Anthropometric and strength correlates of fast bowling speed in junior and senior cricketers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize relationships between anthropometric and isoinertial strength characteristics and bowling speed in junior and senior cricket fast bowlers. Subjects were first-class senior (n = 24; mean +/- SD age = 23.9 +/- 4.8 years, height = 187.4 +/- 4.8 cm, mass = 87.8 +/- 8.4 kg) and junior representative (n = 48; mean +/- SD age = 14.8 +/- 1.3 years, height = 175.7 +/- 9.8 cm, mass = 65.8 +/- 12.9 kg) male fast bowlers. A full anthropometric profile, upper- and lower-body isoinertial strength tests, and peak bowling speed (Vpeak) were assessed on the same day. The senior bowlers had a substantially faster Vpeak (126.7 km.h(-1)) than the juniors (99.6 km.h(-1)), a larger estimated muscle mass (seniors 40.0 +/- 3.9 kg, juniors 28.3 +/- 5.6 kg), and a greater bench press throw and deltoid throw (all p < 0.01). The best multiple predictors of Vpeak for the junior bowlers were the static jump, bench throw, body mass, percentage muscle mass, and height (multiple-correlation r = 0.86). For the senior bowlers, static jump and arm length correlated positively with Vpeak (multiple-correlation r = 0.74). The 1-legged countermovement jump was negatively correlated with Vpeak in both groups. We conclude that differences in Vpeak between junior and senior bowlers relate primarily to body mass and upper-body strength. However, lower body strength is a more important contributor to Vpeak in senior bowlers.