Anthropometric Prediction of Ball Velocity Among Medium Pace Bowlers in Cricket

Abstract

The aim of this study was to predict the ball velocity on the basis of anthropometric variables of male division level cricket bowlers. Materials and methods: A total of 08 medium pace bowlers (mean ± standard deviation; age= 20.2±2.09 years; height= 172±3.65cms.) who participated in recent Gwalior division cricket competition were selected for the study. For anthropometric variables following measurements were conducted: standing height, upper arm length, lower arm length, palm length, upper leg length, lower leg length. Ball velocity was measured with a doppler radar gun. The stepwise multiple regression was conducted to predict the ball velocity of medium pace bowlers based on selected anthropometric variables. Results: The results suggest that lower arm length and ball velocity had a significant relationship (r = 0.780; p 0.001). In addition, a prediction model (Ball velocity = 76.601+1.507 [lower arm length]) with an R2 value of 0.608 was developed, with lower arm length being the only predictor. Conclusion: This also signifies that there may be other factors that contributes to the ball velocity such as strength of shoulders, run-up speed, kinematic variables, or kinetic variables. Therefore, future researches should focus on all those parameters that were not included in this study.