Why are county and international cricketers cutting the big toe area of their footweat off leaving their big?

Question

toe exposed?

Answer 1

So that the toe doesn't cramp during the bowling action.

Answer 2

This is only done by really quick bowlers.

When they run up to bowl, as they get to the final step and plant their front foot on the popping crease, there is a break in their momentum and they temporarily almost come to a stop as their body pivots about that foot to propel the ball towards the batsman at the greatest possible speed. As it is the opposite foot to their bowling arm, the hand holding the ball is the furthest away from that foot, so it is travelling quickest around the pivot foot, which is how they generate such speed.

So, to provide the best pivot the bowler wants to make sure that his foot stops, and therefore they have a lot of spikes on the bottom of that boot; for instance someone like Brett Lee will have twice as many spikes on his left boot as his right boot so that it bites into the crease and stops; but the foot inside, wearing a sock, continues to slide a tiny amount inside the boot, until the end of the big toe is pressing against the boot.

Biomechanical studies have shown that, for instance, at Brett Lee's speed, the force on his left leg as he lands on that final step and pivots is equivalent to almost five times his own body weight, and all that pressure on the big toe after repeated deliveries would soon lead to bruising, and a sore and blackened toenail, and could leave him unable to bowl until it got better.

So, to spread that load of five times body weight across more of the foot the bowlers cut a hole to let the big toe out....

Answer 3

Because cricket shoe manufacturors clearly aren't waking up and designing a shoe that fits their requirements! Surely an opportunity for someone to corner the market there!

Answer 4

Usually, fast bowlers cut the front end of their shoe landing in front to ease the pressure on their toe nail.

Answer 5

They are just showing off the fact that they don't have athletes foot.

Thay must p**s on their feet in the shower cos that'll cure athletes foot every time

Get on dragons den with a cut up shoe and offer 100% of the company for a fiver

Answer 6

Keep their feet cool?

Lets the run faster?

Answer 7

Fast bowlers put a lot of strain on their toes on their run in. This practise of cutting a hole in the shoes started in the 1970's with John Snow and Botham. It relieves the pressure on the big toe as the foot is planted when the arm swings over on final delivery.