Comparative study of the performances during match play of an elite-level spin bowler and an elite-level pace bowler in cricket

Abstract

A study of one right-hand pace bowler and one left-arm wrist spin bowler, during the 2006–2007 Ashes series between England and Australia, has been undertaken to understand better the existing knowledge regarding cricket bowling performance during match play. Data from Hawk-Eye and Feedback Cricket performance analysis software programs have been used to analyse 624 pace deliveries and 949 spin deliveries, bowled to five opposition batters. Pace deliveries have been classified on the basis of the pitching length, and spin deliveries have been categorized into one of four delivery types (the leg break, flipper, slider, or googly). One-way analyses of variance were carried out on all deliveries to determine the differences of statistical significance in bowling. For spin bowling, the speed of the ball at release, vertical release angle, and deviation angle after pitching varied for different delivery types. For pace bowling, the pitching line of the ball became closer to the centre stump as the delivery length became fuller and the ball release angle became flatter towards the horizontal. The outcome of this investigation has been to determine the expected ranges of delivery combinations for both an elite spin bowler and an elite pace bowler during match play.