sure I bring them up at my next session, and I am based in Essex.

[tim2000s]

How do you play for the U17s if you are 17?

[Red Ink Cricket]

if you dont have a club coach who can help you out contact your CDO who should be able to give you an idea on who can help. Alternatively as you mentioned suffolk U17's they should hopefully have some idea of what to do. Its going to be a case of a few minor tweaks here and there over a long period but should benefit you. Id have a decent chat before the sesh starts and voice your concerns.

[Red Ink Cricket]

How do you play for the U17s if you are 17?

doesnt it depend when your birthday is. it used to be the case that it was something to do with your birthday in relation to the start or end of the season. cant remember which way round it is. for example you could be 17 but play for u17's if your birthday fell before the start of the season. or its your age at the end of the previous cricket season which determines the group.

[Twelfth Man]

How do you play for the U17s if you are 17?

My birthday is in December, so I'm able to still play like Johners77 said!

[Nickauger]

I would suggest it is because your hips and shoulders aren't inline, causing you to twist your back. Try setting up some poles to straighten you up a bit, but other than that you might be looking at a long boring season reverse chaining your action and getting it right.

[Colesy]

Don't know if it has been said in another post, but isn't your bowling arm meant to be above your front foot?

I've read through this because despite bowling leg-spin I sometimes bowl seam up and get back problems from my action.

[tushar sehgal]

couple of quick pointers mate, you have a mixed action based on your feet/chest pics...

you start as side on but finish open chested....your back front leg is across your back leg, which is going to make you trip & fall over, also it puts a strain on your lower back and sides (if you dont feel it now you will start feeling pain in your sides soon) as you are now arching your back to straighten up...

When bowling side on, back foot toe should not be pointing towards the batsmen but towards the stumps on your end with the front foot point in the direction of the delivery.

Here is a quick something to try, i also think your runup is angled (coming in from wide on), try running in straight and closer to the stumps, targeting to bowl full and landing on middle-leg stump... but above all get some proper bowling coach to look at you...

When bowling open chested both feet point in the direction of the batsman but the front leg does not come across the back leg...

[Manormanic]

There have been some decent points made about the position in which your feet are landing - I don't want to diagnose based on one photo but you certainly need to look at whether the position in which your front foot appears to be is hinting at a lot of twisting/torque through the lower back as you come through delivery - that would certainly cause some issues in the areas you describe.

Are you making this worse by the wrong conditioning?  A decent bowler of medium pace or higher ought to be working with resistance training to strengthen but not bulk up their upper body - given that you appear to be alanky streak of p155, you might also want to think about doubling your warm ups and incorporating lots of dynamic stretches into them to loosen and lengthen the key muscles.