The Reliability and Sensitivity of Performance Measures in a Novel Pace-Bowling Test.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the reliability and sensitivity of performance measures in a novel pace-bowling test.


METHODS
Thirteen male amateur-club fast bowlers completed a novel pace-bowling test on 2 separate occasions, 4-7 d apart. Participants delivered 48 balls (8 overs) at 5 targets on a suspended sheet situated behind a live batter, who stood in a right-handed and left-handed stance for an equal number of deliveries. Delivery instruction was frequently changed, with all deliveries executed in a preplanned sequence. Data on ball-release speed were captured by radar gun. A high-speed camera captured the moment of ball impact on the target sheet for assessment of radial error and bivariate variable error. Delivery rating of perceived exertion (0-100%) was collected as a measure of intensity.


RESULTS
Intraclass correlation coefficients and coefficients of variation revealed excellent reliability for peak and mean ball-release speed, acceptable reliability for delivery rating of perceived exertion, and poor reliability for mean radial error, bivariate variable error, and variability of ball-release speed. The smallest worthwhile change indicated high sensitivity with peak and mean ball-release speed and lower sensitivity with mean radial error and bivariate variable error.


CONCLUSIONS
The novel pace-bowling test incorporates improvements in ecological validity compared with its predecessors and can be used to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of pace-bowling performance. Data on the smallest worthwhile change can improve interpretation of pace-bowling research findings and may therefore influence recommendations for applied practice.
['Feros|Simon A|SA|', 'Young|Warren B|WB|', "O'Brien|Brendan J|BJ|"]
D054874:Athletic Performance D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena D005080:Exercise Test D006801:Humans D008297:Male D010465:Perception D005082:Physical Exertion D015203:Reproducibility of Results D013177:Sports D013647:Task Performance and Analysis D055815:Young Adult
smallest worthwhile change bowling accuracy bowling speed cricket