Variability of ball release properties and pitch length accuracy in cricket fast bowling

Abstract

Accurate ball pitch length in cricket fast bowling is potentially achieved from a redundant combination of four ball release parameters. Yet, it is unknown how parameter co-variations affect pitch accuracy. This study investigates whether pitch length variance is determined by coordinated ball release parameter co-variability. Twelve fast bowlers performed 18 trials at a target length and ball kinematics were captured from an indoor 3D camera setup. Multi-linear regression analysis showed that the four release parameters accounted for 79% of pitch length variance, where vertical velocity variance accounted for the most variance. When each release parameter was independently shuffled across trials, a pitch length model showed no indication of coordinated co-variability between input parameters. Therefore, pitch length accuracy was achieved by independent control of vertical velocity.