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NMMU issued the following statement on the passing of its Director Sport, Dr Richard Stretch:
The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University community is saddened by the sudden passing of NMMU Director of Sport Dr Richard Stretch earlier today (Monday).
As an NRF C1-rated researched who received his first rating about 10 years ago, Dr Stretch’s research over the past 25 years has primarily been towards the enhancement of cricket. The focus of his cricket research was mainly in the following areas:
Performance enhancement strategies, Cricket injury prevention, and Development of cricket equipment (bats, helmets and pads, etc.).
His love for cricket began as a player for Border. He captained the South African Country Districts Cricket team for a number of years. He also served on the Border Cricket Board, with a three year term as president, the EP Cricket Board, as well as the South African Cricket Medical Committee and the Research Committee (Chairperson) for a number of years.
In addition, Dr Stretch is Chairperson of the Cricket section of the World Commission of Sport Science and has been responsible for the organisation of the last four World Congresses of Science and Medicine in Cricket, always held to coincide with the Cricket World Cups.
To date, his articles have been published in a variety of international journals including sport science, sports medicine, medical, engineering, physical education, optometry, sport performance analysis, sport biomechanics and sport coaching.
In addition, Dr Stretch has conducted Biomechanics and Injury Prevention in Cricket workshops in South Africa, the West Indies (Jamaica), Bermuda and India. He has served on the editorial board of a number of scientific journals, regularly reviews manuscripts for international sport science and sports medicine journals and served as an examiner for masters and doctoral studies for local, Australian, New Zealand and UK universities.
His wealth of experience and passion for sport will be sorely missed by the NMMU staff and students.
