The next barrier for women's bowlers to break is 85mph

Science is being utilised to accelerate the ball to speeds that were unimaginable a decade ago.

Shabnim Ismail's successful career in cricket is built upon three fundamental steps: a smooth acceleration in her run-up, her trademark move wide of the crease, and releasing the ball at high speed. Recently, she achieved a significant milestone by bowling at 82.1 mph, the fastest recorded speed in women's cricket, while playing for the Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League. 

Issy Wong, a young pace bowler from England who was part of the Mumbai squad, witnessed Ismail's impressive delivery on the big screen and was amazed. Wong and Ismail often exchanged techniques during practice sessions. Other bowlers, including England's Lauren Filer, who reached speeds of 76mph in the Ashes Test last summer, were also impressed by Ismail's exceptional speed. Filer acknowledges that such speeds were unthinkable for women's cricket a decade ago. While bowling quickly doesn't guarantee success, bowlers are naturally curious about their speed, and Filer admits that it's hard not to be interested in how fast one can bowl.

Determining velocity

There is a fundamental problem in the competition for speed in both men's and women's cricket. The measurement of pace relies on speed guns, but these devices are not completely reliable.

There are two primary methods used to determine speed: video-tracking and radar guns. Yet, according to Dr Paul Felton, a biomechanics lecturer from Nottingham Trent University who has collaborated with the England and Wales Cricket Board, these methods are imperfect and do not always provide an accurate measurement. The differences in the techniques, equipment, and calculation processes make it challenging to compare speeds across different bowlers, locations, and historical data. Consequently, there are instances where the ball speed is consistently underestimated or overestimated from one match to another.

Nevertheless, despite their imperfections, speed guns remain the most effective means of measuring pace. Felton believes that female bowlers may have a greater opportunity for physical development and achieve higher speeds compared to male bowlers.

One advantage for women, as explained by Tim Olds from the University of South Australia, is the use of a lighter ball. The International Cricket Council mandates that men's international matches use balls weighing between 155.9 and 163 grams, while women's matches use balls weighing between 140 and 151 grams. Additionally, the absence of Test cricket in women's cricket might make it easier for bowlers to concentrate on improving their pace. Wong suggests that training could become more specialised, with fast bowlers bowling two spells of two overs each in the nets to maintain their maximum speed.

Ismail, who has retired from international cricket, had a three-month break before the WPL (presumably Women's Premier League). At the age of 35, she delivered a record-breaking performance in bowling.

Overcoming Obstacles

In April 1954, the sprinter John Landy expressed his belief that the four-minute mile was an insurmountable barrier and stated that he would not make another attempt at it. Throughout his career, Landy had completed the mile in four minutes and two seconds on six separate occasions.

Approximately a month later in Oxford, Roger Bannister successfully ran the mile in three minutes and 59.4 seconds. Forty-six days later, Landy surpassed his previous limitations and achieved a mile time of just three minutes and 57.9 seconds, thereby exceeding the metaphorical "brick wall" he had once described. This example is highlighted by Wong, who firmly believes that Ismail's accomplishment will serve as an inspiration for other female pace bowlers, demonstrating what is attainable.

Wong, who reached a speed of 74.4mph in the previous year's Hundred, highlights the importance of continuous progress, stating, "There’s always room to keep going. Shabs has really shown us what’s possible. She’s been fantastic for fast bowling – without characters like her, you’d have less of us coming through." Additionally, the growing comprehension of how women can excel in fast bowling is noteworthy. It has been only a decade since the introduction of professionalism in women's cricket, initially in England.

“Speaking to science and med, I think they’re still learning about female fast bowlers," Wong remarks. “The playbook’s still there to be written because it’s trying to work out why do some people bowl faster than others.”

Felton is involved in the effort to provide solutions, collaborating with the ECB and Loughborough University to compile data on the bowling techniques of women. The objective of their work is to shed light on the most effective actions and methods for achieving speed.

He holds an interesting hypothesis that women's pace may be hindered when they closely emulate the classical actions of male bowlers like Brett Lee or Dale Steyn. According to Felton, many female bowlers tend to have excessively fast run-ups, resulting in issues with technique, reduced ball-release speeds, and an increased risk of injury. Although the research is still ongoing, he believes that women would likely benefit from determining the optimal run-up speed that allows them to execute the bowling action most effectively within their physical capabilities, rather than striving to run as fast as possible.

When evaluating potential examples of the most efficient bowling form, Felton regards Ismail's smooth technique as noteworthy. Despite her height of 5ft 5in, which is considered below the optimal range for men's cricket, Felton suggests that her size might be more suitable for women to achieve high bowling speeds. He states that the optimal height for women is likely to be shorter due to physiological differences, but the exact extent of the height difference remains unknown.

An often underestimated consequence of professionalism in cricket is its ability to attract athletes who might have pursued careers in other sports.

According to Matt Mason, the fast bowling coach of the England women's team, the professionalisation of cricket has resulted in the emergence of superior athletes within the system. This improvement is attributed to better coaching, enhanced understanding of technique, and the significance of bowling at high speeds. Mason cites the example of 18-year-old left-arm bowler Freya Kemp, who, after a year of collaboration with the England management during her recovery from a stress fracture, achieved a six-mile-per-hour increase in her bowling speed and is now recorded at 68.6mph.

As for the question of how fast women can bowl, Mason believes that it will take time to find a definitive answer. Researchers are still in the process of comprehending the differences between how men and women generate speed in their deliveries.

The Importance of Being Consistent

Amidst the excitement surrounding fast bowling in women's cricket, a fundamental question remains: is faster always better? Ismail's remarkable achievement of delivering a ball at 82mph to Meg Lanning provided a resounding answer: not necessarily. Despite the impressive speed, Ismail's performance during that match fell below her usual standards, as her four overs resulted in figures of 1-46.

Matt Mason echoes this sentiment, stating that he doesn't believe speed holds the same level of importance in the women's game as it does in the men's. In men's cricket, having a fast bowler who can consistently exceed 90 miles per hour has a significant impact due to the sheer pace. However, in the women's game, such fast bowlers are rare, and the difference in speed, such as going from 70 to 75 miles per hour, does not cause significant issues for opposing players. In the women's game, attributes like high skill, consistency, and bounce are highly valued.

Nevertheless, increasing bowling speed opens up new possibilities. For instance, faster bowlers can make the ball appear to swing later in its path, adding to the threat posed to the stumps, especially for inswing bowlers common in women's cricket. Additionally, greater speed enhances the effectiveness of the yorker, increasing the challenge for batsmen. While facing greater pace is daunting for any player, tailenders are particularly vulnerable, and the introduction of higher speed adds a new dimension to their decision-making process.

In general, bowling speed in women's cricket is expected to follow the established trend observed in most major Olympic sports, with women recording figures that are 10-20 per cent lower than men. The differences in body speed and arm speed at ball release, which determine the pace, are likely to result in a speed differential of approximately 15 per cent between men and women, according to experts. This suggests that achieving a speed of 85mph may be within reach, at least when measured by a favourable speed gun. This marks the next barrier for women's bowlers to break.

While the allure of the fastest deliveries is undeniable, consistency in speed holds greater value. Mason points out the importance of maintaining a consistent speed throughout a tournament rather than experiencing fluctuations from the beginning to the end.

The race to surpass Ismail's record continues, but there is also an understanding of a broader truth. The most formidable fast bowlers of the new generation in women's cricket will be those who not only possess great pace but also demonstrate the ability to sustain it consistently.