ABSTRACT
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.