Needs Analysis: Fast Bowling

To improve performance and reduce your risk of injury, it is vital to understand the demands of your role. Position-specific programmes allow us to tailor cricket fitness programmes to the demands of each role. We create all of our position specific programmes based on a needs analysis of the role.

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Physical qualities required for fast bowlers

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Upper body strength

Upper body strength has a positive correlation with delivery speed. Whilst this doesn't mean you have to be big and bulky, more strength gives you more force in the tank to use.

Core strength

Fast bowling is a very unnatural movement pattern for the trunk. It is hyperextended, laterally flexed, rotated and flexed so building a stable and strong core is key to reducing your risk of common lower back injuries

Sprint speed

The more speed you can generate in your run up, gives you more momentum to transfer into the ball. Not only that, but becoming a better sprinter makes you a better all-round athlete.

Lower body strength

This is crucial in dealing with large ground reaction forces. A strong lower body will make you more robust but also more powerful. Win-win!

Power & reactive strength

Increases rate of force development to increase delivery speed. Especially at back foot contact, you want to spend as little time as possible which requires being able to make contact with the floor and quickly get back of it.