The Role of Coaching Strategies and Training Programs in Developing Bowling Speed among Amateur Cricket Players
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62843/jssr.v5i1.478Keywords:
Bowling Speed, Resistance Training, Power Training, Medium-Fast BowlersAbstract
The aim of this research was to assess how power training and resistance affect medium-fast bowlers' bowling speed in cricket. Because of their capacity to create pace, medium-fast bowlers are vital in cricket; nevertheless, it's not known whether power training or resistance can really improve their bowling speed. This research included twenty medium-fast bowlers from cricket clubs of the Sports Board Punjab, aged between twenty and 25 years. Under a pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental design, bowling speeds were assessed using a speed gun both before and after an 8-week resistance and power training intervention. Emphasizing strength and plyometric activities meant to increase explosive power, the training sessions included moderate to high-intensity workouts. The mean speed of the participants improved significantly; from 118.75 km/h in the pre-test to 126.65 km/h in the post-test. A paired sample t-test revealed statistical relevance with a 0.000 p-value. A somewhat smaller range in bowling speed points to more consistent bowlers. Training was validated by pre-test and post-test speeds showing a modest positive correlation. The results imply that power and resistance training can increase the bowling speed of medium-fast bowlers, hence improving cricket performance. Bowlers were advised by coaches and trainers to include such drills to raise their performance. Long-term effects of this training on bowling speed and injury avoidance should be investigated in next studies.
Keywords: Bowling Speed, Resistance Training, Power Training, Medium-Fast Bowlers.
References
Abdollahipour, R., Valtr, L., & Wulf, G. (2019). Optimizing bowling performance. Journal of motor learning and development, 8(2), 233-244. https://doi.org/10.1123/jmld.2019-0017
Ahmad, C. S., & Schulz, B. M. (2021). Sports-specific biomechanics the kinetic chain. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 9(1), 71.
Akhtar, S., Scarf, P., & Rasool, Z. (2015). Rating players in test match cricket. The Journal of the Operational Research Society, 66(4), 684–695. https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.2014.30
Ali, B., Gillani, S. M. B., & Zeeshan Butt, M. (2022). Effect of Isometric Squat exercise on sprint performance of football players. THE SKY-International Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences (IJPESS), 6, 139–154. https://doi.org/10.51846/the-sky.v6i0.1837
Anand, P. C., Khanna, G. L., Chorsiya, V., & Geomon, T. (2017). Relationship of core stability with bowling speed in male cricket medium and medium fast bowlers. Al Ameen J Med Sci, 10(3), 8-11.
Bartlett, R. M. (2003). The science and medicine of cricket: an overview and update. Journal of sports sciences, 21(9), 733-752. https://doi.org/10.1080/0264041031000140257
Boyat, A. K., & Rathod, P. V. (2021). A Study to Identify the Most Common Exercises Used in Cricket for Improving Speed in Medium Fast Bowlers in India-A Mail Survey. Journal of Research in Medical and Dental Science, 9(1), 1-7.
Boyat, A. K., & Rathod, P. V. (2022). Designing and testing basic protocol for medium fast bowler to increase the speed and accuracy. International Journal of Health Sciences (IJHS), 11165–11170. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6ns2.8013
Boyce, L., & Schoenfeld, M. (2022). Strength training for all body types: The science of lifting and levers. Human Kinetics.
Brearley, M. (2015). The Art of Captaincy: What sport teaches us about leadership. Pan Macmillan.
Brown, T., McAuley, A. B., Khawaja, I., Gough, L. A., & Kelly, A. L. (2023). Talent identification and development in male cricket: A systematic review. J Expert, 6(2), 176-206.
Callaghan, S. J., Lockie, R. G., Tallent, J., Chipchase, R. F., Andrews, W. A., & Nimphius, S. (2024). The effects of strength training upon front foot contact ground reaction forces and ball release speed among high-level cricket pace bowlers. Sports Biomechanics, 23(9), 1193-1209. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2021.1942540
Christie, C. J.-A. (2012). The physical demands of batting and fast bowling in cricket. In An international perspective on topics in sports medicine and sports injury. IntechOpen.
Elahi, I. (2024). A training guidebook to improve the fitness of Otaniemi Cricket Club in Finland. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024101126361
Feros, S. A. (2015). The Determinants and Development of Fast Bowling Performance in Cricket. An Internasional Perspective on Topics in Sports Medicine and Sports Injury.
Feros, S. A., Young, W. B., & O’Brien, B. J. (2018). Quantifying cricket fast-bowling skill. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 13(7), 830–838. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2017-0169
Forrest, M. R. L., Scott, B. R., Hebert, J. J., & Dempsey, A. R. (2018). Injury prevention strategies for adolescent cricket pace bowlers. Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 48(11), 2449–2461. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0981-6
Gillani, S. M. B., Ahmed, S. I., & Ali, B. (2020). Nutritional Supplements & Athletes-An Analysis of Potential Side Effects. THE SKY-International Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences (IJPESS)(1), 94-100. https://doi.org/10.51846/the-sky.v4i1.818
Gloeckle, F., Idrissi, B. Y., Rozière, B., Lopez-Paz, D., & Synnaeve, G. (2024). Better & faster large language models via multi-token prediction. arXiv preprint arXiv:2404.19737. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2404.19737
Harland, A. W. (2023). Physical Match Demands of Women’s International Cricket University of Essex].
Harwood, M. J. (2018). Scaling the pitch for junior cricketers Loughborough University].
Herridge, R., Turner, A., & Bishop, C. (2020). Monitoring changes in power, speed, agility, and endurance in elite cricketers during the off-season period. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(8), 2285–2293. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002077
Hinitz, D. (2016). Bowling psychology. Human Kinetics.
Hislen, S. (2023). Exploring adolescent fast bowling: a mixed methods approach (Doctoral dissertation).
Johnstone, J. A., & Ford, P. A. (2010). Physiologic profile of professional cricketers. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 24(11), 2900-2907. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181bac3a7
Johnstone, J. A., Mitchell, A. C., Hughes, G., Watson, T., Ford, P. A., & Garrett, A. T. (2014). The athletic profile of fast bowling in cricket: A review. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(5), 1465-1473. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182a20f8c
Kiely, N., Pickering Rodriguez, L., Watsford, M., Reddin, T., Hardy, S., & Duffield, R. (2021). The influence of technique and physical capacity on ball release speed in cricket fast-bowling. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(20), 2361–2369. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2021.1933349
Lascu, A., Spratford, W., Pyne, D. B., & Etxebarria, N. (2021). Talent development in women’s cricket: Perceptions and practices of elite players and coaches. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16(4), 900–912. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541211012943
Loram, L., McKinon, W., Wormgoor, S., Rogers, G., Nowak, I., & Harden, L. (2005). Determinants of ball release speed in schoolboy fast-medium bowlers in cricket. Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 45(4), 483.
Maker, R. (2019). The effects of four-week resistance training on cricket bowling velocity [Cape Peninsula University of Technology].
Malcolm, D., Jon, G., & Nalin, M. (2013). Cricket and modernity: International and interdisciplinary perspectives on the study of the Imperial Game. In The Changing Face of Cricket (pp. 1-16). Routledge.
Mani, E. (2009). A strong sport growing stronger: a perspective on the growth, development and future of international cricket. Sport in Society, 12(4-5), 681-693. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430430802702970
Nagaraj, T. (2017). Effect of general specific and combined fitness training on selected skill related fitness and performance among cricket players (Doctoral dissertation).
Nell, B. J. (2016). Workloads of semi-professional cricket players, participating in three different match formats over a competitive season [Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University].
Noakes, T. D., & Durandt, J. J. (2000). Physiological requirements of cricket. Journal of Sports Sciences, 18(12), 919–929. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404100446739
Noorbhai, M. H., & Noakes, T. D. (2015). Advances in cricket in the 21st century: Science, performance and technology. African Journal for Physical Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 21(4.2), 1310-1320. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC182298
Peploe, C. (2016). The kinematics of batting against fast bowling in cricket [Loughborough University].
Pote, L. (2018). Strength and conditioning of adolescent male cricket players [PhD Thesis, Rhodes University]. https://core.ac.uk/reader/158296080
Ramachandran, A. K., Singh, U., Connor, J. D., & Doma, K. (2024). Biomechanical and physical determinants of bowling speed in cricket: a novel approach to systematic review and meta-analysis of correlational data. Sports Biomechanics, 23(3), 347–369. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2020.1858152
Ring, C., Kavussanu, M., Al-Yaaribi, A., Tenenbaum, G., & Stanger, N. (2019). Effects of antisocial behaviour on opponent’s anger, attention, and performance. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(8), 871–877. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1532061
Sandoval, L. D. B. (2018). Fatigue Assessment Vs. Military Performance [Universidade do Porto (Portugal)].
Sholto-Douglas, R., Cook, R., Wilkie, M., & Christie, C. J.-A. (2020). Movement demands of an elite cricket team during the big bash league in Australia. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 19(1), 59.
Thorley, J. (2021). Age-related changes in the performance of bowlers in Test match cricket. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16(5), 1138–1151. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541211001726
Weldon, A., Duncan, M. J., Turner, A., Lockie, R. G., & Loturco, I. (2022). Practices of strength and conditioning coaches in professional sports: a systematic review. Biology of Sport, 39(3), 715–726. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2022.107480
Wigmore, T., & Wilde, F. (2019). Cricket 2.0: Inside the T20 Revolution-Wisden Book of the Year 2020. Birlinn Ltd.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Copyright in the Journal of Social Sciences Review is retained by the author(s). Authors also grant any third party the right to use the article freely as long as its integrity is maintained and its original authors, citation details and publisher are identified.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
SSR's Editorial Board shares the vision of providing free access to information, education, and science for everyone, thus promoting its content through an OPEN ACCESS POLICY, fulfilling the DOAJ definition of open access. The JSSR adheres to an Open Access and Copyright Licensing Policy based on the belief that making research freely accessible to the public promotes greater global knowledge sharing.
The JSSR uses the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. The authors who apply and publish in JSSR consent to abide by the copyright policy set out in the Creative Commons 4.0 license (Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license).
- Copyright in the Journal of Social Sciences Review is retained by the author(s).
 - Authors also grant any third party the right to use the article freely as long as its integrity is maintained and its original authors, citation details and publisher are identified.
 
While "By 'open access' to this literature, we mean its free availability on the public internet, permitting any users to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of these articles, crawl them for indexing, pass them as data to software, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without financial, legal, or technical barriers other than those inseparable from gaining access to the internet itself."
						
							