Howzat?! Why is there an over-representation of left-handed bowlers in professional cricket in the UK?
An analysis of the bowling action of professional cricketers in the UK for four seasons between 1981 and 1991 shows there to be a significant association between handedness and bowling style (seam or spin bowling). Furthermore, there is a significantly higher number of left-handed spin bowlers than would be predicted from the general population, but not left-handed seam bowlers. As the technical differences between left- and right-handed orthodox spin bowlers are much greater than those between left- and right-handed seam bowlers, these data are consistent with the view that the over-representation of left-handed bowlers reported by Wood and Aggleton (1989) is due to strategic rather than neuropsychological factors.
Edwards
S
S
Department of Psychology, University of Wales, Swansea, UK.
Beaton
A
A