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Objectives: To assess whether the absence of a known endpoint, at the beginning of repeated-sprint bouts between the wickets, affects how skilled compared to less skilled batsmen pace themselves., Design: Repeated measures., Methods: Twelve skilled and 12 less skilled batsmen completed three trials. All trials required the same number of sprints (14 shuttles, 28 runs), while only the information before each trial differed. CT: batsmen were aware of the endpoint (28 runs). UT: not informed of the exercise endpoint and were required to run on command for an indefinite period (28 runs). DT: told they were only doing 14 runs when they actually did 28 runs. Sprint times, electrical muscle activity, and ratings of perceived effort were recorded., Results: Skilled batsmen were significantly faster than less skilled across all trials. Hamstring muscles activity decreased significantly over time in the skilled players during the UT, and during the CT and DT for the less skilled players. There were significant reductions in quadriceps muscles activation for the less skilled over time in all trials and in the skilled batsmen in the vastus medialis during the UT only. Perceived effort increased significantly in both groups in all trials. Skilled batsmen were fastest in the UT and less skilled fastest in the CT., Conclusions: Better batting skill facilitated improved sprint times, especially when the exact endpoint was unknown. These results suggest that less skilled players should be given more central wicket practice with uncertainty to better develop their ability to maintain their sprint performance., (Copyright © 2017 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

As limited research has focused on the physiological responses associated with cricket activity, the aim of this pilot study was to measure selected physiological responses during batting in a simulated high-scoring 1-day cricket game. Ten male university cricketers performed a batting specific work bout consisting of four sprints per over (six balls) for a seven over period. Testing was conducted outdoors with players wearing full batting gear. All experimentation was conducted under temperate environmental conditions. During the simulated work bout, a portable on-line metabolic system (the k4b(2)) was attached to the subjects for the continuous assessment of selected physiological variables including heart rate (HR), ventilation (F(B), V(T) and V(E)), oxygen uptake (V(O2)) and metabolic carbon dioxide (V(CO2)) production. Energy expenditure was calculated from the oxygen consumption responses and substrate use was calculated from the V(O2)/V(CO2) responses. The results demonstrate that although the first over carried a statistically (p<0.05) lower energetic cost than the remaining six overs, most physiological responses stabilised thereafter. This excluded the heart rate responses which increased significantly (p<0.05) during the first three overs after which marginal increases were observed with no statistical difference between the last four overs (heart rate ranged from 149+/-19bt min(-1) in the fourth over to 155+/-18bt min(-1) in the last over). There was a mean energy expenditure of 2536kJh(-1) over the duration of the work bout.