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The Fast Medium Bowler PDF
The Fast Medium Bowler PDF
Aim:
To inform young cricketers, parents and coaches on the role and importance of sports
biomechanics and technical analysis in maximising performance and prevention of injury
both in training and competition.
To develop a coherent technical model of sports biomechanics and technical analysis for all
fast-medium bowlers for the England and Wales Cricket Board.
During the summer of 2001, sixty fast-medium bowlers playing England age groups U13, U14, U15, U17 and
U19 were filmed and analysed during competitive play. Each bowler was filmed from three angles, side-on, front-
on and back view. Technical and biomechanical analysis were made for each bowler using the following phases,
Pre Delivery Stride (gather), Mid bound, Back Foot Contact, Mid position / Front foot contact, Release and
Follow Through.
Throughout the bowling action the following key biomechanical parameters formed the bases of the study:
approach speed, angle of run-up, feet position during the delivery phase, hip-to-shoulder separation angle, upper
torso & arm position, release height, front knee angle during front foot contact, delivery stride length and follow
through. As a result of this investigation, this study highlights the most commonly found biomechanical and
technical problems associated with fast-medium bowling. The seven most common technical problems are reported
below. The percentage figure represents the number of bowlers associated with that particular technical problem.
The technical problems presented in this document are, in the opinion of the authors, the priority sequence that a
coach should use as a template, when working with young fast bowlers: All the following descriptions assume a
right-handed bowler bowling to a right-handed batsman.
2) Long Arms prior to delivery: (Momentum directed upwards and not towards the target! 40%)
For a number of bowlers analysed the following symptom was very common: What goes up
must come down! The higher the bound, the greater the force that is exerted on the body during
landing. This can lead to a number of problems. Momentum is lost due to
(1) the bowling hand and ball starting in front of the body.
(2) the bowling arm begins to rise high above the bowlers head
(3) The ball and arm are moving backwards whilst the body moves forwards.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3 below gives an indication of the good and poor alignment. The red arrow represents a straight line from
the bowlers middle stump to the target (batmens middle stump). The yellow line is a vertical line drawing. The
black arrow indicates the direction of the feet at FFC. This example highlights the problems of blocking off the
front foot during the delivery phase. It is very inefficient, plus it increases the amount of force around the lower
back were injuries could occur very quickly. Figure 3a shows the black arrow pointing towards fine leg, where as
in Figure 3b the black arrow is pointing directly towards off stump.
Figure 3a Figure 3b
Figure 4 is very inefficient, plus the bowler has lost a tremendous amount of
height. All the bowlers momentum is absorbed by the front leg, instead of
bowling up and over a braced front leg. On many occasions the angle of the front
leg reduced even further after the ball was released. Ideally, the front knee angle
should be constant at the point of release.
Figure 6 highlights even though the hip-to-shoulder separation angle may be very small,
there can still be a large degree of lateral flexion in the spine. This over time will create
problems around the lumbar region (lower back) along with rib injuries. Physical
conditioning of this area is vital for the fast bowler.
Very few bowlers demonstrated good alignment. In an ideal technique the pre-delivery stride, BFC, FFC and the
first stride in the follow through should be in a straight line, AIMING TOWARDS THE TARGET. This should
maximise the efficiency of the action; the top half and lower halves of the body will not be fighting each other. It
is a simple procedure for all coaches to check and should do so on a regular basis.
The image sequence below shows an example of a bowler jumping outwards towards 2nd slip. The red line
follows the path of the feet during the action. The black arrow shows the target line. The two are totally different.
Every effort should be made to get the run-up on a straight line and thus allow good alignment to happen
naturally. The pre-delivery stride, BFC, FFC and the first stride in the follow through should be in a straight line,
AIMING TOWARDS THE TARGET follow the black arrow!
Figure 7
Conclusion
This study investigated the bowling action of sixty fast-medium bowlers playing England age groups U13, U14,
U15, U17 and U19. The most common biomechanical and technical faults were identified. This data was used to
develop a technical model of sports biomechanics and analysis for all fast-medium bowlers. The authors suggest
that if the seven most common technical faults can be eradicated then the young fast-medium bowler would
reduce the risk of injury and fully maximise his / her potential.