Not as simple as it seems: Front foot contact kinetics, muscle function and ball release speed in cricket pace bowlers.

This study investigated the relationship between front foot contact (FFC) ground reaction forces (GRF) during the delivery stride, lower-limb strength, eccentric dexterity and power, and ball release speed (BRS) among pace bowlers. Thirteen high-level male pace bowlers performed double and single leg drop landings; isometric mid-thigh pull; countermovement jump; and pace bowling (two-over bowling spell measuring BRS and FFC GRF). The relationship between assessed variables and BRS was determined via frequentist and Bayesian multiple linear regression. The model including peak braking force was the most probable given the data (Bayes Factor=1.713) but provided only weak evidence in comparison to the null model. The results of frequentist and Bayesian modelling were comparable with peak braking force explaining 23.3% of the variance in BRS (F(1, 11)=4.64, P=0.054). Results indicate pace bowlers with greater peak braking GRF during FFC generally elicit higher BRS. However, the weak relationship between peak braking force and BRS, and the lack of a linear relationship between BRS and other variables, highlights the complexities and inter-individual variability inherent to pace bowling at a high-level. A more individual-focused analysis revealed varied strategies within pace bowlers to deliver the outcome (e.g., BRS) and should be considered in future study designs.

The influence of elbow joint kinematics on wrist speed in cricket fast bowling.

This modelling study sought to describe the relationships between elbow joint kinematics and wrist joint linear velocity in cricket fast bowlers, and to assess the sensitivity of wrist velocity to systematic manipulations of empirical joint kinematic profiles. A 12-camera Vicon motion analysis system operating at 250 Hz recorded the bowling actions of 12 high performance fast bowlers. Empirical elbow joint kinematic data were entered into a cricket bowling specific "Forward Kinematic Model" and then subsequently underwent fixed angle, angular offset and angle amplification manipulations. A combination of 20° flexion and 20° abduction at the elbow was shown to maximise wrist velocity within the experimental limits. An increased elbow flexion offset manipulation elicited an increase in wrist velocity. Amplification of elbow joint flexion-extension angular displacement indicated that, contrary to previous research, elbow extension range of motion and angular velocity at the time of ball release were negatively related to wrist velocity. Some relationships between manipulated joint angular waveforms and wrist velocity were non-linear, supporting the use of a model that accounts for the non-linear relationships between execution and outcome variables in assessing the relationships between elbow joint kinematics and wrist joint velocity in cricket fast bowlers.