An Economic Analysis of Attendance Demand for One Day International Cricket

The future of One Day International (ODI) cricket has come under scrutiny following increasing competition from other formats of cricket. We identify trends in attendance demand by examining over 540 ODI matches played in Australia and England between 1981 and 2015. We use fixed effects and Tobit random effects models to isolate key determinants of attendance demand for ODI cricket and, in particular, the impact of uncertainty of outcome. We find that team strength has little independent effect on ODI attendances, but the uncertainty of the match outcome, as measured by the relative strengths of the teams over a long period of time, increases demand for ODI matches in England. Further, organising the ODI as a day/night (floodlit) game has a large positive impact on attendance in Australia

Contextual batting and bowling in limited overs cricket

Cricket is a sport for which many batting and bowling statistics have been proposed. However, a feature of cricket is that the level of aggressiveness adopted by batsmen is dependent on match circumstances. It is therefore relevant to consider these circumstances when evaluating batting and bowling performances. This project considers batting performance in the second innings of limited overs cricket when a target has been set. The runs required, the number of overs completed and the wickets taken are relevant in assessing the batting performance. We produce a visualization for second innings batting which describes how a batsman performs under different circumstances. The visualization is then reduced to a single statistic “clutch batting” which can be used to compare batsmen. An analogous analysis is then provided for bowlers based on the symmetry between batting and bowling, and we define a statistic “clutch bowling”

Physical Match Demands of Women’s International Cricket

The need to understand the physical match demands required for female international cricketers is growing. Chapter 3 identified the physical match demands of female international cricketers in Twenty20 (T20) matches compared to One Day International (ODI) matches and between seam and non-seam bowlers. When comparing T20 and ODI matches, cricketers covered greater distance across matches in all speed bands. When expressed relative to per minute played, distances were greater across most speed bands in T20 cricket. There was little difference in absolute and relative values between seam bowlers and non-seam bowers apart from absolute and relative high- speed running, where seamers covered greater distances. Additionally, meters per minute were greater in T20 compared to ODI, whereas greater total distances were covered in ODI cricket. Different preparation strategies are therefore required for ODI and T20, with considerations around high-speed running needed for seamers in comparison to non-seamers. Chapter 4 explored the time motion analysis of an impactful match batting innings in T20 and ODI cricket. An impactful innings in ODI matches required a greater absolute physical demand than T20, specifically walking, low-speed running and low intensity accelerations. Whereas, when expressed relative to balls faced, T20 matches demanded significantly greater distances jogging, high- speed running, medium intensity accelerations than ODI. This data suggests T20 cricket requires a greater relative demand for high intensity movements, meanwhile, ODI matches demand higher total amounts of low-intensity movements throughout a batting innings. For the first time, this thesis has provided an overview of the demands of international female cricket across batting, bowling and fielding, in seam bowlers and non-seam bowlers and in ODI and T20 cricket

Get sleep or get stumped: sleep behaviour in elite South African cricket players during competition

Introduction: Good sleep behaviour is associated with achieving optimal athletic performance and reducing the risk of injury. Elite cricket players have unique physical and cognitive demands, and must accommodate for congested competition and travel schedules (all of which increase the risk of disruptive sleep). Further, the political pressures and socioeconomic barriers in South African cricket could affect the sleep of the country’s elite players. Previous research in cricket has focussed on the impact that nutrition, equipment specifications, movement physiology and psychology could elicit on performance (where many professional teams hire support staff to supervise these disciplines); however, there is limited empirical application of sleep research in elite cricket players. Therefore, this study aimed to characterise the sleep behaviours of elite South African cricket players during periods of competition and investigate the relationship between pre-match sleep and cricket performance. Methods: A longitudinal field-based investigation was implemented to monitor the sleep behaviour of 26 elite South African cricket players (age: 28.6 ± 4.0 years; height: 1.8 ± 0.1 m; weight: 85.7 ± 10.8 kg; elite experience: 3.7 ± 4.0 years) during home and away competitive tours. The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and Athlete Sleep Behaviour Questionnaire were administered to identify chronotype and poor sleep behaviours. Players completed an altered version of the Core Consensus Sleep Diary every morning post-travel, pre-match and post-match. Linear mixed model regression was used to compare differences in sleep variables between time-periods, match venues, player roles, match formats, sleep medication and racial groups. Spearman’s correlation (rs) was used to assess the relationship of substance use (alcohol and caffeine), age, elite experience and match performance with selected sleep indices. Statistical significance for all measures was accepted at p 0.05), allrounders took longer to fall asleep (g = 0.90 [0.23;1.57]), obtained less total sleep (0.76 [0.29;1.42]) and had lower morning freshness scores (g = 1.10 [0.42;1.78]) the night before a match compared to batsmen. Wake after sleep onset and get up time were moderately longer (g = 0.61 [0.22;1.26]) and later (g = 0.62 [0.27;1.17]) before. Twenty20 matches compared to One-Day International matches respectively. Further, sleep duration significantly declined from pre-match to post-match during the multi-day Test format (p = 0.04, g= 0.75 [0.40;1.12]). Late alcohol consumption was significantly (p 0.05), Asian/Indian players had moderately longer sleep onset latencies (g = 1.07 [0.66;1.47]), wake after sleep onset durations (g = 0.86 [0.42;1.29]), and lower subjective sleep quality (g = 0.86 [0.46;1.26]) and morning freshness scores (g = 0.89 [0.47;1.27]) compared to Whites. Similarly, Black Africans had moderately lower subjective sleep quality scores compared to Whites (g = 0.71 [0.43;0.97]). Longer sleep onset latencies and shorter total sleep times were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with poorer One-Day International (rs (28) = -0.57) and Test (rs (12) = 0.59) batting performances respectively. Higher subjective sleep quality scores were significantly associated with better Twenty20 bowling economies (rs (8) = -0.52). Discussion: There was no evidence of poor pre-match sleep behaviour, irrespective of venue; however, the most apparent disruption to sleep occurred post-match (similar to that found in other team-sports). Most disparities in sleep between match venues existed post-travel, with better sleep behaviour observed during the home condition. The differences in sleep patterns found in all three match formats were expected given the variations in format scheduling and duration. Although sleep medication was shown to promote better sleep, its long-term effectiveness was limited. The results promote the implementation of practical strategies aimed to reduce bedtime light-emitting technology use, late evening alcohol consumption and muscle pain. Inter-individual sleep behaviour was found between player roles, age, experience level and race. Moderate associations existed between sleep and markers of batting performance, specifically for the longer, strategic formats of the game. Conclusion: The current study provided new insight of the sleep behaviour in elite South African cricket players during competition. Individualized sleep monitoring practices are encouraged, with specific supervision over older, less experienced players as well as the racial minorities and allrounders of the team. The poor post-match sleep behaviour, together with the sleep and performance correlations, provide ideal opportunities for future interventions to focus on match recovery and the use sleep monitoring as a competitive advantage

The Accuracy and Validity of Self-Reported Throwing Loads and the Characteristics of Throws by Elite Cricket Players in Australia

Objectives: To determine the relationship between elite cricket player’s self-reported and independently observed throwing volume. Examine whether sex, playing position, or time to upload self-reported data post training influences the accuracy of self-reported throwing loads. Describe the type and number of throws performed during elite cricket training, and identify characteristics such as type, distance and accuracy of throws. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of eight female and 18 male professional cricket players participated in the study. Overarm throws from 12 training sessions during the 2020-21 cricket year were observed. Player self-reported throwing volume data were retrieved post training, with the time difference between session completion and self-reported data upload recorded. Observations on throwing type (warm-up, drill throw), distance (± 30 meters) and accuracy (hit or miss target) of throws was noted. Correlation and agreement was assessed using a Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient and a Bland-Altman plot of agreement. Two, Independent-Samples Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to investigate if playing position and sex had an influence on absolute magnitude of error of reporting. Results: A moderate positive correlation was found between self-reported and observed throwing loads (rho = 0.65), however only 22% of players reported values within a clinically acceptable error of 10%. Players reported a mean absolute magnitude of error of 11.2 (9.8) throws and a mean magnitude of error of 24.8% (SD 16.0%). Sex did not influence reporting accuracy (p = 0.414). Playing position had a statistically significant (p = 0.031), though not clinically meaningful, relationship. Females uploaded self-reported data the day of training, whereas most males reported the day following. Reporting the day of training, or the day following training did not appear to result in poorer self-reported throwing load accuracy. Conclusions: The findings of this study question the validity of player self-reported throwing load as most players recorded in excess of 10% error. Sport support staff and players should consider whether the current accuracy of self-reported throwing load justifies its collection and use in the high-performance environment

A preliminary analysis of team performances in English List A cricket

Consequently, the aims of this study are to: preliminarily investigate and quantify the magnitude of differences between key performance indicators of winning and losing teams in a selection of English List A matches and preliminarily investigate pitch-level analysis data, including the line and length of wickets taken and boundaries scored, and its impact on winning or losing in a selection of English List A matches

Sports Fans' Evaluations of Sporting Code Innovations

Today's professional sports are frequently evolving and changing their design, structure and format. Many such innovations have been spurred on by the opportunity to capitalise financially on new markets and increase profit. This study used both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (depth interviews) methods in order to examine fans' attitudes towards the current state of Rugby Union, Rugby League, Netball, Soccer and Cricket. The findings for Rugby Union concluded that the recent experimental law variations have succeeded in what they were introduced to do. Fans believe that Rugby is more exciting to watch than ever before and that it is now a faster and more attack-focused contest. Fans believe that Rugby League has improved following the introduction of the video referee and in particular by the use of two on-field referees. They believe that it is now a more exciting and faster game. Fans also believe that salary caps are good for Rugby League and help to increase competition and spread the wealth of talent among the teams. Netball fans are excited by possible new innovations and show support for the inclusion of power plays, two point goals, rolling substitutions and increased physical contact. Fans believe that Soccer needs to adopt technology in order to help its officials but they also admire the traditionalism of the code. Surprisingly, fans show support for increasing the sizes of Soccer‟s goals in order to make it easier for teams to score. Fans show support for Twenty20 cricket and seem undeterred by recent match fixing scandals. There is also evident support for the introduction of Beach Cricket to New Zealand. Analysing fans' attitudes towards professional sport's product innovations has led to a final implication and conclusion for the administrators and governing bodies of professional sport. That is, it would be wise to keep the traditional codes and their formats as traditional as possible. However, evolve the same sport in to a completely separate format in order to financially capitalise on different markets. Twenty20 cricket is a perfect example of this

The Duckworth/Lewis Method Professional Edition: operational research principles ensure a fairer outcome for interrupted limited-overs cricket matches

The Duckworth/Lewis Method Professional Edition, is the standard adopted globally by the International Cricket Council, for resetting the total run target for interrupted (such as rain affected) limited-overs cricket matches, enabling fairer match outcomes benefitting the teams, their fans and the games’ regulatory bodies. The Professional Edition, applied universally in top-level cricket, is developed from research undertaken by Anthony Lewis, Oxford Brookes University, in collaboration with Frank Duckworth. The Professional Edition made advances over the original formula by improving the parameters where the total run target was above average. This refinement of the original D/L method led to the widespread publication, dissemination and endorsement of the D/L method Professional Edition and demonstrates the diverse applications of academic research

Quantification of training load, neuromuscular fatigue, biochemical and endocrine responses to fast bowling in cricket

Recent professionalization, the emergence of, and ever-increasing popularity of limited overs cricket, have resulted in traditional playing schedules evolving and expanding. Consequently, players now compete for much of the year, experiencing periods of condensed fixtures. To meet these increased demands, the aforementioned contribute to effecting team performance and player health. Thus, the prevalence of injuries, especially amongst fast bowlers, has been shown and attributed to rises in competition workloads.Therefore, the main aim of this thesis was to explore the application of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) to quantify the training load of fast bowlers. Furthermore, I sought to assess relationships between both internal and external training load variables and proposed markers of fatigue and recovery.The first preliminary descriptive research study (Chapter 4) aimed to prospectively quantify fast bowling workloads during a typical season of professional domestic county cricket (April – September). Data were collected from fixture scorebooks, with descriptive bowling workloads determined by calculating frequencies of overs and deliveries bowled. This was further calculated dependant on both bowler classification (opening [O-B; n = 2] or support [S-B; n = 6]) and competition format (multiday [MD], One-day [OD] or Twenty20 [T20]), respectively. Significant differences were found in total number of overs (296.1 overs; 95% CI 37.8 to 554.4; P = 0.03) and deliveries (1764.8 balls; 95% CI 183.0 to 3346.7; P = 0.03) bowled between O-B and S-B, respectively. Multiday cricket was the only format where, significant differences between bowlers were found; total number of overs (289.9 overs; 95% CI 88.2 to 491.6; P = 0.01) and deliveries (1739.3 balls; 95% CI 529.3 to 2949.3; P = 0.01) bowled.The aim of experimental study one (Chapter 5) was to assess the between-match and within-match between-over variability of external training load measures during T20 cricket competition. MEMS data were collected from eight fast bowlers in 17 matches of domestic T20 competition, spanning two seasons. MEMS variables were categorised into total distance (TD), low- (≤ 14.4 km.h-1) and high- (≥ 14.4 km.h-1) speed running distance, total sprint distance (≥18 km.h-1), number of sprint efforts and PlayerLoad™ ([PL] arbitrary units; AU). Data were log-transformed to provide the coefficient of variation (CV; expressed as percentages). The between-match variability was greatest in high-speed running distance (32.9% CV), total sprint distance (49.0% CV) and number of sprint efforts (48.0% CV). Similarly, within-match between-over high-speed running distance (12.8% CV), total sprint distance (17.1% CV) and number of sprint efforts (12.3% CV) elicited the greatest variability, yet, this was markedly reduced compared to between-match observations. However, TD and PL were found to be relatively stable measures of external training load (range; 5.5–13.3% CV), both between-match and within-match between-over.Experimental study two (Chapter 6) investigated short-term neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) of fast bowlers and relationships to match performance during a typical season of professional academy OD limited overs cricket. Baseline measures of lower body NMF were assessed via flight time (ms) from a countermovement jump (CMJ). These measures were repeated every morning of competition; NMF was additionally assessed within 30-min after the cessation of the bowling innings (CMJ-FIRST or CMJ-SECOND). MEMS data were collected from six fast bowlers, with supplementary descriptive fast bowling workloads classifications (LOW, MODERATE and HIGH). There were significant reductions in flight time pre to post bowling innings (Δ 19 ms; P = 0.008). Moreover, similar reductions in flight time were found in LOW – MODERATE (Δ 30 ms; P = 0.03) and LOW – HIGH bowling workload groups (Δ 43 ms; P = 0.003), respectively.Finally, experimental study three (Chapter 7) investigated neuromuscular, biochemical and endocrine markers of fatigue after four spells of simulated fast bowling. Eleven fast bowlers completed differing spells of simulated fast bowling based on the Cricket Australia-Australian Institute of Sport (CA-AIS) fast bowling skills test. NMF were assessed via flight-time from a CMJ; pre (-0.5-h) and post (+0.5 and +24-h) simulation, with blood (Creatine kinase; CK) and saliva (Cortisol; sCort) samples collected in parallel. During each simulated fast bowling trial (4-, 6-, RANDOM- & 10-overs), internal (heart rate exertion index [HREI]) and external (PL) training load was quantified using MEMS. There were small, significant reductions in CMJ flight time pre to post (Δ 21 ms; P < 0.01) and pre to 24-h post (Δ 8 ms; P = 0.001) simulation, respectively. Overs bowled appeared to significantly affect NMF for up to 24-h post simulation. Furthermore, changes in CK were found to best correlate with estimated TD (r = 0.48; P = 0.002) rating of perceived exertion (RPE r = 0.47; P = 0.002) session-RPE (r = 0.48; P = 0.002), HREI (r = 0.45; P = 0.003) and PL (r = 0.41; P = 0.009) 24-h post simulation, respectively.The findings of this thesis demonstrate that during limited overs cricket, high-speed locomotive activity is highly variable amongst fast bowlers. Furthermore, fast bowlers are shown to experience short-term NMF, which appears to be magnified based on descriptive fast bowling workload characteristics. Collectively, these findings have importance for practitioners, who seek to facilitate performance by informed training prescription based on replicating match and training demands

Sportainment: Changing the Pace of Limited-overs Cricket in South Africa

This study addresses the need to deepen the understanding of sports marketing in an emerging market context. The in-depth case study of Standard Bank Pro20 Cricket explores the strategy, execution and results of the successful launch of a new cricket format in South Africa. As such, it contributes to the theory and practice of sport marketing, especially sport event sponsorship. Schwartz and Hunter (2008) highlight the “lucrative” (p. 251) nature of tournaments and championships sponsorships, given the opportunity for media and advertising exposure related to the event. This study documents the effective use of a partnership approach to sponsorship (Meenaghan, 2002) and the creative use of multiple sponsorship activations to achieve the sponsorship’s objectives