RELATIONSHIP OF SELECT MUSCULOSKELETAL COMPONENTS AND BATTING SPEED IN CRICKETERS- A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

¹Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Faculty of Sports and Exercise Sciences/Sports Physiotherapy, Chennai, India

Background: Cricket has evolved from a traditional and conservative sport to a fast-paced, vigorous game. As a result of this the physical conditioning programs of players have changed drastically with regular fitness tests that are now an integral part of these programs. In spite of this, no studies have made an attempt to determine the exact relationship between the physical and motor ability parameters of batsmen and their performance. Batting in cricket is a complex task that demands the coordination of full-body movements and upper and lower body strength in order to smash a fast-moving ball. Recent research suggests that batting biomechanics has altered joint ranges and musculoskeletal alignments, correction of those resulted in improved batting performance, which is directly linked to batting speed and maximum hitting distance.

Purpose: The research in cricket batsmen linking musculoskeletal performance and the batting performance is limited due to unknown reasons and also there is sparse knowledge about listing non - contact injuries of batting. Henceforth, the main goal of this study is to analyze the musculoskeletal components responsible for batting biomechanics and establish a relationship between those musculoskeletal factors and batting performance and speed.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was administered. 80 district/state level cricketers participated in the study. A series of musculoskeletal tests inclusive of Shoulder IROM/EROM, Shoulder internal and external rotator strength, handgrip strength, Thoraco-Lumbar lateral flexion, Thoraco-Lumbar rotation, Eccentric hamstring strength and batting speeds were measured. And a detailed questionnaire consisting of their sport, training and injury histories were obtained.

Results: Shoulder internal rotation left and batting speed were found to be strongly significant but negatively correlated. (r=.675, n=80, p < 0.000). There were no significant correlations between other musculoskeletal components and batting speed. The Musculoskeletal components among one other showed strong significance and correlations.

Conclusions: The study concludes that musculoskeletal components are not associated with batting speed. Although, due to their significance to one other component, improvement of those factors or training programs to enhance the shoulder ROM, Shoulder IR & ER strength, handgrip strength, TL ROM and eccentric hamstring strength along with other training regimens can help enhance their batting performance on the whole and generate a good power in hitting powerful shots.

Implications: The study establishes the need for assessing and considering musculoskeletal components in order to better understand batting shortfalls and also to enhance or improve performance, as well as to truly comprehend the injuries that batsmen may be prone to when these musculoskeletal components are abnormal, and vice versa.
Also to educate coaches, players, and sport scientists to consider assessment of these parameters prior to prescribing a technique correction or increasing the training regimen for performance evaluations.
To educate support staff to include spinal mobility programs, spinal rotatory stability and endurance drills as part of training programs regularly and to address musculoskeletal issues cricketers are prone to.

Funding acknowledgements: No direct funding was received during the course of the study.
"Smart cricket solutions" granted device named 'Bat-sense' for dissertation.

Keywords:
Musculoskeletal determinants
Batting speed
Cricket batsmen

Topics:
Sport & sports injuries
Musculoskeletal
Musculoskeletal: peripheral

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research. (DU)

Committee: Institutional ethics commitee (IEC)

Ethics number: CSP/22/MAR/108/215