Kinetics of the front-arm technique in cricket fast bowling

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the kinetics of the front arm in cricket fast bowling. Eighteen male fast bowlers (mean age = 17.2 ± 1.6 years; mean height = 1.89 ± 0.05 m; mean mass = 85.0 ± 10.0 kg) were recruited from NSW grade club level and their bowling actions recorded by a Cortex 2.0 motion analysis system (200 Hz). The interaction between joint power and joint angular velocity data was observed simultaneously for the front shoulder and elbow joints. A joint actuation strategy (active or controlled) was assigned to shoulder flexion–extension, abduction–adduction, and elbow flexion–extension motion to understand whether the joint kinematics followed the time-history of the joint torque. The results only partially agreed with the commonly prescribed coaching maxim of “pulling down” the front arm for faster ball speeds. Active extension and adduction of the front shoulder joint were observed during the delivery phase of the action, whereas the acceleration phase was marked by periods of controlled shoulder extension and active shoulder flexion. At the elbow joint, active elbow flexion was observed at a time when it may reduce the moment of inertia about the thoracic and lumbar spine rotation axes. Overall, combinations of active and controlled joint powers were observed for the front shoulder and elbow joints, implying that this sample of bowlers did not adhere to the traditional notion of “pulling down” the front arm as fast as possible.