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BACK FOOT CONTACT

THE START OF THE FAST BOWLING SEQUENCE

Back Foot Contact (B.F.C) is your first contact with the ground after the Jump and Gather. It is the start of your fast bowling action, and how you position your body at this point will determine what type of action you have.

Cricket fast bowler how to bowl fast back foot contact good cricket fast bowling technique

Brett Lee lands at B.F.C (original) - CC2.0 Photo by Rikx

WHY IS BACK FOOT CONTACT IMPORTANT?

A good Back Foot Contact allows your bowling action to work in the correct sequence. It links your Run Up to your Front Foot Contact, and helps transfer the momentum you have gained into your bowling action. The more momentum you can maintain through Back Foot Contact into Front Foot Contact, the faster you will be able to bowl.  

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Mark Wood (England & Durham CCC) during his action at B.F.C - Photo © Philip Lewis

Being in a good position at Back Foot Contact also allows you to be balanced and aligned towards your target, which helps produce a safer bowling action. When it is done poorly, your body has to compensate later on in the action to find extra pace, which puts you at a higher risk of injury.  

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HOW DO YOU LAND AT BACK FOOT CONTACT?

There are three main types of position at Back Foot Contact for fast bowlers:​

FRONT ON

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Back foot, hips and shoulders face straight towards the batsman

MIDWAY

Fast bowling how to bowl fast back foot contact midway good cricket fast bowling technique

Back foot, hips and shoulders are about 45 degrees from the batsman

SIDE ON

Fast bowling how to bowl fast back foot contact side on good cricket fast bowling technique

Back foot, hips and shoulders at 90+ degrees from the batsman

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A good Back Foot Contact should:

  • Align your body over your back foot to be Front On, Midway or Side On

  • Allow your hips to rotate as fully forward as possible by Front Foot Contact

  • Keep your front knee and front elbow pointing towards the target in the same direction

  • Continue as much momentum as possible into a Braced Front Leg

Cricket fast bowler how to bowl fast back foot contact aligned good cricket fast bowling technique

Katherine Brunt gets side-on at B.F.C - Photo © Danny Simpson 

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