Faster, healthier, longer

Our biomechanics research – conducted in partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and dating back to 2004 – has focused on players’ fast bowling techniques with a view to enhancing individual performance whilst reducing the likelihood of injury.

Injury is common among cricketers, and fast bowlers have the highest injury rate of all. Lower back injuries are typical and often require lengthy periods of recuperation.

To date we have supported the training and performance of numerous elite players, including James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jenny Gunn and Mark Wood.

The next stage of our work focused on enhancing an individual’s bowling performance. We took a theoretical approach, developing a cutting-edge simulation model to investigate how different factors limit performance. By observing the individual’s delivery in detail, and providing specific technique modifications, we observed 22% improvement in ball speed.

Next, we developed ways to apply these findings to coaching practice, exploring workload during both training and matches to reduce the incidence of lumbar stress fractures – the greatest time loss injury in cricket. We found that bowling more than 39 overs a week was associated with lumbar stress fractures and accounted for 66% of them.

The success of our work has consolidated our ongoing research partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). It also underpins a revision of the ECB’s fast bowler workload policy in a bid to reduce injury, informs coach education resources, and enhanced fast bowler talent identification.