Meet the surgeon saving the careers of cricket's best fast bowlers

Shane Bond, a former New Zealand fast bowler, faced a career-altering setback due to a back injury. Bond, who made his debut at 26, initially showed great promise, taking 11 wickets in two Tests against Bangladesh in 2002. However, a stress fracture sidelined him for nearly two years. In 2004, Bond opted for a little-known surgery called pars stabilisation surgery, performed by spinal surgeon Grahame Inglis.

Despite Inglis' initial doubts about Bond's chances of returning to fast bowling, Bond persevered and has not experienced back issues since.

Dr. Rowan Schouten, a renowned New Zealand spinal surgeon, was working alongside Dr. Inglis at the time and recognized Bond as "patient zero" in this surgical approach. Since then, Dr. Schouten and his team have performed the procedure on around 30 professional cricketers. With the UK surgeons ceasing the procedure and Dr. Inglis retiring, Dr. Schouten has become the world's leading expert in treating spinal stress fractures in fast bowlers.

The success of the surgery has led to calls and connections from cricketing nations worldwide, seeking advice from Bond.

The surgery, which involves grafting the spine to stimulate repair and using screws and wires for stability, is not a fusion and is considered straightforward by Dr. Schouten. The recovery period lasts between six to nine months. While stress fractures are common in sports and prevalent in cricket, Dr. Schouten emphasizes that the surgery is not as extreme as it may seem.

Most stress fractures do not require this procedure, and preserving spinal motion is crucial for players to maintain their fast bowling abilities. Recovery may involve a rehab program for some players, especially those who experience recurring stress fractures over multiple seasons.