Quantifying positional movement patterns in Twenty20 cricket

Abstract

The time-motion characteristics of five cricket positions (Batsmen, Fast bowlers, Fielders, Spin bowlers, Wicketkeepers) were quantified during four State Twenty20 (T20) cricket matches. A total of 18 different players were monitored over 30 innings. Several time motion characteristics were quantified using portable 5Hz global positioning system (GPS) units. Descriptive statistics (mean ± SD) were used to describe the data while the effect size statistic was used to determine the magnitude of difference in patterns of movement between positions. T20 cricketers covered between 6.4 - 8.5 km, with 0.1 – 0.7 km of this distance spent sprinting during an 80 min fielding innings. Fast Bowlers covered 8.5 ± 1.5 km; sprinted 42 ± 8 times, mean sprint distance was 17 ± 2m and total sprinting distance was 0.7 ± 0.2 km. Wicketkeepers covered 6.4 ± 0.7 km; sprinted 5 ± 2 times, mean sprint distance was 10 ± 3m and total sprinting distance was 62 ± 44m. While batting (30 min) players covered ~2.5 km; sprinted 12 ± 5 times, mean sprint distance was 14 ± 3m and total sprinting distance was 160 ± 80m. Fast bowlers and fielders have substantially greater physical demands than spin bowlers and wicketkeepers in T20 cricket.