As the international cricket season kicks off in Australia, new research sheds light on the distinctive techniques elite fast bowlers use to create swing. The study from SPRING member Rian Crowther in collaboration with researchers from Cricket Australia, Queensland University of Technology, Flinders University, La Trobe University, University of Technology Sydney, and University of Canberra explored the technique variability among pre-elite and elite Australian fast bowlers, focusing on their unique methods for generating conventional swing. This research, published in the Journal of Sports Sciences, investigated how elite and pre-elite Australian fast bowlers use different techniques to achieve swing bowling with new cricket balls. Swing bowling is when the ball moves sideways in the air, making it harder for the batter to hit. The study looked at how bowlers grip the ball and the movements of their pelvis, torso, shoulder, elbow, wrist, upper arm, forearm, and hand when they release the ball. The researchers found that each bowler has their own unique way of creating swing, which means there is a lot of variation between bowlers (inter-athlete variability). Even the same bowler can change their technique from one delivery to the next (intra-athlete variability).
The research showed that while bowlers have some relatively stable technique components in their larger body parts (like the pelvis and torso), they vary their arm movements more. This allows them to make constant adjustments in the kinetic chain to cope with the body’s movement variabilities so they can stabilise the ball’s seam orientation to swing the ball consistently. This adaptability is a key skill for effective swing bowling. Our findings suggest that coaches should focus on individualised training approaches and use training activities that encourage bowlers to experiment and find their own successful techniques. In line with the Ecological Dynamics approach to skill acquisition this approach can help bowlers develop their own unique strategies to consistently produce swing when competing in a complex performance environment.
The lead researcher, Cody Lindsay commented:
“We approached this research hoping to identify aspects of the bowling action that all bowlers can use to create swing. When watching the bowlers during testing, it became clear that everyone moves differently and that athletes adjust their movements from one performance to the next. Traditionally, biomechanics research has focused on applying research findings to groups of individuals, but this study highlighted that this may not be the best approach, particularly in elite sports where small changes in movement can be the difference between success and failure. Exploring movement variability in this study has changed my approach to biomechanics research in other areas. I now often find myself thinking about how individuals complete a variety of movements differently and whether my research approach and findings can be applied in these situations.”