The science behind fast bowling

Since the inception of cricket fast bowlers are considered to be the most ferocious players of the game, be it men’s or women’s cricket, a unit with Brisky fast bowlers has always dominated the sport. Fast bowlers of the sport have always come up with various bowling actions and run-ups but one common element has been the lanky height of bowlers and, never have we heard a bowler being quickest in the world with the height of 5”1 and weighing 49 kilos unless Shabnim Ismail from South Africa made it look possible.

She doesn’t only hold the record for delivering the fastest bowl in women’s cricket of 128kph but also bowled consistently with a speed of 120kph in the Big Bash League. Hearing of fast bowler we always thought of someone like Jhulan Goswami or Katherine Brunt, six feet tall, long legs with strapping shoulders but wonders were done when Shabnim Ismail of 5”1 bowled the quickest delivery. She has been bowling with such speed for over a decade but no one really talked about it. There have been pundits talking about how the height does not matter for the speed of the bowling but the linear momentum later converted to angular momentum is responsible, but how often in the history of 144 years have we come across small heightened fast bowlers. Snehal Pradhan in conversation with Felton who has previously worked with England & Wales said, “Height is an added bonus to fast bowling, but doesn’t guarantee you the speed. Take the example of Morne Morkel, despite being nine percent taller than Dale Steyn he wasn’t nine percent quicker than him”.

There have been other opinions and bio-mechanics oriented towards fast bowling but the world awaits for Shabnim Ismail to represent South Africa at the upcoming T20 world cup and show her game of ferocious fast bowling.