PPubMed5 Mar 2024Cited 7×

Functional movement variability to maintain delivery speed in cricket fast bowling Functional movement variability to maintain delivery

Max H. Andrews, Adam D. Gorman, Rian H. Crowther

Abstract

Fast 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.

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Cricket fast bowlers use functional movement variability in stride timings to achieve consistent delivery speeds.

What’s new

i.First study to examine functional movement variability in cricket fast bowling relative to delivery speed
ii.Analyzed stride timing variability (BFC‑FFC and FFC‑BR) across 92 youth bowlers using video and radar measurements
iii.Demonstrated that movement‑timing variability is greater than speed variability, suggesting a functional role
iv.Provided large‑sample CV ratio analysis to quantify variability across bowling phases

How they did it

Ninety‑two male fast bowlers (mean age 16.9 ± 1.3 yr) performed six deliveries each while a 100 fps video camera recorded foot‑contact and ball‑release events and a radar gun measured release speed. The timings of back‑foot contact, front‑foot contact and ball release were identified manually, and coefficients of variation were calculated for the two stride phases and for delivery speed.

What they found

Mean delivery speed was 33 ± 2.0 m·s⁻¹ with a CV of 2.0%
CV ratios showed substantially more variability in movement timings than speed: BFC‑FFC vs speed = 2.31, FFC‑BR vs speed = 2.38, BFC‑BR vs speed = 1.25
Mean timing variability: BFC‑FFC = 4.7% CV, FFC‑BR = 4.8% CV, BFC‑BR = 2.5% CV
No significant differences in timing variability or speed across bowling lengths (p > 0.05)

Caveats

✕Only delivery speed was measured; accuracy was not recorded
✕Movement timing was assessed rather than detailed joint kinematics, limiting insight into underlying mechanics
✕Study used an outdoor pitch with a real batter, differing from previous indoor synthetic‑pitch designs
✕Cross‑sectional design provides preliminary evidence without causal inference

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