Key result
Over a seven-year period, international male cricketers demonstrated a significant decrease in sum-of-8 skinfolds (~14 mm, p<0.001) and an increase in Yo-Yo-IR1 distance (459 m, p=0.002).
Why the study?
The study aimed to present a comprehensive physical profile of international cricketers in a World Cup winning nation and describe changes in physical profiles across seven years.
Observational (n=52)
Mean Difference: -14
p-value: p=<0.001
International cricketers underwent a notable physical transformation over 7 years, resulting in increased lean mass, aerobic capacity, and a more balanced push-to-pull strength capacity.
Observed leanness and aerobic gains in elite cricketers should not yet alter training; leaves open causal performance links.
The aim of the study was to firstly present a comprehensive physical profile of international cricketers in a World Cup winning cricket nation. Secondly, to describe changes in physical profiles across seven years. Fifty-two senior international cricketers’ physical profiles were retrospectively analysed across seven years. Using linear mixed-modelling, changes in stature, body mass, sum-of-8 skinfolds, sprinting time (10 and 40 m), run-2 time, counter movement jump (CMJ), push and pull strength capacity and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level-1 (Yo-Yo-IR1) were analysed during a seven-year period. There were no significant changes in body mass ( p = .63) or stature ( p = .99) during this time. However, there was a significant ( p < .001) mean decrease of ∼14 mm in the sum-of-8 skinfolds. Distance covered in the Yo-Yo-IR1 also showed a significant ( p = .002) effect of years, with a mean increase of 459 m in 2017 when compared with 2014. A significantly ( p = .01) more balanced push-to-pull strength capacity ratio was also evident across years as a result of a significant ( p < .001) increase in pull strength capacity. Significant ( p < .05) fluctuations in CMJ, sprint and run-2 time were seen, with no obvious trends. International cricketers within our study have gone through a notable physical transformation that has likely resulted in an increase in lean mass and aerobic capacity. The change across time to a more balanced push-to-pull strength capacity may be beneficial for injury prevention.
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Scott et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Healthy (international male cricketers) (n=52). Time (7-year period from 2014 to 2020) vs. Baseline (2014) was evaluated on Sum-of-8 skinfolds (mean decrease of ~14 mm, p=<0.001). Over a seven-year period, international male cricketers demonstrated a significant decrease in sum-of-8 skinfolds (~14 mm, p<0.001) and an increase in Yo-Yo-IR1 distance (459 m, p=0.002).
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