An upper limb kinematic model for the examination of cricket bowling: A case study of Mutiah Muralitharan

We show how biomechanics can be used to accurately assess spin-bowling techniques (offspin, legspin and topspin) in cricket, under controlled conditions, when the player is suspected of throwing. A 50 Hz six-camera Vicon Motion Analysis system was used to record the movements of markers strategicall...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of sports sciences 2000-12, Vol.18 (12), p.975-982
Main Authors: Lloyd, D.G., Alderson, J., Elliott, B.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arm - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Biomechanical Phenomena
Biomechanics Cricket Spin Bowling Three-DIMENSIONAL Kinematics
Elbow - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Male
Models, Anatomic
Range of Motion, Articular - physiology
Sports - legislation & jurisprudence
Sports - physiology
Sri Lanka
Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
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Summary:We show how biomechanics can be used to accurately assess spin-bowling techniques (offspin, legspin and topspin) in cricket, under controlled conditions, when the player is suspected of throwing. A 50 Hz six-camera Vicon Motion Analysis system was used to record the movements of markers strategically placed on the upper limb during each of the above bowling actions. A kinematic model of the upper limb, created using Vicon BodyBuilder® software, enabled the movements of the upper arm and forearm to be described during each delivery. Selected physical characteristics of the upper limb were also measured. The present 'no ball' law in cricket with reference to throwing states that 'the arm should not be straightened in the part of the delivery that immediately precedes ball release'. The bowler, Mutiah Muralitharan, was shown to maintain a relatively constant elbow angle in the 0.06 s before ball release. Furthermore, this angle changed little from the time that the upper arm was angled vertically downward until ball release during the three spin-bowling actions.
ISSN:0264-0414
1466-447X
DOI:10.1080/026404100446775