Effects of Plyometric Training Versus Bowling Drills on Fast Bowlers

Effects of Plyometric Training Versus Bowling Drills on Agility and Speed Among Cricket Fast Bowlers

The sport of cricket calls for a high level of physical fitness and mastery of skills. Cricket players, especially fast bowlers, must have the skills to maintain consistency in their pace and accuracy while bowling helps them prevent batsmen from settling into their innings and helps bowlers succeed in getting wickets. Fast bowlers, being some of the most influential players on the cricket field, must undergo specific trainings. Sports-specific Drills and Plyometric training are two important types of training that help athletes in their particular sports.

Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) will be conducted to compare the effect of plyometric trainings versus bowling drills on speed and agility among fast bowlers. A sample size of 22 club level fast bowlers will be taken through Non-Probability Convenience Sampling Technique. One group of 11 participants will perform Plyometric training and other group of 11 participants will perform Bowling Drills and Ladder drill. Both groups will perform their respective trainings for 6 weeks with 3 sessions per week. Before and after completion of the respective training, speed, agility will be assessed through 30m sprint test, run-a-three test, illinois test, t-test respectively and bowling speed will be measured using a stopwatch to calculate the time required for the ball to reach a batsman and within 22 yards of the pitch. Data will be analyzed by using SPSS for windows version 25.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Only male fast bowler will be recruited to the study.
• Athletes must have been practicing fast bowling for at least one year at the club level.
• Athletes must have been between the ages of 20-35.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Athletes who will have any systemic disease which can hinder the trainings.
• Athletes who would not commit to full participation in the study's training regimes.
• Athletes who have received surgery in the three years prior to the study or undergone rehabilitation within the past year.
• Athletes currently engaged in plyometric training as this may confound the study