Worcestershire pace bowler Yadvinder Singh is delighted to be back bowling and aiming to stay fit this summer and eventually challenge for a first team spot.
Singh became the second member of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to join Worcestershire as a professional last January after batter Kashif Ali.
It was a dream come true when he made his senior debut in the County Championship match with eventual champions Surrey at The Oval in May and, after what he admits was a nervy start, he picked up four second innings wickets.
England duo Rory Burns and Dom Sibley were amongst the wickets claimed by Singh who had first played Seconds cricket for Worcestershire in 2019 and then trialled around with Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and Warwickshire.
But his elation was cut short by a stress fracture of the back and, although no surgery was required, it meant a lengthy period of inactivity for the Indian born player.
Happily, the 29-year-old is now back to bowling after getting the all-clear regarding the injury following a scan in early October.
Singh said: “I made my debut, which was a great feeling, and then I got the injury and, in my life, I had never missed a single game before through injury to be honest.
“Then I was faced with having to miss all season from May onwards. This was the first real injury that I’ve had.
“We were training just before the T20 competition started and I was struggling to bowl full balls like a yorker. Something was holding me back.
“As it happened, the doctor was in that day so I went to see him and he had a look and said ‘there is something wrong’ and we had a scan and it turned out to be a stress fracture.”
Singh admitted: “It was so frustrating after playing at The Oval and I was really pleased to make that first team breakthrough.
“It was brilliant, obviously not the result, but just the experience was really good, playing at that standard, just making my debut,
“It was a big game against the team that went onto win the Championship. I was a bit nervous and the first ball I bowled was a full toss.
“It took me a little time to settle in but then I was fine and by the second innings I felt okay. I found my rhythm a little more and was less nervous.”
Singh had a lengthy initial spell on the side-lines after the stress fracture was pinpointed but happily the signs are now far more encouraging.
He said: “The first few weeks after the injury, I couldn’t do anything and had to be a little bit careful.
“I couldn’t do any exercise for a few weeks but then I slowly started doing body weights, exercises, stretches, etc
“Slowly I started to build up, then I had my last scan on October 2 and they said it is all healed and then I could push a bit more with my work and started bowling when we came back to training in November.
“At the moment, so far, so good, there is no pain in the back and the bowling is coming along nicely as well.
“I feel I can get through the crease quicker and nothing is holding me back.
“For the rest of the winter I’m going to concentrate on building up sharpness and pace, try and be a little bit quicker and stronger, just working on those skills”
Singh added: “The aim and ambition for 2025 is to try and play all summer, try and be fit enough to be available to play as many games as I can and do my best really.
“I’m not thinking too far ahead but I want to try and stay fit all summer and try and get back in the first team contention eventually. That is the target for now, yes.”
