Australian cricketer Josh Hazlewood bowls over others with his health and fitness regime
HE’S the young gun fast bowler who’s been likened to Glenn McGrath, but Josh Hazlewood knows if he is to live up to that hype he needs to stay fit and injury-free.
NSW
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HE’S the young gun fast bowler who’s been likened to Glenn McGrath, but Josh Hazlewood knows if he is to live up to that hype he needs to stay fit and injury-free.
The 24-year-old, who burst into the spotlight last summer after a blazing man-of-the-match, five-wicket haul against India, puts his himself through a demanding training regimen to ensure his body can withstand the huge impact placed on it as a paceman.
“Being a fast bowler puts a lot of strain on your body and what makes it even tougher is, as a cricketer, these days we don’t get any time off, which means you’ve got to be at your peak 24-7 all year round,” the Tamworth bowler said.
“So finding the right balance in all areas of your preparation is key. Physically, you need to find the right mix between how much time you spend bowling to get fit and how much time you spend in the gym trying to get strong.
“As a fast bowler, you want to keep your muscles lean and not put on too much weight and have to carry that throughout the game. So we try to keep as light as possible but strong as well. It’s quite tough.”
His training methods are a far cry from those employed by the army of fast bowlers who have pounded the crease for their country in years gone by.
“I am sure the way we train and eat today is quite a bit different to a few years back when Merv Hughes was playing,” Hazlewood said.
“Even some of the older guys playing today think some of the training the younger blokes do is a bit different, like pilates, which the younger guys are right into, but the older guys steer clear of.
“I’m really looking forward to this summer as I am feeling good and am at that age now where my bones have hardened up and, as a fast bowler, I am entering my peak.
“The golden age for fast bowlers is 25 to 30 years, so I am looking forward to getting into that and put in the past all those bone-related injuries like stress fractures that many young bowlers endure.”
MAN FUEL
Game-day breakfast for Hazlewood doesn’t just involve seeing how many Weet-Bix he can eat, but instead sees him fuelling his muscles with protein to ensure he fires the ball down the pitch with plenty of pace.
“Game-day breakfast for me is lots of protein with eggs, bacon and some mushrooms. It does the job for me and tastes good,” Hazlewood told MadFit.
“Then to refuel during a bowling day I will use protein shakes and fruit to get me through quite a bit of work. Lunch is normally a wrap full of protein and some vegetables.
“You need to be in your best shape to perform on the field, so that means you have to eat healthy.
“But me and the boys will still enjoy a beer or two after a big day out on the field or after a win.”
MAN CHALLENGE
“You need lots of core, leg and glute strength to bowl fast, and so the cross-body mountain climber is a great exercise as it really targets all these muscles, as well as working your lungs,” Hazlewood explained.
Hazlewood was just as quick with his mountain climbers as his bowling, knocking over 46 reps in the one-minute man challenge.
The mountain climber exercise provides great cardiovascular benefits, helps develop power in the lower body because of its explosive nature, and also helps build core strength.
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