Matthew Fisher looked to Australia for inspiration to build more muscular body

England seamer Matthew Fisher has revealed how he looked to Australia for inspiration as he rebuilt a more muscular body during his latest rehabilitation.
The Yorkshireman made his Test debut in Barbados last March, taking a wicket with his second delivery in international cricket, only to suffer a stress fracture of the lower back in his first county game of the summer.
That led to yet another injury lay-off for a 25-year-old who has seen more than his share of treatment tables over the years, but he worked his way back to make his comeback in the final game of the season.
Fisher is heading to Sri Lanka ✈
Congratulations to Matt Fisher who has been called up to The England Lions squad for their upcoming tour in February 🙌
Good Luck @9M_Fisher 💪🏏#YorkshireFamily
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) January 3, 2023
He will step things up when he heads to Sri Lanka with England Lions later this week, where he will debut a newly bulked up physique – a change he sought in partial response to his fitness issues.
“Looking in a mirror I just thought ‘I don’t look as robust as some players I’ve seen this winter and maybe that’s something to look at’,” he said.
“It’s not about just putting on weight, I wanted to put on muscle that’s going to help me be stronger…to be able to withstand the bowling action. I’ve gone from 86 kilos to 91 but my skin folds are very similar, so it’s muscle. I feel a lot stronger now. I think I look more like a man rather than a boy.”
And Fisher is not afraid to admit that he set his sights on England’s biggest rivals for his new template.
“After that first game when I got injured, I basically said to our strength and conditioning coach ‘I want you to make me look like an Australian fast bowler’,” he recalled.
“They all seem to look solid. (Pat) Cummins, (Josh) Hazlewood, (Mitch) Starc…they all look pretty strong. So I was like: ‘try and make me look like them’. I ate loads that first three months. It’s good for your back to eat loads because it’s good for healing.
“Sometimes in our sport we think too much about skin folds, a lot of lads get anxiety about being slim enough, but it was a point where my goal was to put muscle on. All throughout the summer, the coaches at Yorkshire and some of the players were like ‘bloody hell, you look massive’.”
Fisher’s promotion to the Test team alongside Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood – who has also had a stress fracture to contend with – came after James Anderson and Stuart Broad were surprisingly axed in the Caribbean.
The decorated duo returned in the summer, playing their part as the new leadership team of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum revitalised a struggling side to the tune of nine wins in 10 matches.

Breaking back in to a winning unit during an Ashes year is no easy feat, but it is one Fisher allows himself to aim for.
“That is my biggest driving force because you never want to have just one cap,” he said.
“In the back of my mind, I have got the confidence that I know I can get back there. I’ve got time. I’m only just 25. If I stay fit, I know what I can do and I know I’ll achieve what I want if I do stay fit.
“There’s been indoor sessions where I am visualising bowling at (Australia opener) David Warner, so it’s definitely in my mind. But in terms of it being a goal of mine this summer, it’s not like on my wall or anything. If that happens, it happens.”
Latest
-
England
Liam Livingstone praises England spinner Rehan Ahmed as ‘exceptional talent’
Ahmed has furthered his blossoming reputation against the West Indies by recording identical figures of 10-1-40-2 in two ODIs in Antigua.
-
England
Little bit of relief – Sam Curran and England bounce back in Antigua
Curran laid the groundwork for England’s six-wicket win.
-
England
Sam Curran and Jos Buttler return to form as England level series in Antigua
Chasing 203, Will Jacks put England into the ascendancy with a sparkling 73 off 72 balls.
-
England
Sam Curran finds form as England bowl out West Indies for 202
Curran took three big scalps days after enduring a tough time in the first ODI.
-
England
Andrew Flintoff set to return to England’s backroom staff for Windies T20 series
Flintoff first linked up with the national side in an unpaid role for ODI series against New Zealand and Ireland before the World Cup.
-
Women's Cricket
Danni Wyatt stars on 150th T20I appearance as England begin India tour with win
Sophie Ecclestone returned figures of three for 15 on her comeback appearance after four months out with a shoulder injury.
-
England
Harry Brook blocks himself from ‘negativity’ by withdrawing from social media
Brook has left the running of his X and Instagram accounts to someone else.
-
Women's Cricket
Sophie Ecclestone set for England return in T20 opener in India – Heather Knight
The world’s top-ranked limited-overs bowler underwent surgery after dislocating her shoulder in August.
-
England
Rehan Ahmed rejects Sir Alastair Cook’s criticism of Jos Buttler’s captaincy
Several of Buttler’s decisions were scrutinised during a calamitous World Cup defence.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson handed their first central contracts by ECB
England Women have once again issued 18 full-time deals.