title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Belconnen, Australia. david.pyne@ausport.gov.au
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Pyne
authors.forename: Grant M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Duthie
authors.forename: Philo U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Marc R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Portus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology