Fitness Testing for Cricket

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Wednesday, 1st September 2021

Fitness has a minor but important role in a cricketer's performance (see fitness for cricket). For all players, there are numerous aspects of fitness that are necessary for success. One of the most significant parts of cricket fitness is a player's balance and coordination, which is followed by speed and power. More information on cricket fitness components may be found here.

There are several different fitness tests to choose from. Hundreds of tests are listed here. For many international cricketers, the yo-yo test, which measures aerobic fitness, has become a well-known fitness standard.

Below are some examples of tests that we believe are appropriate for evaluating cricket players' fitness. There is additional information regarding USA Cricket's cricket combines. A video of the Australia Cricket team's fitness testing session is also included.

Aerobic Fitness

Aerobic fitness is an important part of cricket fitness because it allows players to reduce tiredness over lengthy periods of time and from day to day in multi-day matches. Fitter players will be able to handle the heat stress of playing in the sun all day.

The type of aerobic test used may be determined by the players' initial fitness level. For national team cricket players, the yo-yo test is a popular test. The Indian team has included a 2-kilometer run test to their evaluations. A sub-maximal test of aerobic fitness, such as the Astrand test, Trilevel, PWC170, or the Cooper 12 minute run, may be appropriate. The maximal effort shuttle run (beep) test would be more appropriate for players who have done some conditioning work. Here you will discover information on a variety of aerobic tests.

Flexibility

The flexibility testing should be tailored to cricket-specific actions. Flexibility allows for a wider range of motion when executing strokes, which may decrease injury in the long run. For lower back and hamstring flexibility, the sit and reach test can be used. There are many other flexibility tests, which should be selected based on the appropriateness to the sport of cricket, or can be modified to test specific actions of the sport.

Strength & Power

Controlling movement and executing strokes both require core stability and abdominal function. Cricketers should also undergo strength and power testing to assess their starting levels and track changes over time as part of their training programmes.

It is necessary to do maximal strength tests for certain workouts. An abdominal strength or endurance test, for example, should be used to assess abdominal muscle function. A test of hand-grip strength is also appropriate. Cricket Ball Throw Test is another option for evaluating throwing power and technique.

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Speed and agility

In cricket, running speed, acceleration, and agility are crucial for moving between the wickets and fielding. A sprint time of over 20m should be completed, including a split time for the first 10m (there is a more sport specific 17.68m cricket sprint test). You could also wish to do the run-a-three test, which involves sprinting over the actual pitch distance while carrying a bat and turning.

Body Fat

Excess body fat would limit a cricketer's ability to move around the field freely, as well as increasing fatigue during training and game play. To estimate body fat levels, skinfold measurements should be taken.

Co-ordination

Coordination is a crucial fitness trait for cricket players, yet it can be difficult to assess. The alternative hand wall toss, which involves throwing and catching a ball, is a coordination test that is very specific to the activities necessary in cricket.

Balance

Controlled movements in cricket necessitate balance and coordination. The stork balance test is one of many general balance tests that could be used to evaluate cricket players.

The News Talkie Bureau

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