Development and integration of a novel cricket bowling system

Abstract

Cricket bowling is a complex skill which cannot easily be re-created using machines. Bowling machines are used by players of all standards to provide an unlimited number of deliveries, launched towards the batsman in a repeatable manner for training purposes. However they have a number of limitations which results in them not being used as extensively or as productively as they could be if they were more realistic. The purpose of this paper is to explore the requirements of players and coaches when considering the ideal bowling machine and the use of the systems engineering approach of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to ensure a novel bowing system fully caters for these needs. A state of the art bowling system is being designed at Loughborough University using this methodology; a prototype machine has been built and tested at the England and Wales Cricket Board's National Cricket Centre. © 2006 Springer-Verlag New York.