While it's impossible to go back to the old days, there are some things us modern players can take from the pre-Nintendo era to help us be a little more like Larwood, Cartwright or Trueman.
Get down the mine.
The modern world has less physical jobs so we have less chance to be strong and flexible in our working life. That means gyms have become the modern 'mine' in getting fast bowler's strong and flexible. It's especially important in the off-season when many bowlers of yesteryear went back to manual jobs, got strong and reported back for county duty in April.
Get moving.
Modern life means sitting down; cars, computers and TV all put us in positions that are bad for our posture. In the old days those options just didn't exist. Aim to cut back on how much you sit down by walking more (park a further distance away if you have to), getting up from your computer every so often, playing other sports or active recreations (biking for example) and keeping the Nintendo time down.
Eat 'grandma' food.
Modern food is different too. We eat much more processed food and much less 'real' food. By that I mean stuff your grandmother would recognise as food: Meat, fish, vegetables and dairy. In those days she wasn't afraid of fat, or carbs, or anything. She just cooked from scratch and ate healthy meals. Make sure you are getting plenty of food from these sources to fuel your newer more active lifestyle.
Keep bowling.
With a stronger more flexible body you will be able to bowl more, and you should. The great bowlers in the past had no fears of how much they bowled. Once you are fit, get as many overs under your belt as you can. It will help your pace, accuracy and cricketing nous more than anything else.
And it's really as simple as that. We will never go back to those days, but why not cherry pick the best bits to help you become a better bowler?
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