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By Samuel Peters
National fast bowler Jawakie Joseph is hoping for the best as he attempts to save his promising cricket career after he sustained lower back injury that is suspected to be a stress fracture while on duty for Antigua and Barbuda in the last Leeward Islands Senior Men’s 50 Overs Tournament in St. Kitts.
Joseph, 22, who represented Antigua in the UK Cricket Exchange Programme in 2023, picked up the injury in late September last year. Nearly eight months later, he continues to experience significant discomfort despite multiple medical consultations and therapy sessions.
“I’d say I’m only about 50% recovered because the injury is still there,” Joseph revealed in a recent interview. “The pain is not as severe as when it first happened, but it remains, especially when I make certain movements or after bowling a few deliveries.”
Initial diagnoses suggested a muscle strain, but the persistence of symptoms has raised concerns about a possible stress fracture. Joseph described the pain as “a very sharp pain” in his lower back on the left side, close to his hip area, which becomes particularly intense during bowling.
The situation has been complicated by what appears to be inadequate follow-up from team management after the initial injury. Joseph noted that after being assessed by the team physiotherapist during a match against Anguilla, there was minimal follow-up support.
“I expected someone would have jumped on board and helped me, knowing they were aware of it,” he explained. “But I just didn’t receive any help until I personally reached out to the Cricket Association months later.”
The Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association has since arranged for Joseph to see Dr. Philmore Benjamin for further assessment, though the bowler’s work commitments at A.S Brydens and Sons have made regular medical appointments challenging to maintain.
Sports medicine specialist Justin Joseph (no relation) has emphasized the seriousness of such injuries for fast bowlers. “If not managed properly, it can be career-ending. Because you’re going to go right back and re-fracture the same area,” he cautioned.
Fast bowling places tremendous strain on the body, with athletes experiencing forces up to five times their body weight with each delivery. For young bowlers like Joseph, proper diagnosis, recovery protocols, and potentially remodelling of bowling actions are critical to prevent recurrence.
The specialist noted that the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association will need to provide comprehensive support if Joseph is to make a full recovery and fulfill his potential as one of the island’s promising fast bowling talents. He also suggested that proper strength and conditioning, adequate rest periods, and possibly technical adjustments to his bowling action will be essential components of any successful rehabilitation program.
Joseph was the leading fast bowler for the 2024 ABCA Two Day Competition, grabbing 53 wickets at an average of 9.47 runs per wicket.
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