No abstract

IN CRICKET, THE ABILITY TO THROW A BALL AT HIGH VELOCITY WITH GREAT ACCURACY IS CRITICAL TO SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE AND OFTEN DETERMINES THE OUTCOME OF MATCHES. THE SKILL OF CRICKET FIELDING INCORPORATES A MOVEMENT PHASE AND A PICK-UP AND THROW PHASE AIMED AT DECREASING RUN RATE OR PRODUCING A RUN OUT OF THE OPPOSITION. A MAJOR ISSUE IN CRICKET IS THE RISK OF INJURY TO PLAYERS ATTRIBUTED TO AN ACUTE SPIKE IN THROWING INTENSITY AND VOLUME DURING PRACTICE AND MATCHES. THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PRACTICES THAT MAY REDUCE THE PREVALENCE OF THROWING-RELATED INJURIES AND IMPROVE THROWING PERFORMANCE.

Talukdar, K, Cronin, J, Zois, J, and Sharp, AP. The role of rotational mobility and power on throwing velocity. J Strength Cond Res 29(4): 905-911, 2015-Sound rotational power and mobility are an integral component in functional performances, such as throwing and striking. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of rotational power and mobility on cricket ball-throwing velocity. Eleven professional cricketers and 10 under-19 club-level cricketers performed the chop and lift, seated and standing cricket ball throw, seated and standing side medicine ball throw, and seated active thoracic rotation range of motion (ROM) and hip rotation ROM on one occasion. Participants were divided into 2 groups (fast and slow) based on their standing cricket ball-throwing velocity. The seated and standing cricket ball throw on the dominant side was significantly different (p , 0.00) between fast and slow throwers (11.03 and 10.7 km$h 21 , respectively). Muscular performance measures, such as bilateral thoracic rotation ROM, hip external rotation ROM on the dominant side, and force and work required in the chop, were significantly different (p # 0.05) between fast and slow throwers. Faster throwers in this study displayed greater force (18.4%) and work (31.2%) outputs in the chop compared with the slower throwers; however, slower throwers showed significantly greater ROM in the thoracic (13.4-16.8%) and hip regions (11.8%). It was concluded that greater ROM at proximal segments, such as hips and thoracic, may not increase throwing velocity in cricket as reduced ROM at proximal segments can be useful in transferring the momentum from the lower extremity in an explosive task such as throwing.

JUMPING- AND HOPPING-BASED TESTS CAN PROVIDE VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO AN ATHLETE'S PROFICIENCY IN BALLISTIC SPORTING MOVEMENTS SUCH AS SPRINTING OR CHANGE OF DIRECTION. CAPTURE AND ANALYSIS OF THIS ARE USUALLY EXPENSIVE AND LABORATORY BASED. RECENT ADVANCEMENTS IN INTEGRATED SMARTPHONE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY FROM THE COMMERCIAL SPACE HAVE LED TO AN INCREASE IN THEIR UTILITY FOR SPORTS PERFORMANCE AND COULD BE EXTREMELY USEFUL TO THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH, BUT THE ACCURACY AND SENSITIVITY OF THESE ARE LARGELY UNDETERMINED. THIS BRIEF REVIEW DISCUSSES THE ACCURACY OF A SMARTPHONE VIDEO APPLICATION CALLED MY JUMP AND ITS VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY FOR JUMP-BASED DIAGNOSTICS.