The relationship between bowling intensity and ground reaction force in cricket pace bowlers

This study examined the relationship between perceived bowling intensity, ball release speed and ground reaction force (measured by peak force, impulse and loading rate) in male pace bowlers. Twenty participants each bowled 36 deliveries, split evenly across three perceived intensity zones: low = 70% of maximum perceived bowling effort, medium = 85%, and high = 100%. Peak force and loading rate were significantly different across the three perceived intensity zones in the horizontal and vertical directions (Cohen’s d range = 0.14–0.45, p < 0.01). When ball release speed increased, peak force and loading rate also increased in the horizontal and vertical directions (ηp2 = 0.04–0.18, p < 0.01). Lastly, bowling at submaximal intensities (i.e., low–medium) was associated with larger decreases in peak horizontal force (7.9–12.3% decrease), impulse (15.8–21.4%) and loading rate (7.4–12.7%) compared to decreases in ball release speed (5.4–8.3%). This may have implications for bowling strategies implemented during training and matches, particularly for preserving energy and reducing injury risk.