Cricket fast bowling. PhD research proposal for Commonwealth scholarship Application

You should describe clearly your research question, the methodology that you will use and the potential significance of the study to your discipline. You should also justify why you want to study at each of the institutions and with the supervisor(s) listed in your application. Although the Selection Panel will be well informed professionals, remember that they are not likely to be specialists in your subject.

(750 words maximum)

My Proposal

Title:

The Art of Fast Bowling in Cricket - Biomechanics and Performance

ABSTRACT
Cricket fast bowling is a complex three dimensional movement that requires bowlers to bowl fast accurately. Many bowlers can bowl fast but few are able to successfully combine speed and accuracy. The aim of this study is to identify and quantify the critical biomechanical factors that contribute to successful deliveries at different lengths accurately (bouncer, Yorker and good length).Fast bowling kinematic and kinetic performance data and anthropometric data will be collected on a range of elite fast bowlers. The data will be analysed to establish techniques that allow bowlers to successfully perform different fast bowling deliveries with appropriate speed and accuracy.

INTRODUCTION
Fast bowling is a complex challenging skill at the heart of any successful cricket team (e.g. Australian Ashes winning team 2017/18 - Starc, Cummings and Hazelwood). Biomechanics, the study of human movement; is a powerful tool to analyse and understand the techniques used to perform specific movements. Fast bowling is made up of several phases with the delivery phase from back foot contact through to ball release where the energy developed in the approach is used to generate ball speed. The key technique factors for bowling fast are a quicker run-up, maintain a straighter knee throughout the front foot contact phase, upper trunk flexion between front foot contact and ball release and a delayed bowing arm at front foot contact (Worthington et al., 2013, Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 29, 78-84).

Although lots of research has been conducted on fast bowling technique for speed production, but there is a complete lack of research on bowling accuracy.

Research questions
·What are the biomechanical variables that allow accurate fast bowling?
·How does optimal bowling technique change for different length of delivery (bouncer, Yorker and good length)?

Significance and purpose
This research addresses a key performance question that is not well understood and has a broad interest. With the development and advancement of shorter forms of the game in cricket, the ability to accurately bowl different variations in order to keep the batsmen guessing and prevent runs from being scored has become crucial. The outcome of this research will be invaluable and used to inform coaches about the key technique parameters to focus on when helping bowlers to improve bowling accuracy (while also bowling fast).

METHODS
State of the art biomechanics motion analysis and force plate equipment will be used to accurately record and quantify the techniques used by 25 elite international fast bowlers at the National Cricket Performance Centre at Xxx University, UK. To collect the performance data requires each bowler to have reflective markers placed on key body landmarks. Each participant will bowl 15 deliveries of each delivery type (Yorker, bouncer and good length) with appropriate rest given between deliveries. All testing procedures will be conducted in accordance with Xxxxxx University ethical guidelines and informed consent will be obtained in advance from each participant.

All deliveries will be labelled and key technique variables calculated along with the outcome for each delivery (ball velocity, impact location on the cricket pitch). The time histories for each key variable will then be analysed to establish levels of movement variability during the bowling action for each delivery type and statistical analysis used to establish how technique changes for each individual while bowling different length deliveries. Stepwise linear regression will then be used to identify the technique variables that are associated with bowling accurately.

Justification of location and supervisor

Xxx University offers a unique combination of factors that makes studying at Xxx the best place in the world to study for a PhD in Sports sciences (Cricket):

·The National Cricket Performance Centre of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is located at xxx University.
·Loughborough University is ranked No. 1 globally for sports related studies 2017 (QS World rankings).
·Dr Xxxxx has a track record of producing world class cricket research with the ECB over the last 15 years, is accredited by both the ECB and the International Cricket Council (ICC) for bowling action analysis and also sits on the Bowling Legality Group for the ICC.

This research proposal has been fully discussed with my primary supervisor Dr Xxx since April 2017 and I have been offered a place to study on this project at xxx University.

Bangarusai, with regards to the location and supervisor, I am of the opinion that you can still strengthen the information in this area. While you have mentioned some relatively popular information about your university choice and the mentor you have chosen, it lacks a personal connection with your study goals at the university. The reviewer already knows the popular information that you indicated. What he would like to know is how your continued research in this field will tie in with the university research, specifically, your chosen mentor's current line of research. As a PhD student, it is assumed that you will either be continuing your masters thesis research or delving into a more relevant and important field of study as a PhD student that can be used to further develop the sport of Cricket. I do not see a commonality between your choice of institution, your mentor, and your study goals. A connection needs to be made in order to show that your addition as a PhD student will heighten the profile of the university and result in a positive development or change in the sport. The more you can imply that your work will increase the notability of the university and the professor in the field, the more you increase your chances for admission consideration.

Thanks for your feedback. But my research interests and study goals, long term objectives are written in other part of the application.
As I have been offered a place in the University, I guess Scholarship commission is concerned how my research impacts on home country development objective(positive change in approach towards sport) and this has been written in other part of my application.

This proposed project involves elite international players , hence it can be only done in high performance centers which only Loughborough university has.
Me and my supervisor have been working on this idea for almost an year and he is regarded highly professional in this field.
Still, did I miss anything? New revision = it needs to be made Urgent.