19/02/2017
To aspiring cricketers, juniors, females, and seniors...
Biomechanics is an essential part of sport today. Biomechanical principles can be used to modify the technique for better performances, and reduce injury.
Example:
In cricket, a stable base of support for the backfoot during contact (while bowling) affects the delivery stride and efficiency of each delivery. As shown in image A vs. B.
Ultimately, incorrect technique may lead to injury.
It is evident through analysing the two photos of the varying back-foot strikes that Bowler B has a larger base of support running through his foot region while Bowler A has a smaller base of support running through the foot region.
If we draw a line through the centre of the back foot, we can start to see the impact that a stable back foot has on the overall summation of forces with bowler A able to maintain an upright trunk and torso position due to the instability caused by the foot. When analysing Bowler B, a stable back foot can be observed which in turn produces a large braking force being applied to the rest of the body which results in a large loss of momentum due to the back foot having to wait for the torso to pass in front of the base of support. This results in a longer period of time being spent in the back foot strike phase.
It is therefore the purpose of the back foot to manipulate the ground reaction forces to continue the acceleration of the action so the delivery stride can be fast and efficient.
