Optimal initial position and technique for the front foot contact phase of cricket fast bowling: commonalities between individual-specific simulations of elite bowlers

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Felton, PJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9211-0319, Shine, KJ, Yeadon, MR and King, MA, 2023. Optimal initial position and technique for the front foot contact phase of cricket fast bowling: commonalities between individual-specific simulations of elite bowlers. Journal of Biomechanics, 158: 111765. ISSN 0021-9290

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111765

Abstract

Group-based and individual-based studies in cricket fast bowling have identified common technique characteristics associated with ball release speed. The applicability of these findings to individual bowlers is often questioned, however, due to research approach limitations. This study aims to identify whether the optimal initial body position at front foot contact and subsequent technique to maximise ball release speed exhibit common characteristics for elite male cricket fast bowlers using individual-specific computer optimisations. A planar 16-segment whole-body torque-driven simulation model of the front foot contact phase of fast bowling was customised, evaluated, and the initial body position and subsequent movement pattern optimised, for ten elite male fast bowlers. The optimised techniques significantly increased ball release speed by 4.8 ± 1.3 ms−1 (13.5 ± 4.1%) and ranged between 37.8 and 42.9 ms−1, and in lower peak ground reaction forces and loading rates. Common characteristics were observed within the optimal initial body position with more extended front knees, as well as more flexion of the front and bowling arm shoulders than in current performances. Delays to the onset of trunk flexion, front arm and bowling arm shoulder extension, and wrist flexion were also common in the subsequent movement during the front foot contact phase. Lower front hip extensor and front shoulder flexor torques, as well as greater bowling shoulder extensor torques were also evident. This is useful knowledge for coach development, talent identification, and coaching practice.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Journal of Biomechanics
Creators:	Felton, P.J., Shine, K.J., Yeadon, M.R. and King, M.A.
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Date:	September 2023
Volume:	158
ISSN:	0021-9290
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111765 DOI 1793594 Other
Rights:	©2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Laura Ward
Date Added:	24 Aug 2023 09:04
Last Modified:	24 Aug 2023 09:04
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/49610