Combatting injury in fast bowlers

UTS Researchers: Dr Libby Pickering Rodriguez

It’s widely known that the rigors of fast bowling can leave cricketers with significant injury. Dr Libby Pickering Rodriguez’s research with Cricket NSW aims to ensure that the physical risk factors associated with a player’s bowling action are identified so that more time can be spent on the pitch than on the sidelines. Her research analyses bowling technique, training load and monitors injury to identify trends in relation to injuries that are common in fast bowlers.

The UTS Biomechanics Lab is equipped with high specification 3D cameras for motion analysis, 3D force plates embedded into the floor, and wireless electromyography sensors that measure muscle activation and strength. This will allow Dr Pickering Rodriguez to fully synchronise her analysis of athletes’ movements and the level of force they produce while bowling. Her research will capture results continually over a long term period to identify whether there are particular bowling techniques that are more prone to injury and suggest possible injury minimisation strategies.

Libby Pickering Rodriguez

"With load analysis we can investigate whether we need to modify how much players actually bowl and whether they need to rest more often. These findings will be useful for the development of training and strength and conditioning programs to minimise the risk of injury in cricketers and other elite athletes.”  - Dr Libby Pickering Rodriguez

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.