Kinematic differences between left- and right-handed cricket fast bowlers during the bowling action

Abstract

Background: Despite differences between left- and right-handed athletes in other sports, minimal evidence exists regarding biomechanical similarities and differences between left- and right-handed cricket fast bowlers performing an equivalent task.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the kinematics between left and right-handed fast bowlers performing an equivalent task (i.e. bowling 'over the wicket' to a batter of the same handedness as the bowler).

Methods: Full body, three-dimensional kinematic data for six left-handed and 20 right-handed adolescent, male, fast bowlers were collected using the Xsens inertial measurement system. Time-normalised joint and segment angle time histories from back foot contact to follow-through ground contacts were compared between groups via statistical parametric mapping. Whole movement and subphase durations were also compared.

Results: Left-handed players displayed significantly more trunk flexion from 49%-56% of the total movement (ball release occurred at 54%; p = 0.037) and had shorter back foot contact durations on average (0.153 vs 0.177 s; p = 0.036) compared to right-handed players.

Conclusion: Left- and right-handed bowlers displayed similar sagittal plane kinematics but appeared to use non-sagittal plane movements differently around the time of ball release. The kinematic differences identified in this study can inform future research investigating the effect of hand dominance on bowling performance and injury risk.

Keywords: biomechanics; dominance; handedness; laterality.

Fig. 1

Angle of release for a left or right-handed bowler bowling ‘around’ or ‘over’ the wicket. (A) Left-handed bowler bowing around the wicket to a left-handed batter; (B) Left-handed bowler over the wicket to left-handed batter; (C) Right-handed bowler bowling around the wicket to a right-handed batter; (D) Right-handed bowler bowling over the wicket to a right-handed batter; (E) Left-handed bowler bowling around the wicket to a right-handed batter; (F) Left-handed bowler bowling over the wicket to a right-handed batter; (G) Right-handed bowler bowling around the wicket to a left-handed batter; (H) Right-handed bowler bowling over the wicket to a left-handed batter.

Fig. 2

Distribution and individual data points for back foot contact phase (top left), front foot contact phase (top right), follow-through phase (bottom left), and total movement (bottom right) durations by left- and right-handed cricket fast bowlers. Horizontal lines on the box and whisker plots represent median and interquartile range.

Fig. 3

Sagittal plane joint angles: front knee flexion/extension (top left); back knee flexion/extension (top right); front hip flexion/extension (bottom left); and back hip flexion/extension (bottom right). Mean (solid lines) ± standard deviation (shaded areas) (left of each sub-figure) and statistical parametric mapping independent samples t-test result (right of each sub-figure) comparing left- and right-handed cricket fast bowlers from 0%–100% of the total time-normalised movement (back foot contact phase + front foot contact phase + follow-through phase, with individual phases separated by dashed vertical lines at front foot contact (left) and ball release (right)). The right-hand aspect of each sub-figure indicates statistical significance if the black t- statistic crosses the red dashed critical threshold.

Fig. 4

Transverse plane segment angles: pelvis rotation (left) and trunk rotation (right). Mean (solid lines) ± standard deviation (shaded areas) (left of each sub-figure) and statistical parametric mapping independent samples t-test result (right of each sub- figure) comparing left- and right-handed cricket fast bowlers from 0%–100% of the total time-normalised movement (back foot contact phase + front foot contact phase + follow-through phase, with individual phases separated by dashed vertical lines at front foot contact (left) and ball release (right). The right-hand aspect of each sub-figure indicates statistical significance if the black t- statistic crosses the red dashed critical threshold.

Fig. 5

Frontal plane trunk side flexion angle. Mean (solid line) ± standard deviation (shaded area) (left) and statistical parametric mapping independent samples t-test result (right) comparing left- and right-handed cricket fast bowlers from 0%–100% of the total time-normalised movement (back foot contact phase + front foot contact phase + follow-through phase, with individual phases separated by dashed vertical lines at front foot contact (left) and ball release (right)). The right-hand graph indicates statistical significance if the black t-statistic crosses the red dashed critical threshold.