Illegal bowling actions contribute to performance in cricket finger‐spin bowlers

Abstract

With advances in technology, scientists are now able to more accurately measure elbow displacement changes during the cricket bowling action. This has led to the realization that the majority of bowlers undergo some degree of elbow extension during the forward swing phase of bowling. Consequently, the International Cricket Council were obliged to revise the once zero tolerance for elbow extension threshold to a 15° range. However, it is still not understood if bowling with >15° of elbow extension aids performance or alters other kinematic movements. The purpose of this study was to compare performance and technique measures between legal and illegal finger-spin bowlers. Data were collected from 48 pathway and elite bowlers using a 22-camera motion analysis system. Results indicated that the ball velocity and revolutions at ball release of pathway bowlers with illegal actions showed no significant difference and were similar to elite legal bowlers. Technique differences were also identified, with illegal bowlers being more front-on, forcing a reliance on increased elbow flexion and supination to impart effective ball kinematics at ball release. The performance benefit of greater ball velocity and revolutions is obtained when finger-spin bowlers deliver the ball with more than the allowable 15° of elbow extension, thus reinforcing the validity of the current bowling laws. To counteract bowling with an illegal action, it is recommended that a more side-on technique at back foot impact and rotating the trunk through to the point of ball release will assist bowlers in reducing undesirable elbow extension levels.

Proximal cueing to reduce elbow extension levels in suspect spin bowlers: A case study

“…Given that any extension post ball release is not included in the determination of an illegal bowling action, 11 this allows bowlers to maximise the use of their extension through ball release to potentially gain a performance advantage. 18 The highest extension level was seen in the doosra, a delivery type which has previously been shown to produce a higher elbow flexion angle at upper arm horizontal and a larger elbow extension range of motion. 14 Figure 2.…”

“…It is possible that this may have been a consequence of the remediation programme focussing on changes to a more side-on trunk alignment, whereas the doosra is typically bowled with a more front-on alignment. 18 The technique change may have acted as a proxy task perturbation, where the participant increased his movement variability as an adaptive mechanism in order to find a coordination pattern that was acceptable. 25,26 These results support further cricket bowling research investigating coordinative movement patterns 27 to understand changes in technique through remediation and gain an understanding of individualistic cricket bowing technique.…”

“…However, visual feedback was provided to the player regularly via video recordings. Both empirical 17,18 and anecdotal 19,20 evidence suggests that pelvis and trunk alignment plays a large role in elbow flexion–extension (FE) levels. Therefore, a phasic analysis approach 21 whereby intervention priorities were considered in technical sequence was undertaken for the remediation programme that consisted of making technical changes to the bowler’s: angle of approach: increase the angle of the bowler’s approach (run-up) to aid in changes to shoulder alignment.…”

“…Ball release speed was used as a measure of performance 18 with a paired-samples t-test implemented to determine the difference in ball release speed pre- and post-remediation. Elbow FE waveforms were time normalised from when the upper arm was at the level of the shoulder joint centre to the moment of ball release, ‘the delivery cycle’.…”

“…23 This analysis has previously been used to compare elbow FE waveforms in cricket bowling. 16,18 Coefficients of multiple determination ( R 2 ) were calculated to assess the inter-trial variability of elbow FE pre- and post-remediation. 14 Elbow FE angle at upper arm horizontal and ball release, as well as maximum elbow flexion angle and elbow extension range, were extracted from waveform data for each trial from both pre- and post-remediation bowling assessments.…”