The analysis of cricket ball impacts using digital stroboscopic photography

The aim of this study was to form a system for observing and analysing the dynamic behaviour of cricket balls during impact. The first part of the system involved firing cricket balls onto a test area of cricket pitch and using digital stroboscopic photography to observe the ball during impacts. All images were stored on a portable computer and saved for later analysis. The second part of the system was concerned with the extraction of data from these images. Using analysis software, the images were acquired and points chosen manually. The coordinates were then downloaded onto a network of linked spreadsheets that calculated velocities, spins and angles relative to the pitch, before and after impact. Approximately 2000 impact images were analysed in total. Preliminary results showed that the system was capable of showing differences in the data between various pitch types. Inconsistency within each pitch type was found to be greater than that due to errors inherent in the manual method of analysis.