Medicine Ball Throw and Resistance Band Training Among Bowlers

Study Design: Randomized Clinical Trial Sample size: 56 participants ( 28 in each group) Sampling Technique: Non- Probability convenience sampling technique Study Setting: Pakistan Sports Board, Lahore And Saeed Ajmal International Cricket Academy, Faisalabad \& County Star Cricket Club, Faisalabad Inclusion Criteria: * Cricket bowlers actively participating in competitive cricket * Age 18 to 30 years * Both male and female players * Minimum two years of cricket training experience * Athletes with BMI between 18.6 kg/m² to 24.9 kg/m² Exclusion Criteria: * History of musculoskeletal injuries involving shoulder, elbow, neck, or spine * History of fracture within the last six months * Any previous surgery of the back or hip joint * Athletes with neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, or psychiatric disorders * Athletes consuming illegal performance-enhancing drugs Intervention: Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive Medicine Ball Throw training focusing on chest pass, overhead throw, and rotational throw exercises to improve dynamic strength and explosive power. Group B will receive Resistance Band training including resistance band push-ups, rowing exercises, and rotational press exercises to enhance neuromuscular control and strength. Both groups will perform supervised training sessions three times per week, with each session lasting approximately 45-50 minutes for a total duration of eight weeks. Bowling accuracy drills will be included for both groups during training sessions. Tools: * Medicine Ball Chest Pass / Overhead Throw Test to assess dynamic upper-body strength * Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) to assess upper-extremity stability and endurance * Bowling speed measurement using a speed measuring device * Bowling accuracy assessed using a standardized stump accuracy test