Impact of high and low seasonal temperatures on selected motor components of cricketers: An assessment through repeated measure design

Introduction: Players' motor performance relies on different internal and external factors. Seasonal temperature is one of the major external factors influencing motor performance of the cricketers. Objective: Study aimed to assess the role of high and low seasonal temperatures on selected motor components of cricketers. Methodology: A repeated measure design was adopted. 100 cricketers were randomly selected. Data were collected on selected motor components in two seasonal temperature ranges: 39.7℃ - 42.3℃ and 6.9℃ - 9.5℃. Cooper's 12-minute run test, Illinois agility test, sit-ups, medicine ball throw test, and reaction ball exercise tests were used as data collection tools for measuring predicted maximal oxygen consumption (predicted VO 2 ), agility, abdominal strength, upper body strength, and hand-eye coordination respectively. Post normality check suggested to use Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test. Results: Findings showed significant difference on predicted VO 2 , agility, upper body strength, and hand-eye coordination p<0.01, while insignificant difference was observed on abdominal strength p>0.05. Discussion: Findings of the study contrasted with Gamage et al., (2016) for VO 2 , Gatterer et al. (2021) for upper body strength, Ünal (2002) and Racinais & Oksa (2010) for hand-eye coordination. Conclusions: High temperature positively affects the predicted VO 2 and agility of cricketers whereas upper body strength and hand-eye coordination were found enhanced during low temperature. Recorded difference on abdominal strength may be due to some random chance rather than a true underlying effect.