Physiologic profile of professional cricketers

Abstract

This study aims to provide a physiologic profile of professional cricketers and note positional differences at the start of the 2007/08 competitive season. Fifteen participants (9 bowlers, 6 batsmen) aged 25.0 +/- 5.0 years (mean +/- SD) took part in this study. Participants (bowlers and batsmen) completed a series of field-based fitness assessments: body composition (sum of 7 skinfolds, 72.5 +/- 16.5 and 65.5 +/- 19.3 mm, respectively), flexibility (sit and reach 8.1 +/- 10.3 and 6.0 +/- 6.2 cm, respectively), predicted maximal oxygen uptake (multistage shuttle run, 54.1 +/- 2.8 and 56.1 +/- 4.5 ml.kg(-1).min(-1), respectively), upper- (medicine ball throw, 7.7 +/- 0.6 and 7.0 +/- 0.1 m, respectively) and lower-body strength (countermovement jump, 45.7 +/- 5.8 and 43.9 +/- 4.1 cm, respectively), speed (sprint 17.7 m, 2.76 +/- 0.6 and 2.77 +/- 0.1 s, respectively), and explosive power (repeated jump, 31.0 +/- 2.0 and 34.1 +/- 4.8 cm, respectively). The data provided the physical fitness profile for each player, which, compared with normative data, identified that this cohort of professional cricketers had some superior fitness parameters compared with the general population, and where applicable, were comparable with other professional athletes. In addition, after effect size calculations, the results showed that some physical fitness differences existed between playing positions. Cricket professionals possess a superior level of physical fitness and strength, and conditioning coaches should seek to progress these physical parameters and further identify position-specific physical requirements to progress the modern game.