Analysis of segmental kinetic energy in cricket bowling

Abstract

Fast bowling in cricket is an athletic motion requiring the coordination of multiple body segments in order to release a ball at high speed. The application of the kinetic link principle to bowling proposes that the optimal coordination of movement actuation follows a proximal to distal sequence, allowing the systematic and progressive transfer of angular momentum from the larger, heavier body segments to the smaller distal segments. An analysis of segmental kinetic energy potentially provides information on the order of segmental sequencing and the effectiveness of energy transfer between the segments throughout the kinetic link chain. However, there has been no calculation of segmental kinetic energy in cricket fast bowling. In this study, 34 fast bowlers (22.2±3.9 years) of premier grade level and above were tested using a three-dimensional motion analysis system (240Hz). Based on the range of measured balls (27.0 m s-1 to 35.6 m s-1), the sample was divided into four speed group categories: slow-medium, medium, medium-fast and fast. With exception of the fast group relative to medium-fast group, each faster group tended to have higher segmental kinetic energies. Although there were no clearly discernible sequencing differences between bowling speed groups, the temporal occurrences of peak segment kinetic energies showed that bowlers exhibited a general order of proximal to distal sequencing with the larger heavier proximal segments having the highest energy and activated first. In general, there is an approximate proximal to distal sequence in cricket bowling, which indicates that bowlers of varying speed levels first produce high kinetic energies in their trunk segments before circumducting the bowling arm during the acceleration phase.