- Title
- The use of game-based training to provide a match-specific environment for cricket players
- Creator
- Vickery, William Morris
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2014
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- Cricket coaches have historically relied on isolated training practices such as net-based sessions and centre-wicket (CW) simulations to develop match-specific skills. However, such training modes may lack skill-specific application or be of insufficient intensity compared to a match. Recently, a small-sided games (SSG) approach has been designed for cricket (termed Battlezone [BZ]); to concurrently develop the conditioning profile and technical abilities of players. This thesis examined the physiological, physical and technical demands of cricket players during various cricket training formats and match-play. The application of game-based training within the sport of cricket, particularly BZ, may provide a unique training environment for improving a player’s conditioning and skill profile which can be transferred into match-play. In recent times, the physical demands of athletes have been quantified using individual global positioning system (GPS) devices. In order to complete the current research, the accuracy of the GPS devices used to quantify physical demands were examined. Two male participants (age: 25.5 ± 0.7 yr; height: 1.75 ± 0.01 m; body mass: 74.0 ± 5.7 kg) completed ten repetitions of drills replicating movements of cricket activities (as well as tennis and field-based sports), whilst wearing two 5, 10 (MinimaxX) and 15 (GPSports) Hz GPS devices. The GPS devices were compared to a 22-camera VICON system. No significant differences were reported (p > 0.05) between the GPS devices and VICON system for the majority of distance and speed measures. The results also showed no improvements in accuracy with increases in the sampling rate of the GPS devices when compared to VICON (p > 0.05). The co-efficient of variation (CV) for the 5 and 15 Hz devices for distance and speed measures ranged between 3-33%, with increasing variability evident in higher speed zones. When examining the reliability of the devices, a low level of inter-unit reliability (r = -0.35–0.39) was reported for the majority of measures. Based on these results, the GPS devices demonstrated a low to moderate level of inter-unit reliability for distance and speed measures during high-speed straight line running, multi-direction movement patterns and unstructured movements. By applying the results demonstrated in the previous study, Study 2 compared the physiological, physical and technical demands of elite cricket players during traditional cricket training (TCT) sessions (net sessions and fielding drills) (n = 26), CW simulations (n = 5) and One-Day (OD) matches (n = 5). During all training and match-play, heart rate (HR), movement patterns and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded from 42 cricket players (age: 23 ± 4 yr, height: 1.86 ± 0.07 m, body mass: 85.8 ± 8.5 kg). Quantification of technical skill involvements was performed via post hoc video analysis. Medium-fast bowlers demonstrated similar physiological (mean HR [HRmean]: 148 ± 16 b.min-1; 148 ± 9 b.min-1) and physical (mean speed: 82 ± 13 m.min-1; 77 ± 28 m.min-1) responses during the TCT and OD matches, respectively. By comparison, CW simulations were characterised by a decreased physiological (HRmean: 129 ± 17 b.min-1) and physical (mean speed: 64 ± 13 m.min-1) intensity. Batsmen were placed under greater physiological and physical demands from OD matches when compared to either TCT or CW training format. Further, a higher HRmean (TCT: 137 ± 14 b.min-1; CW simulations: 148 ± 12 b.min-1; OD match: 152 ± 13 b.min-1) and mean speed (TCT: 25 ± 6 m.min-1; CW simulations: 38 ± 5 b.min-1; OD matches: 54 ± 45 m.min-1) were associated with CW simulation training compared to TCT. Irrespective of playing position, technical demand was greatest during TCT compared to matches or CW simulations. Collectively, this evidence suggests that neither training modality consistently provided players with a training stimulus that replicated a match. Importantly, the use of CW simulations may be limited in the transfer of match-specific skills and tactical strategies due to the lower physical and physiological intensities when compared to match-play. Given the findings of Study 2, Study 3 examined the movement demands and physiological responses of BZ, and determined its inter-session reproducibility. Unlike CW simulations whereby players trained using the entire space of a cricket field, BZ enclosed players within the inner circle of a typical cricket field using netting. Thirteen male, amateur cricket players (age: 22.8 ± 3.5 yr, height: 1.78 ± 0.06 m, body mass: 78.6 ± 7.1 kg) completed two separate BZ sessions during which HR, movement patterns, blood lactate concentration ([BLa-]) and RPE were recorded. During a BZ session, batsmen reported the greatest physical demand (mean speed: 63 ± 9 m.min-1), followed by medium-fast bowlers (60 ± 10 m.min-1). Regardless of playing position, the majority of time (79-90%) was spent between 51-85% of maximum heart rate (HRmax) and [BLa-] between 1.1-2.0 mmol•L-1. Ratings of perceived exertion ranged between 4.2-6.0. The movement demands and physiological responses of players, did not differ between sessions (p > 0.05), irrespective of playing position. Mean speed (CV: 7-9%; Intra-class correlation [ICC]: 0.56-1.00) and peak %HRmax achieved (CV: 6-8%; ICC: -0.80-0.73) demonstrated acceptable reliability across each playing position. Thus, the use of BZ as a training method may be suitable for replicating match demands. Furthermore, the results also suggest that the training stimulus provided through BZ is consistent. Study 4 compared the physiological, physical and technical demands of cricket players between BZ, TCT and OD matches. Eleven amateur, male cricket players (age: 22.2 ± 3.3 yr, height: 1.82 ± 0.06 m, body mass: 80.4 ± 9.8 kg) completed four BZ and four TCT sessions whilst measures of HR, [BLa-], RPE and movement patterns of players were collected. The involvements of technical skill of each player were quantified by post hoc video analysis. Following this, similar measures were collected from 42 amateur, male cricket players (23.5 ± 4.7 yr, 1.81 ± 0.07 m, 81.4 ± 11.4 kg) during ten OD matches. Batsmen performed with the greatest HRmean (164 ± 12 b.min-1) during BZ, likely due to the greater relative distance covered at a high-intensity (HI) (21 ± 7 m.min-1). The greatest technical demand (number of [#] balls faced: 6 ± 1 balls.min-1, # balls hit: 4 ± 1 balls.min-1, % good contact shots: 82 ± 7%) for batsmen was observed during TCT. Similarly within other playing positions, a greater HRmean was reported during BZ in comparison to TCT and OD matches regardless of playing position. Therefore, across each of the different playing positions the physiological, physical and technical demands of BZ and TCT replicate or exceed the relative demands of a OD match in amateur players. Finally, Study 5 examined the influence of modifying the constraints associated with the BZ training environment. Eleven male, cricket players (22.2 ± 3.6 yr; 1.80 ± 0.06 m; 81.7 ± 11.4 kg) performed four modified scenarios of BZ which included a reduction in field size, the removal of a fielder, a combination of these two modifications and the inclusion of new playing rules. As with previous studies, each player’s HR, [BLa-], RPE and movement patterns were measured during each BZ scenario. Between the different scenarios, the greatest HR response and [BLa-] resulted from the changes in playing rules, which resulted from the increased movement demands (mean speed, HI activity) of this scenario (p < 0.05), most notably for batsmen (HRmean : 158 ± 17 b.min-1, mean speed: 67 ± 7 m.min-1) and wicketkeepers (HRmean : 145 ± 9 b.min-1, mean speed: 37 ± 10 m.min-1). By comparison, manipulating the size of the BZ playing field or the number of fielders present did not appear to significantly influence (p > 0.05) the physical demands or physiological responses of players. As such, the manipulation of BZ constraints can help to provide a range of match-specific training environments. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the advantages of using BZ as a cricket training format as opposed to game-based CW simulations. Overall, the physiological, physical and technical demands of BZ appear similar to or exceed that of a OD match as well as the more traditional forms of cricket training. This demonstrates that BZ can provide a sufficient match-appropriate training load (TL). Importantly, BZ demonstrated an acceptable level of reliability between training sessions, suggesting that a consistent TL can be applied. Furthermore, manipulating BZ constraints can vary the training response to provide variation to help develop different aspects of a cricket player’s game, such as technical skill or conditioning status.
- Subject
- training load; small-sided game; team sports; GPS; movement analysis; thesis by publication
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1055951
- Identifier
- uon:15960
- Rights
- Copyright 2014 William Morris Vickery
- Language
- eng
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