Determining the effect of cricket leg guards on running performance (original) (raw)

Comfort of cricket leg guards: a study of strap contact pressure

Procedia Engineering, 2010

The aim of this study was to develop a better understanding of the effects of contact pressure on perceived comfort, using the top strap of cricket leg guards as an example. An X-sensor pressure mat was used to measure strap contact pressure across 10 strides whilst running at approximately 80% of maximum speed. Three pads were assessed in terms of peak and average pressure. A subjective assessment was conducted to assess perceived contact pressure and comfort. The results identified a strong relationship between contact pressure and perceived comfort, with high pressures being associated with greater discomfort.

Kinematics of sprint acceleration in cricketers: implications for performance in the field

Cricket fielding often involves maximal acceleration to retrieve the ball. There has been no analysis of acceleration specific to cricketers, or for players who field primarily in the infield (closer to the pitch) or outfield (closer to the boundary). This study analyzed the first two steps of a 10-m sprint in experienced cricketers. Eighteen males (age = 24.06 ± 4.87 years; height = 1.81 ± 0.06 m; mass = 79.67 ± 10.37 kg) were defined as primarily infielders (n = 10) or outfielders (n = 8). Timing lights recorded 0-5 and 0-10 m time. Motion capture measured first and second step kinematics, including: step length; step frequency; contact time; shoulder motion; lead and rear arm elbow angle; drive leg hip and knee extension, and ankle plantar flexion; swing leg hip and knee flexion, and ankle dorsi flexion. A one-way analysis of variance (p < 0.05) determined betweengroup differences. Data was pooled for a Pearson's correlation analysis (p < 0.05) to analyze kinematic relationships. There were no differences in sprint times, and few variables differentiated infielders and outfielders. Left shoulder range of motion related to second step length (r = 0.471). First step hip flexion correlated with both step lengths (r = 0.570-0.598), and frequencies (r = -0.504--0.606). First step knee flexion related to both step lengths (r = 0.528-0.682), and first step frequency (r = -0.669). First step ankle plantar flexion correlated with second step length (r = -0.692) and frequency (r = 0.726). Greater joint motion ranges related to longer steps. Cricketers display similar sprint kinematics regardless of fielding position, likely because players may field in the infield or outfield depending on match situation. Due to relationships with shoulder and leg motion, and the importance and trainability of step length, cricketers should target this variable to enhance acceleration.

Does stride length play a role in cricket fast bowling performance outcomes? An observational, cross-sectional study

International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 2016

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of delivery stride length on the performance outcomes of ball release speed, accuracy and ball release height within a large cohort of elite male cricket fast bowlers. Data for this observational, cross-sectional study were collected from national under 19, senior state and international level players over a four-year period. No statistically significant differences were found between the three stride length groups (short, medium and long). However, a functional difference in accuracy was evident between short and long stride length groups, with the long stride length group being less accurate (effect size (ES) ¼ 0.8; ES confidence interval (CI) ¼ 0.2-1.4). Therefore, it can be concluded, given the results of the current study and previous injury-related research, that in no way is it advantageous for bowlers to have a stride length that exceeds the recommended 75-85% of standing height.

ANKLE JOINT LOADING DURING THE DELIVERY STRIDE IN CRICKET MEDIUM-FAST BOWLING

To date, biomechanical research investigating the aetiology of cricket injuries has studied the kinetics and kinematics of associated movements in isolation. The aim of this study was to apply inverse dynamics to investigate ankle joint forces during the delivery stride using four Basler 200 Hz cameras synchronised to two Kistler 9581B force plates with Peak Motus 9.2. Although peak ankle joint moment in the sagittal plane was greater for the front foot (mean: 3.21 ± 1.71 Nm⋅Kg -1 ) in relation to the back foot (mean: 1.70 ± 0.87 Nm⋅Kg -1 ); average rate of joint loading was 246% greater in the frontal plane for the back foot (mean: 1.11 ± 0.82 Nm⋅Kg -1 ⋅s -1 ) compared to the front foot (mean: 0.45 ± 0.20 Nm⋅Kg -1 ⋅s -1 ). Findings would suggest that whilst the front foot is prone to acute injuries, the back foot may be more susceptible to overuse injuries such as lateral ankle instability.

An association of anthropometric and physical fitness variables of cricket players with the performance of running between the wickets

The purpose of the present study was to find out the relationship of Running between the wickets performance of the Cricket players with selected Anthropometric Variables (Height and Arm Length) and Physical fitness variables (Speed, Agility and Flexibility). Fifteen male Cricket players were participated as subjects in the present study. The samples were selected from Department of Physical Education Cricket match practice group, G. G. V. Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh on the basis of purposive sample selection technique. The age of the subjects was ranging between 21 to 28 years. The mean and SD of the age of the subject was 24.533 and 2.263. The age of the subjects were recorded on basis of date of birth mentioned in the 10 th (High School) mark sheet certificates. To know the nature of the data descriptive statistics i.e. mean, standard deviation were calculated. To know the relationship of selected anthropometric and physical fitness variables with the running between the wickets performance of Cricket players Pearson product-moment correlations were calculated. All the statistics were calculated with the help of SPSS 16.0 version software. The findings of the study shows that there are significant relationships of running between the wickets performance with selected anthropometric variables Height (r =-.916, p<.05), Arm Length (r =-.852, p<.05) and selected physical fitness variables Speed (r =.709, p<.05), Agility (r =.806, p<.05), Flexibility (r =-.898, p<.05).

Movement patterns in cricket vary by both position and game format

Journal of Sports Sciences, 2010

We compared the movement patterns of cricketers in different playing positions across three formats of cricket (Twenty20, One Day, multi-day matches). Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence cricketers (n ¼ 42) from five positions (batting, fast bowling, spin bowling, wicketkeeping, and fielding) had their movement patterns (walk, jog, run, stride, and sprint) quantified by global positioning system (GPS) technology over two seasons. Marked differences in movement patterns were evident between positions and game formats, with fast bowlers undertaking the greatest workload of any position in cricket. Fast bowlers sprinted twice as often, covered over three times the distance sprinting, with much smaller work-to-recovery ratios than other positions. Fast bowlers during multi-day matches covered 22.6 + 4.0 km (mean + s) total distance in a day (1.4 + 0.9 km in sprinting). In comparison, wicketkeepers rarely sprinted, despite still covering a daily total distance of 16.6 + 2.1 km. Overall, One Day and Twenty20 cricket required *50 to 100% more sprinting per hour than multi-day matches. However, multi-day cricket's longer duration resulted in 16-130% more sprinting per day. In summary, the shorter formats (Twenty20 and One Day) are more intensive per unit of time, but multi-day cricket has a greater overall physical load.

Validity and reliability of innovative field measurements of tibial accelerations and spinal kinematics during cricket fast bowling

Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 2021

The use of inertial sensors in fast bowling analysis may offer a cheaper and portable alternative to current methodologies. However, no previous studies have assessed the validity and reliability of such methods. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of collecting tibial accelerations and spinal kinematics using inertial sensors during in vivo fast bowling. Thirty-five elite male fast bowlers volunteered for this study. An accelerometer attached to the skin over the tibia was used to determine impacts and inertial sensors over the S1, L1 and T1 spinous processes used to derive the relative kinematics. These measurements were compared to optoelectronic and force plate data for validity analysis. Most acceleration and kinematics variables measured report significant correlations > 0.8 with the corresponding gold standard measurement, with intraclass correlation coefficients greater than 0.7. Low standard error of measurement and consequently small minim...

The acceleration kinematics of cricket-specific starts when completing a quick single

The cricket quick single has received minimal scientific analysis. This study investigated the acceleration kinematics of the non-striking batsmen during a quick single. A total of 20 cricketers completed 17.68-m sprints following three starts: standard (no cricket-specific equipment), static cricket (side-on start, bat held on crease) and rolling cricket (walking start, bat dragged through crease). Timing gates recorded 0-5 m and 0 -17.68 m time. Participants wore leg guards and carried a bat during cricket-specific sprints. Joint and step kinematics were investigated through the first and second steps via motion analysis. A repeated measures analysis of variance determined significant ( p , 0.05) within-participant differences between conditions. The rolling cricket start resulted in faster 0-5 m and 0 -17.68 m times, and a 12% longer first, and 8% longer second, step. For cricket-specific sprints, shoulder sagittal plane range of motion (ROM) and elbow extension decreased in the arm carrying the bat. In response to this reduced arm ROM, hip flexion decreased. There were no changes to hip extension. Shoulder and wrist frontal plane ROM, and wrist sagittal plane ROM, increased as a result of carrying the bat. The need for cricketers to use specialised equipment while completing a quick single resulted in specific acceleration kinematic alterations.

The pursuit of improved running performance: Can changes in cushioning and proprioception influence running economy and injury risk?

Footwear Science, 2013

The pursuit of improved running performance: Can changes in cushioning and somatosensory feedback influence running economy and injury risk? Purpose: There is currently no consensus regarding the effect that barefoot (BFT) running has on running economy (RE). Stride length and shoe mass are confounding variables, with a BFT stride length being shorter than a shod (SH) stride length. Comparison of SH, minimalist shod (MS) and BFT allows controlled variation of cushioning and somatosensory feedback to determine the effect that either and/or both have on RE and running mechanics. Methods: Fifteen female habitually shod, recreational runners visited the laboratory twice. Familiarisation to BFT and SH treadmill running occurred during visit one, in addition to determining SH stride length and BFT stride length. During visit two participants ran BFT, SH and MS with BFT stride length and MS with SH stride length at 10 km⋅ h-1 for six minutes with ten minute rest periods between each condition. Lower limb kinematics, EMG, impact acceleration and O2 were recorded during the final two minutes of each run. Results: BFT RE was significantly better than SH and MS with BFT stride length. SH RE was significantly worse than MS with SH stride length, but similar to MS with a BFT stride length. Low vertical oscillation, peak eversion and peak dorsiflexion, less plantarflexion at toe-off, in addition to an earlier occurrence of heel off, higher impact accelerations and greater tibialis anterior activity were observed during the most economical condition. Conclusions: Heightened somatosensory feedback and lack of cushioning (BFT) offered an advantage to economy over less somatosensory feedback (MS) and cushioning (SH). Whilst the low vertical oscillation and low plantarflexion at toe-off appear to contribute to the improved RE, other changes to running mechanics whilst BFT could potentially influence injury risk.