ANGULAR IMPULSE MOTION-EFFECTS ON FRONT-LEG TECHNIQUE IN CRICKET BOWLING

The purpose of this study was to analyse the joint angular impulse-effect on knee joint extension-flexion angle on a sample of bowlers, determining whether front-leg technique is predominantly dependent on local joint torques or non-local cumulative effects generated elsewhere in the kinetic link chain. Elite young fast bowlers (n=13) were recruited for a motion analysis of their bowling actions in a biomechanics laboratory. Their fast bowling actions were classified according to front-leg technique and their changes in front knee extension-flexion angle related to corresponding joint angular impulse motion-effects. The majority of bowlers (61.5%) bowled with a bent-leg lever. Only 3.4% of knee extension-flexion periods were subject to an active angular impulse motion-effect. This result implies that knee extension-flexion angle in fast bowlers is also dependent on motions occurring away from knee joint, remotely located in the kinetic link chain

TEACHING OPTIMAL SWING MECHANICS

An optimal golf swing technique has been proposed that produces a powertul and accurate stroke while minimising the stress on the shoulders and back. However, the teaching of this technique requires specialist knowledge and training to deal with players of different abilities -from the social player to the professional. Teaching methods have been developed that differ considerably from those normally recommended in conventional golf instructio

BOWLING ARM MECHANICS IN CRICKET

The purpose of this study was to identify the biomechanics of the bowling arm in fast bowlers in cricket. A sample of 34 fast bowlers was divided into four speed groups. A 3D motion analysis system was used to track and analyse the motion trajectory of forty-eight reflective markers placed on each subject to determine the kinematics of segment joint centres. Ground reaction forces were measured with a force platform. These data were used as input to a 3D 15-segment inverse solution model of the human body, which used a Newton-lagrange multiplier iterative method to generate the dynamic equations of motion. The calculations show that the bowling arm segments undergo a sequence of active and controlled motion during the power phase, which tends to vary bowling speed

Injury rate and patterns of Sydney grade cricketers : A prospective study of injuries in 408 cricketers

Background The grade cricket competition, also known as premier cricke

Distribution of modern cricket bowling actions in New Zealand

The classification of bowling actions in cricket is particularly important from an injury perspective. Research has consistently shown that bowlers with a mixed-action technique have an elevated risk of sustaining serious lumbar injury. In this study, 34 New Zealand bowlers (mean age 22.2±0.9 years) of premier competition standard and above were assessed using a three-dimensional motion analysis system (240 Hz). Data were analysed using three previous classification systems before classifying bowlers into the side-on, semi-open, front-on, and mixed-action types based on a modified set of angle threshold criteria and a more intuitive angle convention system. The majority of bowlers in the sample (64.7%) used the mixed action with high levels of shoulder counter-rotation. The strongest predictors of shoulder counter-rotation were shoulder alignment angle and pelvic shoulder separation angle. The current results suggest that a large proportion of fast bowlers may be at a higher risk of lumbar injury from the use of the mixed-action technique. We believe it may be advisable to recommend the semi-open action as an alternative to the front-on action. In addition, the adopted angle convention is more practical than the previous convention for bowling action classification