Fast Bowlers Research Articles

Effect of Isometric Resistance Training and Kinesio-Taping on Rotator Cuff Muscle Injuries Among Club-Level Fast Bowlers

Background: Background: Rotator cuff injuries are common among club-level fast bowlers, leading to pain, weakness, and reduced performance. Effective rehabilitation strategies are crucial for enhancing recovery and preventing re-injury.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of isometric resistance training (IRT) combined with Kinesio-Taping (KT) in managing grade II rotator cuff muscle injuries among club-level fast bowlers.Methods: A total of 20 male fast bowlers with grade II rotator cuff injuries were randomly assigned to either a control group (n=10) or an experimental group (n=10). The experimental group underwent an 8-week rehabilitation protocol combining IRT and KT, while the control group received no specific intervention. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) questionnaire, physiotherapeutic tests, range of motion (ROM) measurements using a digital goniometer, and muscle strength evaluations through manual muscle testing. Data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests via SPSS version 25.Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in ROM (mean difference = -0.850, p=0.000) and muscle strength across all physiotherapeutic tests (e.g., Lift-Off Test, mean difference = 1.320, p=0.000), compared to the control group.Conclusion: The combined use of IRT and KT significantly improved shoulder function, ROM, and muscle strength in fast bowlers with rotator cuff injuries. These findings support the inclusion of these interventions in sports rehabilitation protocols.

Differences in cricket fast bowling kinematics between grass and artificial surface pitches

ABSTRACT Cricket fast bowling training and research are often conducted on artificial turf, while matches are played on natural grass. It is unknown if technique differs between the different surfaces; therefore, the aim of this study was to explore if fast bowling technique differed between surfaces. Shoe slip distance and kinematic and temporal parameters previously associated with ball release velocity and lumbar bone stress injury were determined for eight male sub-elite fast bowlers using three-dimensional motion analysis on grass and artificial surfaces. Paired t-test and statistical parametric mapping were used to identify differences in technique between surfaces. Significantly greater slip distance was observed during back and front foot contact on the artificial surface compared to bowling on the grass surface. No kinematic or temporal parameter significantly differed between surfaces, therefore fast bowling technique is likely similar between grass and artificial surfaces, and previous research utilising artificial surfaces in fast bowling research is likely to be valid.

Effect of Resisted Sprint Training on Lower Limb Performance in Amateur Cricket Batsmen

Background: Enhancing strength and sprint performance with reduced injury risk involves plyometric and resistance sprint training. Improved physical fitness is crucial for developing technical skills and motor competence, essential for explosive leg power and functional performance. Tailored training regimens targeting specific movements boost explosive strength. In a 50-meter sprint competition, phases for acceleration and maximum speed are vital, requiring quick spurts. Fast bowlers and batsmen should prioritize upper body acceleration for optimal performance. Acceleration is key in both sprinting and cricket, emphasizing the importance of targeted training to enhance overall athletic ability and minimize injury risk. Objective: To find out the effects of resisted sprint training among amateur cricket batsmen player Methodology: The study received Institutional Ethical Approval, and consent was obtained from all 40 participants. They were screened and recruited based on selection criteria, then randomly allocated into Group A (n=20) and Group B (n=20). The exercise program involved 30-minute sessions, three times per week, over six weeks Result: The experimental group (Group A) showed significant improvement in lower limb performance (p < 0.0001) with resisted sprint training. However, there was no significant difference observed in the conventional group when comparing between groups (p < 0.7755). Conclusion: The study concludes that resisted sprint training is effective in improving lower limb performance in amateur cricket batsmen.

Injury profiles in sub-elite Women's Cricket: Exploring incidence, prevalence, nature, onset and body region

IntroductionThe rise in participation in sports, like women's cricket, is linked with increased injury risk. Providing high-level longitudinal data is the first step in implementing evidence-based injury prevention strategies. DesignProspective cohort study. ObjectiveThis cohort study aims to describe the injury profiles in sub-elite women's cricket in South Africa during the 2022/23 season. MethodsInjuries were prospectively recorded using injury surveillance questionnaires, injury surveillance database, and logbooks completed by each team's medical staff. Injury rates were investigated for match and training days, body region, player role, nature, and activity at the time of injury. ResultsThree teams with a total of 44 players (20.86 ± 1.6 years) were included in the study. Injury incidence was 85.23 per 1000 player match days, 15.91 for match time-loss and 69.32 for non-time-loss, with 2.95% of players unavailable for match selection on any day. Fast bowlers had the highest injury incidence. Fielding caused 46.67% of all injuries. Injury incidence was higher in training than in matches. The wrist/hand had the highest injury incidence and caused the most match time-loss. ConclusionThis study provides valuable insights regarding the current injury rates in sub-elite female cricket players.

Inter- and intra-athlete technique variability of conventional new ball swing bowling in elite and pre-elite Australian male fast bowlers

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate inter- and intra-athlete technique variability in pre-elite and elite Australian fast bowlers delivering new ball conventional swing bowling. Ball grip angle and pelvis, torso, shoulder, elbow, wrist, upper arm, forearm, and hand kinematics were investigated at the point of ball release for inswing and outswing deliveries. Descriptive evaluations of group and individual data and k-means cluster analyses were used to assess inter- and intra-bowler technique variability. Inter-athlete technique and ball grip variability were identified, demonstrating that skilled bowlers use individualised strategies to generate swing. Functional movement variability was demonstrated by intra-athlete variability in successful swing bowling trials. Bowlers demonstrated stable technique parameters in large proximal body segments of the pelvis and torso, providing a level of repeatability to their bowling action. Greater variation was observed in bowling arm kinematics, allowing athletes to manipulate the finger and ball position to achieve the desired seam orientation at the point of ball release. This study demonstrates that skilled bowlers use individualised techniques and grips to generate swing and employ technique variations in successive deliveries. Coaches should employ individualised training strategies and use constraints-led approaches in training environments to encourage bowlers to seek adaptive movement solutions to generate swing.

Association between core strength and dynamic balance of throwing hand in professional healthy cricket fast bowlers: A cross sectional study

BackgroundThe core musculature gets activated by feed forward fashion during the movement of upper extremity, as in kinetic chain of throwing, shoulder muscle contributes larger dynamic balance and also in reversed manner. Aim of the current study was to associate the strength of core and the dynamic balance of throwing hand in cricket fast bowlers. Methods72 subjects were initially screened for eligibility, and ultimately, 55 male participants from various cricket coaching academies, aged 19.1 ± 2.6 on average, were included. The mean BMI of the participants was 20.9. The assessments included the Modified Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (mUQYBT)- Medial (M), Supero-Lateral reach (SL), Infero-Lateral reach(IL) along with Core measures- 600 Abdominal flexion test (600 AFT), right side plank test (RSP), Left side plank test (LSP), Beiring Sorenson test (BST), all of which were successfully completed. ResultsBased on our findings, we observed a mild positive correlation between the values of mUQYBT and core measures. We employed Pearson's coefficient to evaluate the association, and the R2 values were utilized to quantify the amount of variability. The resulting scores were RSP to SL (r = 0.38, R2 = 0.14), LSP to SL (r = 0.43, R2 = 0.19), LSP to RSP (r = 0.790, R2 = 0.62), BSP to Composite score (r = 0.29, R2 = 0.08), SL to 600 AFT* (r = 0.231, R2 = 0.05) and BMI to IL* (r = −0.107, R2 = 0.01). ConclusionIn conclusion, a positive correlation was exhibited between dynamic balance and core strength in healthy cricket fast bowlers. Educating bowlers on proper movement techniques and prescribing targeted exercises can enhance dynamic balance, reducing the risk of injuries.

Functional movement variability to maintain delivery speed in cricket fast bowling

AbstractFast bowling in cricket involves a complex multiarticular action performed at high speed. Functional movement variability plays an important role in helping the performer to maintain the consistency of performance outcomes, although this has not previously been examined in cricket fast bowling in relation to maintaining consistent delivery speed. Therefore, this study investigated how variability of delivery stride movement timings contributes to maintaining consistent bowling speed. Footage of six deliveries from 92 male fast bowlers were analyzed. Delivery speed was recorded, and the time of back foot contact, front foot contact and ball release were identified. The variability of movement timings and the delivery speed were determined using the coefficient of variation. Results showed greater variability in delivery stride movement timings compared to delivery speed. These findings suggest that bowlers may use movement variability to adjust their functional movement coordination pattern during the bowling action to achieve consistent bowling speed.

Isokinetic Knee Strength Profile of Indian State-level Cricket Fast Bowlers

Isokinetic Knee Strength Profile of Indian State-level Cricket Fast Bowlers

Bowler and coach experiential knowledge of new ball swing bowling in elite cricket

ABSTRACT Swing bowling can influence the outcome of cricket matches, but technique characteristics and coaching practices have not been investigated at an elite level. This study aimed to provide insight into the perceived technique parameters, coaching practices and variables contributing to conventional new ball swing bowling in elite cricket. Six Australian Test match fast bowlers and six Australian international and national-level coaches were interviewed. A reflexive thematic analysis of interview transcripts generated themes associated with swing bowling. Most bowlers reported their technique allows them to naturally create either inswing or outswing, with technique variations used to create swing in the opposite direction. To increase delivery effectiveness, bowlers and coaches recommended pitching the ball closer to the batter in length and varying release positions along the crease. Coaches recommended making individualised technique adjustments, but suggested all bowlers could benefit from maintaining balance and forward momentum to create a consistent release position in repeated deliveries. This study could inform training strategies to alter techniques and improve swing bowling performance. Future research should investigate the physical qualities of fast bowlers and use biomechanical analyses to provide a deeper understanding of swing bowling.

Prevalence of Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit in Fast Bowlers and Its Correlation with Bowling Speed

Prevalence of Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit in Fast Bowlers and Its Correlation with Bowling Speed

Picking the length: investigating how bowling length influences batter decision-making in international men’s 50-over cricket

ABSTRACT In this study, 19,587 balls bowled by fast bowlers across two One-Day International (ODI) cricket tournaments were analysed, with the aim of exploring the relationship between bowling lengths and foot-based batter decision-making. Initially, a Chi-Square test of independence was used to determine if bowling lengths were associated with the foot-based decision-making of batters. Subsequently, the relationship of specific foot-based strokes with different bowling lengths were further examined through a Logistic Regression. Post-Hoc analysis of standardised residuals from Chi-Square tests suggest an association between foot-based decision-making and dot balls (χ2(1) = 99.798, p < .001). Furthermore, Logistic Regression results reveal that all length zones except the half-tracker length show statistically significant association with front-foot and back-foot strokes. Respective coefficients of these length zones also show an organisation of specific strokes with front-foot stroke dominating lengths close to the batter (yorker, full-toss, half-volley and good length) and back-foot strokes dominating zones further away from the batter (back of a length and short length). The results confirm interdependence between batter-bowler performances and suggest that batters in ODI cricket prefer meeting the ball on the front foot in their search of scoring runs.

Prevalence and Anatomical Distribution of Non-Contact Musculoskeletal Pain among Elite Adolescent Cricket Fast Bowlers in Sri Lanka

Prevalence and Anatomical Distribution of Non-Contact Musculoskeletal Pain among Elite Adolescent Cricket Fast Bowlers in Sri Lanka

Can an inertial measurement unit, combined with machine learning, accurately measure ground reaction forces in cricket fast bowling?

ABSTRACT This study examined whether an inertial measurement unit (IMU) could measure ground reaction force (GRF) during a cricket fast bowling delivery. Eighteen male fast bowlers had IMUs attached to their upper back and bowling wrist. Each participant bowled 36 deliveries, split into three different intensity zones: low = 70% of maximum perceived bowling effort, medium = 85%, and high = 100%. A force plate was embedded into the bowling crease to measure the ground truth GRF. Three machine learning models were used to estimate GRF from the IMU data. The best results from all models showed a mean absolute percentage error of 22.1% body weights (BW) for vertical and horizontal peak force, 24.1% for vertical impulse, 32.6% and 33.6% for vertical and horizontal loading rates, respectively. The linear support vector machine model had the most consistent results. Although results were similar to other papers that have estimated GRF, the error would likely prevent its use in individual monitoring. However, due to the large differences in raw GRFs between participants, researchers may be able to help identify links among GRF, injury, and performance by categorising values into levels (i.e., low and high).

Effect of Indian clubbell exercises on cricket fast bowlers' shoulder kinematics.

The glenohumeral joint's rotational range of motion (ROM) and muscle strength are essential to execute the cricket bowling action. Performing shoulder rotation exercises may increase the rotator cuff muscle strength and rotational ROM. The aim of this study was to test the effect of a six-week exercise programme on shoulder rotational ROM and muscle strength. Twenty-one healthy male cricket fast bowlers were recruited, ranked and pair-matched on initial shoulder rotator muscle strength and assigned to either a shoulder exercise (SE) group or cricket training (CT) only group. The SE group incorporated Indian clubbell exercises in addition to their cricket training. Bowlers in both groups displayed a large increase on the dominant shoulder's internal rotation (IR) ROM, but only the SE group's bowlers displayed ROM improvements (p<0.001) bilaterally for both internal and external rotation. The CT group's fast bowler's non-dominant shoulder IR ROM significantly decreased (p=0.02) during the six weeks. Between groups, only the SE group's bowler's internal rotator muscle strength improved (p<0.001) bilaterally. The observed kinematic changes were statistically significantly greater at a 5% level for the SE group's bowlers (bilateral internal rotators muscle strength, non-dominant shoulder IR ROM and horizontal adduction ROM). Maintenance of the shoulder's rotational ROM and muscle strength is vital for a fast bowler. Cricket bowlers who perform regular clubbell exercises might increase their shoulder's ROM and internal rotator cuffs' muscle strength, which may aid in stabilising their glenohumeral joint while bowling.

Adopting a Constraints-Led Approach to Enhance Skill Acquisition for Fast Bowlers in Grassroots Cricket

In this quantitative study, a bespoke coaching drill was designed and tested over a 16-week period with the ultimate aim of improving the bowling accuracy of 6 participant seam bowlers. This experiment consisted of 6 participants that were all male and had a mean age of 19.5  7.5, mean height (cm) of 184.75  5.57 and mean weight (kg) of 78.05  9.87. Due to the repeated measures experimental design, paired samples t-tests were conducted to assess the effectiveness of this coaching intervention and compare performances between the “control” phase and the “training” phase. Results revealed that this purposely designed coaching drill led to a significant improvement of bowling lines (p 0.001) with a moderate effect size and bowling lengths (p 0.001) with a large effect size. This coaching intervention did not however have any significant effect upon bowling discipline (p = 0.134). Evidence is discovered proving that the regular repetition of exercises over a prolonged period of time can ultimately enhance motor skill refinement. From a practical perspective, coaches can replicate the drill introduced in this study as a means of skill acquisition and skill refinement for their seam bowlers.

Cross-Sectional Study to Explore the Prevalence of Shoulder Impingement and Its Association with Training Volume Among Cricketers in Sport Academies of Faisalabad

Purpose: Cricketers are vulnerable to high-risk injuries. Throwing and striking are the two activities that put the most strain and effort at the shoulder joint and leads to shoulder impingement and other problems. To explore the prevalence of shoulder impingement and its association with training volume among cricketers in sport academies of Faisalabad.&#x0D; Methodology: It was cross-sectional study. Study was conducted from November 2018 to January 2019. Sample size of the study was 116. Convenient sampling technique was used to enrolled participants in study. Inclusion criteria of the study were the cricket players of age between 13 to 22 years, practice regularly in sport academies of Faisalabad. Players of Faisalabad cricket academies including, Saeed Ajmal International Cricket Academy, Eden cricket &amp; Fitness center, Combined cricket club, National Cricket Club, Lyallpur Gymkhana cricket club and Prince Gymkhana Cricket Club, Faisalabad were interviewed and evaluated for the presence of shoulder impingement. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 22. Data was presented in forms of tables and graphs.&#x0D; Findings: Out of 116 cricket players, 28.44% were spinners, 41.37% were fast bowlers and 30.17% were batsmen. Shoulder impingement was found to be present in 49(42%) of the cricketers in sport academies of Faisalabad. Chi- square test showed a statistically significant association between shoulder impingement and training volume (p&lt;0.05).&#x0D; Recommendations: Shoulder impingement had a prevalence of 42% in cricketers of Faisalabad. A statistically significant association was found between shoulder impingement and training volume among cricketers of sport academies in Faisalabad. This study was informed by the BiomechanicalTheory, emphasizing the importance of considering mechanical stressors on the shoulder region in cricketers. To reduce the occurrence of shoulder pain among cricket players, practitioners should emphasize proper biomechanical techniques in training programs, with a focus on shoulder joint stability and injury prevention strategies. Policymakers should advocate for sports injury prevention programs that incorporate fundamental biomechanical concepts into training curricula, ensuring cricket players' long-term shoulder health and ensuring the sport's long-term viability.

A Pilot Study on the Correlation between Hip–Shoulder Separation Angle and Lateral Trunk Flexion in Indian Collegiate Fast Bowlers

A Pilot Study on the Correlation between Hip–Shoulder Separation Angle and Lateral Trunk Flexion in Indian Collegiate Fast Bowlers

Intrinsic variables associated with low back pain and lumbar spine injury in fast bowlers in cricket: a systematic review

BackgroundLumbar spine injuries in fast bowlers account for the greatest missed playing time in cricket. A range of extrinsic and intrinsic variables are hypothesised to be associated with low back pain and lumbar spine injury in fast bowlers, and an improved understanding of intrinsic variables is necessary as these may alter load tolerance and injury risk associated with fast bowling. This review critically evaluated studies reporting intrinsic variables associated with low back pain and lumbar spine injury in fast bowlers and identified areas for future investigation.MethodsOVID Medline, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases were last searched on 3 June 2022 to identify studies investigating intrinsic variables associated with low back pain and lumbar spine injury in cricket fast bowlers. Terms relevant to cricket fast bowling, and intrinsic variables associated with lumbar spine injury and low back pain in fast bowlers were searched. 1,503 abstracts were screened, and 118 full‐text articles were appraised to determine whether they met inclusion criteria. Two authors independently screened search results and assessed risk of bias using a modified version of the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool.ResultsTwenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, no included studies demonstrated a low risk of bias, two studies were identified as moderate risk, and twenty-three studies were identified as high risk. Conflicting results were reported amongst studies investigating associations of fast bowling kinematics and kinetics, trunk and lumbar anatomical features, anthropometric traits, age, and neuromuscular characteristics with low back pain and lumbar spine injury.ConclusionInconsistencies in results may be related to differences in study design, injury definitions, participant characteristics, measurement parameters, and statistical analyses. Low back pain and lumbar spine injury occurrence in fast bowlers remain high, and this may be due to an absence of low bias studies that have informed recommendations for their prevention. Future research should employ clearly defined injury outcomes, analyse continuous datasets, utilise models that better represent lumbar kinematics and kinetics during fast bowling, and better quantify previous injury, lumbar anatomical features and lumbar maturation.Trial registrationOpen Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ERKZ2.

Beyond the Boundary: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Published Research on Injuries in Cricket.

Cricket, a sport immensely popular in the Indian subcontinent and Commonwealth countries, boasts a staggering global following of over 1 billion enthusiasts. However, injuries in cricket are prevalent, resulting in detrimental effects on player performance and leading to substantial absenteeism from the game. In recent times, there has been a surge in interest on the epidemiology, biomechanics, and prevention of cricket-related injuries. To gain comprehensive insights into the existing research landscape, we present a bibliometric analysis of the published research on cricket injuries. The Web of Science database was searched using a well-defined search strategy. Original research articles looking at any aspect of injuries in cricket were included. Search results were imported into the R Bibliometrix package for analysis. Analysis of bibliometric parameters included top authors, journals, countries and keywords. Co-occurrence networks were generated and thematic mapping was performed to identify emerging research topics. 423 publications from 126 journals were included. An increasing trend in publications was noted. JW Orchard was the highest published author; Australia was the highest published country and the Journal of Science and Sport in Medicine had the highest number of publications. Fast bowlers were the most extensively researched and the major research was noted to focus on three niche areas, i.e., epidemiology, consensus definitions and spinal issues in fast bowlers. Research on batsmen, wicketkeepers and fielders was relatively sparse. Furthermore, we observed limited representation of research from the Indian subcontinent, despite cricket's immense popularity in the region. Our study findings highlight that majority of the cricket injury research stems from developed countries. The primary research areas include epidemiology, injury prevention, and biomechanics, with a particular focus on fast bowlers. However, much more has to be done to encourage research publications, focused on batsmen, wicketkeeper and fielders, as well as cricket in the developing world. These insights are essential for researchers seeking to delve into cricket-related studies and organizations aiming to advance injury prevention research in cricket.

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

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.