The impact of centre of mass kinematics and ground reaction forces on ball release speeds in cricket fast bowling

Abstract

The aims of this study were to verify previously reported relationships between whole-body centre of mass kinematics and ball release speed, and establish whether the ‘checking of linear motion’ or ‘hinged-moment’ principle is a valid biomechanical principle governing cricket fast bowling. Three-dimensional, full-body kinematic and ground reaction force data were collected from a group of 20 male high-performance English fast bowlers using an 18-camera Vicon® M2 MCam motion capture system and an interfaced Kistler® 9287B force platform. Ball release speed was found to be moderately correlated with the horizontal velocity of the centre of mass at back foot contact (r = 0.499, p = 0.025), the average horizontal acceleration of the centre of mass during the front foot contact to ball release phase (r = − 0.544, p = 0.013), the change in horizontal velocity of the centre of mass during the front foot contact to ball release phase (r = 0.658, p = 0.002), but not the duration of the front foot contact to ball r...