PCB installs state-of-the-art bowling machine at NCA

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday installed a state-of-the-art bowling machine here at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in a bid to provide its players with modern training facilities and match-simulation practice.

According to the cricket board, the machine, equipped with a high-contrast LED animation of a bowler on the front screen, synchronises exactly with the release of the ball and further allows coaches and players to adjust line, length, speed, swing and height, while individual balls, overs and spells can also be saved and used in sequence or shuffled to create random match-like scenarios.

The PCB also shared that the bowler animations are based on legitimate bowling actions, allowing batters to work on their triggers, decision-making and batting sequences in conditions close to a match environment.

Furthermore, in a video released by the cricket board, Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha was seen facing the deliveries from the newly-installed machine, with Director High-Performance Aqib Javed also present.

Javed revealed that the PCB is the first cricket board to acquire the machine, which he coined helpful in preparing the players "very close" to match situations as it can be programmed according to a batter's requirements.

"The Trueman 3 machine is the latest technology and we are the first cricket board to use it. In traditional bowling machines, it is often difficult for players to adjust to the release point of the bowler, their trigger movements and the timing of when to get ready," said Javed.

"The advantage of this machine is that the batter can see the bowler's video on the screen and synchronise himself accordingly. At the same time, the machine can be programmed according to a batter's requirement, which helps in preparing the player very close to a match situation," he added.

Pakistan T20I captain Agha echoed Javed's remarks, saying that the machine will help players to prepare for the challenges of modern-day cricket, including executing innovative shots.

"The biggest advantage of this machine is that the batter can relate his practice to a match situation. As cricket is moving towards the modern day, new shots and new methods are being introduced and this machine helps us prepare for those challenges," Agha stated.

"It feels like a bowler is running in and bowling. The ball comes with an action, so you have to match your timing like you do in a match. I think this technology will help batters improve further and we will benefit even more from it in future."