Posted on July 23, 2017 by Jenny Cromack
A ‘Needs Analysis’ is a term that is used to discover the key physical attributes needed to be successful in sporting performance. Without doing this it is impossible to programme or pick the correct exercises to suit your athlete. It is not just specified to sport either, effectively as personal trainers, when we do consultations and the first couple of personal training sessions with our clients we are doing a needs analysis on every one of our clients.
By my record it’s been a good couple of months since I blogged about cricket. So, it’s about time I give it another go and look at what makes a good cricketer. As everyone is fully away I play cricket, which means I have little social life over the weekend apart from standing in a field attempting to swing some wood to hit some leather – can’t really call that social. Much of my time at university was spent arguing with my house mate about Cricket vs. Rowing. He would say it’s not ‘proper’ exercise and I would say there is little skill to rowing, most people do it as a leisure activity on a hot day with a cold (usually alcoholic) beverage in hand. As you can tell I am still struggling to let this point go, so have decided to at least put my point across about why cricket IS good exercise…
Physical qualities that are important for cricketers:
Trunk Strength and Stability
This where my word trunk can be applied, I don’t just mean having a 6pack (which a lot of cricketers won’t have) but just because they don’t, do not fooled in thinking they aren’t strong and stable through there trunk. For bowling quick, it is vitally important.
Lower Limb strength
Uni-lateral strength and power work specifically important. Leg strength is key in all facets of the game. Creating a strong base when batting, being quick and agile in the field and powerful when running in to bowl.
Force Control
For a fast bowler being able to absorb force is the major determinant of how successful their career will be. When bowling the final stride when you release the ball will but putting in excess of double your body mass through your front leg. If you cannot do this correctly, injuries will be all too common.
Acceleration Speed
Whether it is running between the wickets, turning and chasing after the ball whilst fielding or running in to bowl – cricketers are always sprinting. During a quick sprint like these examples, the first couple of step will often decide being ‘in’ or ‘out’. Therefore, acceleration is crucial.
Hip and Thoracic Spine Mobility
Mobility and flexibility is a sign of strength and power without mobility in the hips and the thoracic spine players would not be able to have any of the above physical qualities.
General Conditioning and Specific Conditioning
A base level of aerobic capacity is vital in most game sports and cricket is no different. Repeated sprint conditioning is the most important form of this, as I mentioned cricketers are never jogging it is always 100% maximal sprint.
There you have it a ‘Needs Analysis’ for cricket for what makes a good cricketer. Keep checking our blogs in the coming weeks, I will be aiming to go through a variety of sports and clients (only with their say so) and completing a needs analysis.