Health · Healthcare & Policy · 16 hrs ago
Surgery for fast bowlers’ back injuries spreads worldwide
New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond had a spinal stress fracture that kept him out of cricket for almost two years from 2003.
In 2004, he chose pars stabilisation surgery, which helped his back recover, although other injuries later limited his career.
Surgeon Grahame Inglis operated on Bond, and the successful result helped establish the procedure among fast bowlers.
New Zealand surgeon Rowan Schouten says his team has since performed it on around 30 professional cricketers and receives inquiries from around the world.
The operation supports the injured part of the spine with a bone graft, screws and wires, while aiming to preserve the movement needed to bowl fast.
Recovery takes six to nine months, but most stress fractures do not require surgery.
Bond has also advised bowlers who have had the operation, including Jofra Archer, Jason Behrendorff and James Pattinson, who returned to top-level cricket.
Pars stabilisation surgery for spinal stress fractures in fast bowlers has spread internationally.
New Zealand surgeon Rowan Schouten and his team have performed the procedure on around 30 professional cricketers.
Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond was an early success after undergoing the surgery in 2004.
The operation stabilises the injured part of the spine while preserving the movement needed for fast bowling.
Players who have the surgery face a six-to-nine-month rehabilitation programme.
- Who
- Rowan Schouten and his team perform the surgery for professional cricketers, including fast bowlers.
- What
- Pars stabilisation surgery treats spinal stress fractures.
- When
- The practice grew after Shane Bond had the surgery in 2004. The article was published on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- Schouten’s team is based in New Zealand, and it receives enquiries from around the world.
- Why
- The surgery can help address recurring stress fractures while preserving spinal motion needed to bowl at full pace.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Shane Bond made his Test debut against Australia in Hobart.
A stress fracture kept Bond out of the game for almost two years.
Bond underwent pars stabilisation surgery.
Cameron Green opted for surgery after several stress fractures during his career.
Australian fast bowler Lance Morris had spinal surgery.
- Procedure
- Pars stabilisation surgery
- Surgeon
- Rowan Schouten
- Professional cricketers treated
- Around 30
- Bond’s surgery
- 2004
- Rehabilitation
- Six to nine months
What people are saying
If I can't fix this, then the career is potentially over
Bond was patient zero in this whole story.
We're dealing with calls and connections from all around the world, from the UK, India, South Africa, Europe, Bangladesh, everywhere.
You need to preserve all that spinal motion that these guys need to be able to bowl full pace