MCCU Players Assist with 'Chucking' Research

16 February 2010

At Lord's on Sunday 14th February a group of players from Oxford and Cambridge MCCUs became guinea pigs for the day.

 

Jivan Lotay 'wired up' The eight bowlers were assisting Imperial College with research into bowling actions. The research, which is funded by MCC, is exploring the issue of 'chucking' or 'throwing' within cricket.

 

Chucking has been a sensitive issue within cricket for many years; the long term aim of Imperial's research team is to develop a real-time measuring system for fair deliveries.

 

Law 24, Clause 3 defines a fair delivery with respect to the arm:

'A ball is fairly delivered in respect of the arm if, once the bowler's arm has reached the level of the shoulder in the delivery swing, the elbow joint is not straightened partially or completely from that point until the ball has left the hand. This definition shall not debar a bowler from flexing or rotating the wrist in the delivery swing.'

An MCC bowler being put through his paces' Pete Turnbull, a right arm fast bowler from Cambridge MCCU, said: "It was really interesting to take part in the research. I'm often astounded at the pace of technological intervention and breakthrough in sport, and cricket is no different. What I have experienced here today has reinforced that view. Now, if only the team from Imperial could help me keep it on the cut bit, that would be a real breakthrough!"

MCC has made a commitment to research and development within cricket; one of the other areas being studied and developed is the use of pink balls in day-night Test matches.

 

The MCCU players studied at Lord's yesterday will get another chance to be involved with research as pink balls will be used in the British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) 50-over competition during the 2010 season.