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.