on sunday 9th september, worcestershire ccc’s professional and academy fast bowlers took part in the first pace profiling day.
the idea was to get as much information as possible on the players in order to try and maximise the technical and physical work that will be laid out for them in the coming winter.
lead strength & conditioning coach, ross dewar, brought together experts from three different fields to put the players through their paces.
each bowler completed the following:
– bone density scan on their lower back with a first of its kind machine, the echos, performed by renowned back specialist dr nick birch.
– full bowling biomechanical analysis by fast bowling coach steffan jones, using the very latest technology to track things such as run up speed, kinematic sequence, force production, speed which is run through his company pacelab.
– full movement analysis provided by gavin armstrong from functional movement systems uk (fms).
when put together it will provide the coaching staff at New Road with some extremely valuable data on the bowlers, their strengths and weaknesses and everything required to work on over the winter with them.
the profile built up for each bowler will then cover all bases, in the hope of getting in front of the fast bowlers nemesis – injury.
stress fractures and lower back injuries are all too common in fast bowling so this latest technology will help guide the player to have the right training program for their body and game.
the fms screen generates a movement program which will help with any dysfunctions that are happening in the body.
with the echos bone density scan, it informs as to whether the back has enough density to be able to safely train on.
previously there hasn’t been the technology available to obtain a lot of data for actual bowling performance, and so the amount of information that the pacelab testing gives is invaluable, using realtrack wimu and xsens kinematic suit analysis. it’s the first time this has been used in cricket in the uk, although wimu provides support for barcelona fc.
not only does that have technical implications for players, but also helps guide the conditioning program each bowler will undertake, to help them maximise their individual physical characteristics.
the club is very proud to have put on this day and are looking to re-evaluate the players after winter training before next season.
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