Science Has Determined the Finest Methods for Becoming a Quick Bowler in Cricket

Two decades ago, Shoaib Akhtar achieved a historic milestone by becoming the pioneer in delivering a ball at an astonishing speed of 100mph (161 km per hour) in the 2003 One-Day International Men's World Cup clash between Pakistan and England. There was anticipation afterwards that this accomplishment would become a frequent happening.

As people have continued to increase their speed, improve their throwing distance, and enhance their jumping abilities, it was thought that this achievement would become a significant moment in history, much like Roger Bannister's record-breaking four-minute mile. There was speculation that it could also serve as a trigger for substantial global enhancement in fast bowling.

Nevertheless, even with the ongoing enhancement in fast bowlers' physical prowess, only Brett Lee and Shaun Tait have managed to surpass the illustrious three-figure milestone in the past decade.

Is the top speed of fast bowling in cricket no longer reaching new heights? In the ongoing 2023 One-Day International Men's World Cup held in India, only a few bowlers have managed to achieve speeds exceeding 90 mph (145 km per hour), with the highest recorded speed being approximately 95mph (153 km per hour).

The success of cricket fast bowlers is heavily reliant on two key factors. One crucial factor to consider is the level of momentum generated during the approach and sustained until the front foot makes contact with the ground. The second aspect involves the method used to create and transfer momentum within the body while bowling, from the moment the front foot touches the ground to the release of the ball from the bowler's hand.

Prior studies have emphasised that the swiftest top-tier male bowlers produce more incredible momentum during their approach, employing a strategic movement technique that focuses on preserving and transferring this momentum into the throw rather than relying on their muscles to generate extra momentum.

Pushing the Boundaries

In order to explore the boundaries of fast bowling performance, a cutting-edge musculoskeletal computer simulation model was created. This model, which replicated the physical attributes of ten top-tier male fast bowlers, allowed for detailed analysis and prediction. It subsequently refined its approach to enhance the velocity at which the ball is released.

Interestingly, the computer model did not anticipate any of these bowlers surpassing the 100mph mark.

To grasp the reasons behind the plateau in top speed, it is crucial to take into account the various elements that impact the movement patterns of fast bowlers and how they influence their technique. 

Three types of constraint shape the behaviour of all our movement patterns. One type of constraint is related to the characteristics of the individual, such as their physical attributes like size, strength, and ability to move. Another aspect that influences movement patterns is the surroundings in which the person engages, encompassing the air, climate, gear, and surfaces. The third factor that influences the outcome is the task itself. This includes various factors like the objective of the activity, the guidelines, and the level of difficulty.

The individual technique in fast bowling is influenced by our past encounters with the movement - our observations, the information we have received, and our previous execution of the movement.

The inherent physicality of the fast bowler, a natural limitation, offers the sole opportunity for growth in the art of fast bowling. The various limitations, such as the surrounding conditions and the specific objective that frequently contribute to the advancement of science and technology in relation to enhancements in different sports, are highly restricted when it comes to fast bowling. The reason for this is the limited availability of equipment and the straightforward nature of the task.

An enhancement in fast bowling performance is frequently attributed to improvements in muscular strength, power, and endurance from a physiological standpoint. Nevertheless, cricket bowling has a distinctive requirement that bowlers keep their arms straight while delivering the ball. This greatly diminishes the amount of time allotted to execute the throwing motion. 

Rapid Initiation

Highly skilled men finish the bowling phase in about 100 milliseconds, which is comparable to the duration needed to stimulate a solitary muscle rapidly. This hinders bowlers from generating extra momentum through their muscles during the bowling phase and cancels out the impact of strength improvements on ball speed.

It is clear why prioritising the maximisation of momentum generated during the run-up is more favourable than generating muscular momentum during the bowling phase. Furthermore, it elucidates the need for more increase in the top speeds of fast bowling despite the recent advancements in the athletic capabilities of fast bowlers.

It is worth noting that studies on female fast bowlers have brought attention to the fact that bowlers who generate less momentum during their run-up, allowing them more time to create additional muscular momentum, tend to adopt a movement pattern that is more similar to throwing. In this method, the energy built up during the approach is further enhanced by engaging the powerful rotational muscles in the torso during the bowling phase.

Enhancing the performance of the extensive rotational core muscles in both males and females may optimise the production of muscular momentum. However, research conducted on fast bowling has deemed this approach less than ideal.

Expanding the extent of joint movement during the bowling phase is one possible way to extend the time available to generate greater muscle force.

Flexible Joints

New studies have revealed that fast bowlers at the top of their game, who possess enhanced flexibility in their hip and shoulder joints, are able to achieve higher ball release speeds. The extent of their mobility shaped the bowlers' methods during their formative years of training.

Furthermore, extending the elbow beyond its normal range – where the joint goes past a straight position – has been proven to enhance the velocity of ball release by as much as 5% during the bowling phase. There is a widespread misunderstanding, though, that taller bowlers will bowl at a higher speed because of the advantage that comes with having longer limbs.

Regrettably, as limbs increase in length, their ability to rotate becomes increasingly challenging. This can be disadvantageous due to the uneven scaling of muscular strength in relation to limb length. Therefore, there may be an ideal height for fast bowlers, although the exact measurement still needs to be discovered.

Genetic factors play a significant role in determining increased ball speed, with characteristics such as body shape, size, and hypermobility being primarily influenced by one's genetic makeup. Given the gradual nature of human evolution, it is reasonable to expect that improvements in ball release speed will also progress at a comparable rate.

Therefore, the 100mph barrier should be seen as a formidable challenge that only a rare talent can conquer rather than an obstacle to progress. The assignment's limitations and our inherent biology restrict the growth potential of this summit.