The present study examined elite cricket batsmen’s experiences of sledging to establish its frequency, effects, and the coping strategies used by players. Sledging in cricket is the practice whereby players seek to gain an advantage by insulting or verbally intimidating the opposing batter. Semistructured interviews were conducted on 10 elite batsmen. Interviews were transcribed and content analysis was conducted to elucidate themes. Several similar factors were reported for both the frequency of sledging and its effectiveness, the most influential being the period of innings, state of the game, and in-game pressure. The majority of the reported effects of sledging were negative, most notably, an altered perception of self, an altered state of mind, decreased batting ability, and over arousal. Numerous associated coping strategies were mentioned, the most frequently used being variations of self-talk. Other noteworthy coping strategies included routines, external support, showing frustration, avoidance coping, and relaxation techniques. Overall, players perceived that sledging had a substantial effect on a batter and their level of performance.
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Sledging in Cricket: Elite English Batsmen’s Experiences of Verbal Gamesship
Samuele Joseph and Duncan Cramer
International Media Coverage of the Pakistan Super League
David Cassilo and Danielle Sarver Coombs
On February 4, 2016, the Pakistan Super League (PSL), a professional Twenty20 men’s cricket league, was officially launched with massive public enthusiasm and support of its “cricket-mad” named nation. Despite being headquartered in Lahore, Pakistan, and having “Pakistan” included in its league
Transformational Leadership in Elite Sport: A Qualitative Analysis of Effective Leadership Behaviors in Cricket
Matthew J. Smith, David J. Young, Sean G. Figgins, and Calum A. Arthur
We examined transformational leadership behaviors are exhibited in an elite sport environment. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 9 professional county cricket players to explore perceptions of transformational leadership behaviors of their captain and head-coach. Behaviors were firstly deductively categorized based on the Differentiated Transformational Leadership Inventory, with the most frequently cited being high performance expectations and individual consideration from the coach, and appropriate role-modeling of the captain. Further inductive analyses revealed a range of other factors which may influence players’ perceptions of transformational leadership. From these findings, suggestions are offered for those working in an applied context with sporting leaders.
The Difference in Neuromuscular Fatigue and Workload During Competition and Training in Elite Cricketers
Kieran Cooke, Tom Outram, Raph Brandon, Mark Waldron, Will Vickery, James Keenan, and Jamie Tallent
There are 3 formats of professional domestic cricket in the United Kingdom. Multiday cricket is a minimum of 96 overs per day, for up to 4 days. One-day cricket is played in both a 50-over and 20-over competition. Alongside the demands of training, an in-season period can become clustered and
The Physical Qualities of Elite Australian Pace Bowlers: Typical Characteristics and Longitudinal Changes in Men and Women
Ryan T. Letter, Dan B. Dwyer, Eric J. Drinkwater, and Simon A. Feros
Pace bowling is considered a key component of a successful outcome in a cricket match. 1 The primary aims of a pace bowler are to dismiss the batter and minimize runs conceded. Pace bowlers achieve this by delivering the ball at high speeds and at a particular location on the pitch. Successfully
Business Class Travel Preserves Sleep Quality and Quantity and Minimizes Jet Lag During the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
Benita J. Lalor, Jacqueline Tran, Shona L. Halson, Justin G. Kemp, and Stuart J. Cormack
and local time may impact sleep, self-reported fatigue, and symptoms of jet lag upon arrival at the international destination. 2 Considering international travel forms a large part of an elite cricket players schedule, developing an understanding of the sleep patterns of players during and following
The Development of Anticipation: A Cross-Sectional Examination of the Practice Experiences Contributing to Skill in Cricket Batting
Juanita Weissensteiner, Bruce Abernethy, Damian Farrow, and Sean Müller
The link between the anticipation skills of cricket batsmen and their practice histories was examined. Skilled and lesser skilled batsmen of U15, U20, and adult age completed a temporal occlusion task, in which they were required to use prerelease kinematic information to predict the type and length of delivery being bowled, and a structured interview, in which their accumulated hours of experience in organized and unorganized sporting activities were estimated. Skilled adult and U20 players showed an ability to use prerelease kinematic information to anticipate ball type that was not evident among any other group, and skilled players of all ages were distinguishable in terms of their accumulated hours of cricket-specific experience. Hours of cricket-spe-cific practice, however, explained only a modest percentage of the variance in anticipatory skill. Discussion focuses upon future refinements to the measurement of anticipation and practice history plus the role that variables other than the quantum of cricket experience may play in developing anticipation.
Quantifying Cricket Fast-Bowling Skill
Simon A. Feros, Warren B. Young, and Brendan J. O’Brien
Fast bowling is a specialized discipline within the game of cricket. Typically, fast bowlers form the majority of the “bowling attack” against the opposition team. Each fast bowler presents with varying skill sets and abilities. Some bowlers are renowned for their excellent bowling accuracy (eg
Does Delivery Length Impact Measures of Whole-Body Biomechanical Load During Pace Bowling?
Samuel J. Callaghan, Robert G. Lockie, Walter Yu, Warren A. Andrews, Robert F. Chipchase, and Sophia Nimphius
Cricket pace bowlers report a greater injury risk in comparison with other playing activities in cricket. 1 – 3 The increased injury risk has been linked to the potential for the adoption of more injury-susceptible techniques and high biomechanical loading experienced during the delivery stride
Relationships Between Fast Bowling Technique and Ball Release Speed in Cricket
Peter J. Worthington, Mark A. King, and Craig A. Ranson
The aim of this study was to identify the key aspects of technique that characterize the fastest bowlers. Kinematic data were collected for 20 elite male fast bowlers with 11 kinematic parameters calculated, describing elements of fast bowling technique that have previously been linked to ball release speed. Four technique variables were identified as being the best predictors of ball release speed, explaining 74% of the observed variation in ball release speed. The results indicate that the fastest bowlers have a quicker run-up and maintain a straighter knee throughout the front foot contact phase. The fastest bowlers were also observed to exhibit larger amounts of upper trunk flexion up to ball release and to delay the onset of arm circumduction. This study identifies those technique variables that best explain the differences in release speeds among fast bowlers. These results are likely to be useful in both the coaching and talent identification of fast bowlers.
