Workloads placed on adolescent cricket players: A pilot study

Abstract

Cricket players nowadays are faced with increased physical demands, and as a result, it is important to manage their workload, particularly to control and predict risk of injury. While this has been investigated at an elite level, few studies have looked at the workloads placed on adolescent cricket players. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the workloads placed on school boy cricketers, specifically within a South African context. Twelve male school boy cricketers between the ages of 16 and 19 years participated in the study. Match and practice data were collected over a period of 74 days and included number of shuttles run (batsmen), number of deliveries bowled (bowlers) as well as central ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Injury data were also collected. These data were then used to determine the acute:chronic (a:c) workload ratio (two-week rolling average) as well as session RPE (sRPE). Fast bowlers delivered more balls during matches compared to practices, whereas batsmen ran more shuttles at practices compared to matches. Session RPE was higher for matches compared to practices. There did not appear to be a relationship between workload and injury risk; however, this may have been due to the small sample size. It was concluded that it is important to monitor individual workloads of players. Also, intensities of practices need to be increased to match game demands. Lastly, the study design was effective and the methods used were found to be appropriate for a larger population.

Physiological and Perceptual Demands During a Simulated “The Hundred” Batting Work-Bout in Female Cricketers

“…Between 2018 and 2019, the number of female bilateral Twenty20 (T20) matches International (ODI) matches (short duration, high-intensity protocols) have shown heart rate responses between 136 and 159 beats/min, maximal oxygen uptake measures between 26.92 and 27.00 mL/kg/min and energy expenditures between 2536 and 2765 kJ/h, which is significantly higher than conventionally reported [3,4,22]. These findings are also accurate when compared to real-time matchplay, where heart rate responses of 139-154 beats/min, and 149-167 beats/min have been shown for batters in ODIs and T20 matches respectively [16,20]. Furthermore, simulated ODI century protocols have also been undertaken in a laboratory setting (focusing on longer duration and lower intensities); these investigations identified heart rate responses between 130 and 144 beats/min and an oxygen consumption of 36.70 mL/kg/min [11,24].…”

“…Cricket is a global sport and has grown significantly over the last 20 years, particularly due to the newer, more popular, shorter formats of the game [20]. Traditionally it has been a gentleman's game, dominated by male players but in the past few decades, the women's game has expanded and grown around the world [9,14].…”

The Relationship Between Cricket Participation, Health, and Wellbeing: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…The association between injury risk and bowling workload was investigated in 7 % of articles [22,65,[71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82]. 71 % of workload articles investigated bowling workload in adults, and all articles observed that increased workload was related to increased injury risk.…”

Strength and Conditioning for Cricket Spin Bowlers

“…(50). Therefore, a position-specific training program must be developed to deal with the metabolic demands of all formats of cricket matches (38). This suggests developing conditioning sessions focusing on aerobic endurance using high-intensity interval training methods (Tables 3 and 4).…”

“…This means that strength and conditioning coaches must develop a training program that not only trains a spin bowler for bowling movement patterns but also considers the acute and chronic neuromuscular responses as a result of repeated accelerations, change of direction (COD), and decelerations (50). Therefore, a position-specific training program must be developed to deal with the metabolic demands of all formats of cricket matches (38). This suggests developing conditioning sessions focusing on aerobic endurance using high-intensity interval training methods (Tables 3 and 4).…”