A review of batting in men’s cricket

Abstract

In this review, we critically evaluate the scientific research into the morphology and physiology of cricket batsmen. We consider all aspects of the motor control of this skill, in the context of research into dynamic interceptive actions, the biomechanics (kinematics and kinetics) of the various phases of batting strokes and injuries to batsmen. Some attention is also devoted to batting equipment and to psychological factors in batting. Because of the lack of published scientific research into women's cricket, this review focuses on the men's game and covers research on batsmen of various playing standards. For the future, we see as a high priority research into injury mechanisms, rather than simple injury statistics, and the role of cricket equipment design in injury prevention. A second priority is for multi- or inter-disciplinary research, linking the biomechanics of batting to the underlying motor control of the movements and the effect of environmental information. Biomechanical studies of the variability of the batsman's movements are needed, and these should be related to the compensatory variability proposal of ecological psychology. Clearly, there is also a need for scientific research into batting in women's cricket, which has been inadequately researched to date.

Information–movement coupling in developing cricketers under changing ecological practice constraints

“…Batting in cricket is a quintessential example of a dynamic interceptive action in sport, and an ideal vehicle for studying interactions between perception and action (Stretch, Bartlett, & Davids, 2000). Ecological psychologists have attempted to describe the control mechanisms involved in regulating movement to satisfy specific task constraints in interceptive actions (e.g., Davids, Renshaw, & Glazier, 2005;Montagne, 2005;Montagne, Cornus, Glize, Quaine, & Laurent, 2000).…”

Attunement to haptic information helps skilled performers select implements for striking a ball in cricket

“…The hitting task produced 198 trials that were subsequently digitized using Vicon Motus software (Vicon Motion Systems, U.K.). Following previous research, step length, head-front-knee-foot angle (at contact), head-to-point-of-contact horizontal distance, and bat end point velocity (contact and maximum) were identified as dependent variables (Stretch et al, 2000;Stretch et al, 1998;Woolmer et al, 2008). Data from dependent measures were compared for each bat configuration using a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with pairwise comparisons (alpha level <.05).…”

“…Typically, the front foot drive is used to hit the ball along the ground to minimize the chance of it being caught by a fielder, although the ball can also be lofted with this stroke (Woolmer, Noakes, & Moffett, 2008). Measures such as bat velocity, step length, and body segment angles have all provided insights into how cricket bat-ball interceptive actions are coordinated and have been used to compare successful and unsuccessful performances of shots (Stretch, Bartlett, & Davids, 2000;Stretch et al, 1998;Woolmer et al, 2008).…”

The Physical Demands of Batting and Fast Bowling in Cricket

“…It has recently been shown that the physiological demands of batting in a one-day game are substantial and that players need to be well trained to optimally maintain this type of workload (Noakes & Durandt, 2000;Christie et al, 2011a www.intechopen.com and b). With respect to bowling, although most of the research has focused on lower back injuries (Stretch et al, 2000), it is the view of Noakes & Durandt (2000), that the repeated eccentric actions during fast bowling are the real source of stress for fast bowlers and that this needs to be followed up and related to speed and accuracy of bowling as well as injury potential. Substantial muscle strength is needed to reduce muscle damage arising from these repeated actions (Thompson et al, 1999).…”