The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has installed a state-of-the-art Trueman 3 bowling machine at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore as part of its continued efforts to provide players with modern training facilities and match-simulation practice, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
The advanced bowling machine displays a high-contrast LED animation of a bowler on the front screen, which synchronises exactly with the release of the ball. 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.
The machine 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.
Pakistan Cricket Board Director High-Performance Aqib Javed said, “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.
“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.”
Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha, who faced deliveries from the machine at the NCA, said: “The biggest advantage of this machine is that the batter can relate his practice to a match situation. As cricket evolves into the modern day, new shots and methods are being introduced, and this machine helps us prepare for those challenges.
“It feels like a bowler is running in and bowling. The ball comes with an action, so you have to match your timing as you do in a match. I think this technology will help batters improve further, and we will benefit even more from it in the future.”
Reporter: Hafiz Shahbaz