Inside edge - prevalence and factors associated with symptoms of anxiety/depression in professional cricketers

The purpose of this study was to i) determine the prevalence of anxiety/depression symptoms in professional cricketers and ii) identify factors associated with symptoms of anxiety/depression. One-hundred and seventy-seven (n = 177, response rate of 76%) professional cricketers completed the General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12). Odd ratios (OR) for anxiety/depression symptoms were related to players' career, family and education. Prevalence of symptoms of anxiety/depression was 59% (n = 104/177). Anxiety/depression symptoms increased when players were contracted for more than 2 years (OR: 5.0; 95% CI: 1.2-21.3; p = 0.028) and if they played their last offseason overseas (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.3-9.6; p = 0.013). Anxiety/depression symptoms decreased by 70% when players made "productive use" of their time in the offseason (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1-0.9; p = 0.036) and contracted for 2 years (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1-1.0; p = 0.049). These findings can be incorporated into cricket mental health literacy programmes to improve awareness and understanding, and to encourage early help-seeking.

Biomechanical and physical determinants of bowling speed in cricket: a novel approach to systematic review and meta-analysis of correlational data

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the influence of biomechanical and physical characteristics on ball release speed in cricket using correlation data. Search was conducted across PubMed, Cinhal, Scopus, SportDiscus and Web of Science, with eighteen studies included. The ball release speed had a moderate correlation with overall biomechanical (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) parameters and a strong correlation with physical (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) characteristics. Furthermore, individual biomechanical and physical parameters were also correlated with ball release speed. The run-up speed had a strong correlation (r = 0.50, p < 0.001) and front knee angle at ball release had a moderate correlation (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). Poorer correlations were identified for centre of mass velocity at ball release (r = 0.16, p = 0.134), front knee angle at front foot contact (r = 0.26, p = 0.015) 25 and vertical ground reaction force (r = 0.13, p = 0.659). Strong and significant correlation was found for total arm length (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) and shoulder strength (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). This review highlights the biomechanical and physical parameters that are major determinants of faster ball release speed.

Crickets in the spotlight: exploring the impact of light on circadian behavior

Crickets serve as a well-established model organism in biological research spanning various fields, such as behavior, physiology, neurobiology, and ecology. Cricket circadian behavior was first reported over a century ago and prompted a wealth of studies delving into their chronobiology. Circadian rhythms have been described in relation to fundamental cricket behaviors, encompassing stridulation and locomotion, but also in hormonal secretion and gene expression. Here we review how changes in illumination patterns and light intensity differentially impact the different cricket behaviors as well as circadian gene expression. We further describe the cricket's circadian pacemaker. Ample anatomical manipulations support the location of a major circadian pacemaker in the cricket optic lobes and another in the central brain, possibly interconnected via signaling of the neuropeptide PDF. The cricket circadian machinery comprises a molecular cascade based on two major transcriptional/translational negative feedback loops, deviating somewhat from the canonical model of Drosophila and emphasizing the significance of exploring alternative models. Finally, the nocturnal nature of crickets has provided a unique avenue for investigating the repercussions of artificial light at night on cricket behavior and ecology, underscoring the critical role played by natural light cycles in synchronizing cricket behaviors and populations, further supporting the use of the cricket model in the study of the effects of light on insects. Some gaps in our knowledge and challenges for future studies are discussed.

Behavioural plasticity compensates for adaptive loss of cricket song

Behavioural flexibility might help animals cope with costs of genetic variants under selection, promoting genetic adaptation. However, it has proven challenging to experimentally link behavioural flexibility to the predicted compensation of population-level fitness. We tested this prediction using the field cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus. In Hawaiian populations, a mutation silences males and protects against eavesdropping parasitoids. To examine how the loss of this critical acoustic communication signal impacts offspring production and mate location, we developed a high-resolution, individual-based tracking system for low-light, naturalistic conditions. Offspring production did not differ significantly in replicate silent versus singing populations, and fitness compensation in silent conditions was associated with significantly increased locomotion in both sexes. Our results provide evidence that flexible behaviour can promote genetic adaptation via compensation in reproductive output and suggest that rapid evolution of animal communication systems may be less constrained than previously appreciated.

Wheat Bread Enriched with House Cricket Powder (Acheta domesticus L.) as an Alternative Protein Source

The house cricket (Acheta domesticus L.) is one of four edible insect species introduced to the EU market as a novel food and alternative protein source. Innovative products, such as cricket flour, are increasingly appearing on supermarket shelves and can offer an alternative to traditional cereals, while providing the body with many valuable nutrients of comparable quality to those found in meat and fish. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of using cricket powder as a substitute for wheat flour in the production of bread. The physicochemical properties of cricket powder were evaluated in comparison to wheat flour. As a result of technological studies, bread compositions with 5%, 10% and 15% replacements of wheat flour by cricket powder were designed and their quality characteristics (physicochemical, sensory and microbiological) were evaluated. Cricket powder was characterised by a higher protein (63% vs. 13.5%) and fat (16.3% vs. 1.16%) content and a lower carbohydrate (9.8% vs. 66%) and fibre (7.8% vs. 9.5%) content as compared to wheat flour. The tested preparations had a similar pH (6.9 and 6.8, respectively, for cricket powder and flour) and fat absorption capacity (0.14 vs. 0.27 g oil/g powder, respectively, for cricket powder and flour) but different water holding capacities and completely different colour parameters. All breads had good microbiological quality after baking and during 7 days of storage. In instrumental tests, the 10 and 15% replacements of wheat flour by cricket powder affected the darker colour of the breads and caused a significant increase in the hardness of the breads. The research has shown that the optimal level of replacement, which does not significantly affect the physiochemical and sensory characteristics, is 5% cricket powder in the bread recipe. Considering the results obtained and the fact that insects provide a sufficient supply of energy and protein in the human diet, are a source of fibre, vitamins and micronutrients, and have a high content of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, the suitability of cricket powder for protein enrichment of bakery products is confirmed.

Methylation and bio-accessibility assessment of arsenate in crickets (Gryllusbimaculatus)

The ability of an organism to biomethylate toxic inorganic arsenic (As) determines both, the amount of As available for uptake higher up the food chain and the toxicity of bioavailable As. An exposure study was conducted to determine ability of farmed crickets to metabolize dietary arsenate. Crickets were exposed to 1.3 ± 0.1, 5.1 ± 2.5 and 36.3 ± 5.6 mg kg-1 dietary arsenate and quantitation of total As showed retention of 0.416 ± 0.003, 1.3 ± 0.04 and 2.46 ± 0.09 mg kg-1, respectively. Speciation analysis revealed that crickets have well developed ability to biomethylate dietary arsenate and the most abundant methylated As compound was DMA followed by MMA, TMAO and an unknown compound. Arsenobetaine, although present in all feed, control and As-rich, was measured only in the control crickets. To assess the bio-accessibility of the As species, crickets were subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The results showed that majority of As was extracted in saliva, followed by gastric and intestinal juice, which mass fraction was equal to residue. Over 78% of total As was shown to be bio-accessible with methylated species reaching 100% and iAs over 79% bio-accessibility. Additionally, arsenite and arsenate have shown different distributions between sequential leachate solutions. Bioaccumulation of As was observed in the studied crickets although it does not seem to occur to the same extent at higher exposure levels.

Evaluating the Use of Vibrational Spectroscopy to Detect the Level of Adulteration of Cricket Powder in Plant Flours: The Effect of the Matrix

Edible insects have been recognised as an alternative food or feed ingredient due to their protein value for both humans and domestic animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of both near- (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to identify and quantify the level of adulteration of cricket powder added into two plant proteins: chickpea and flaxseed meal flour. Cricket flour (CKF) was added to either commercial chickpea (CPF) or flaxseed meal flour (FxMF) at different ratios of 95:5% w/w, 90:10% w/w, 85:15% w/w, 80:20% w/w, 75:25% w/w, 70:30% w/w, 65:35% w/w, 60:40% w/w, or 50:50% w/w. The mixture samples were analysed using an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) MIR instrument and a Fourier transform (FT) NIR instrument. The partial least squares (PLS) cross-validation statistics based on the MIR spectra showed that the coefficient of determination (R2CV) and the standard error in cross-validation (SECV) were 0.94 and 6.68%, 0.91 and 8.04%, and 0.92 and 4.33% for the ALL, CPF vs. CKF, and FxMF vs. CKF mixtures, respectively. The results based on NIR showed that the cross-validation statistics R2CV and SECV were 0.95 and 3.16%, 0.98 and 1.74%, and 0.94 and 3.27% using all the samples analyzed together (ALL), the CPF vs. CKF mixture, and the FxMF vs. CKF mixture, respectively. The results of this study showed the effect of the matrix (type of flour) on the PLS-DA data in both the classification results and the PLS loadings used by the models. The different combination of flours (mixtures) showed differences in the absorbance values at specific wavenumbers in the NIR range that can be used to classify the presence of CKF. Research in this field is valuable in advancing the application of vibrational spectroscopy as routine tools in food analysis and quality control.

New species of the elusive crickets from the genus Pendleburyella Chopard, 1969 (Gryllidae, Pentacentrinae) from Sabah, Borneo

Only one species of Pendleburyella Chopard, 1969 (Gryllidae, Pentacentrinae) was previously known to occur in Borneo: Pendleburyella eirmosa Tan, Muhammad & Wahab, 2023 from Brunei Darussalam. Here, two additional new species of crickets from the genus Pendleburyella are described from the highlands of Sabah, Borneo: Pendleburyella eremita sp. nov. from Bukit Hampuan and Pendleburyella nimba sp. nov. from Mount Trus Madi. In total, six species of Pendleburyella are currently known, three from Borneo and three from Malay Peninsula. It is likely that many more species are awaiting discovery owing to its cryptic morphology and elusive nature.

Bowler and coach experiential knowledge of new ball swing bowling in elite cricket

Swing bowling can influence the outcome of cricket matches, but technique characteristics and coaching practices have not been investigated at an elite level. This study aimed to provide insight into the perceived technique parameters, coaching practices and variables contributing to conventional new ball swing bowling in elite cricket. Six Australian Test match fast bowlers and six Australian international and national-level coaches were interviewed. A reflexive thematic analysis of interview transcripts generated themes associated with swing bowling. Most bowlers reported their technique allows them to naturally create either inswing or outswing, with technique variations used to create swing in the opposite direction. To increase delivery effectiveness, bowlers and coaches recommended pitching the ball closer to the batter in length and varying release positions along the crease. Coaches recommended making individualised technique adjustments, but suggested all bowlers could benefit from maintaining balance and forward momentum to create a consistent release position in repeated deliveries. This study could inform training strategies to alter techniques and improve swing bowling performance. Future research should investigate the physical qualities of fast bowlers and use biomechanical analyses to provide a deeper understanding of swing bowling.

"What we talk about is creating a probability": Exploring the interaction between the anticipation and decision-making processes of professional bowlers and batters in Twenty20 cricket

Expert performers in time constrained sports use a range of information sources to facilitate anticipatory and decision-making processes. However, research has often focused on responders such as batters, goalkeepers, defenders, and returners of serve, and failed to capture the complex interaction between opponents, where responders can also manipulate probabilities in their favour. This investigation aimed to explore the interaction between top order batters and fast or medium paced bowlers in cricket and the information they use to inform their anticipatory and decision-making skills in Twenty20 competition. Eleven professional cricketers were interviewed (8 batters and 3 bowlers) using semi-structured questions and scenarios from Twenty20 matches. An inductive and deductive thematic analysis was conducted using the overarching themes of Situation Awareness (SA) and Option Awareness (OA). Within SA, the sub-themes identified related to information sources used by bowlers and batters (i.e., stable contextual information, dynamic contextual information, kinematic information). Within OA, the sub-themes identified highlighted how cricketers use these information sources to understand the options available and the likelihood of success associated with each option (e.g., risk and reward, personal strengths). A sub-theme of 'responder manipulation' was also identified within OA to provide insight into how batters and bowlers interact in a cat-and-mouse like manner to generate options that manipulate one another throughout the competition. A schematic has been developed based on the study findings to illustrate the complex interaction between the anticipation and decision-making processes of professional top order batters and fast or medium paced bowlers in Twenty20 cricket.

Lumbar Bone Stress Injuries and Nonunited Defects in Elite Australian Cricket Players

OBJECTIVE

To describe the presentation and management of lumbar bone stress injuries (LBSI), recurrent LBSI, and lumbar nonunited defects in elite Australian male and female cricket players.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

SETTING

Professional domestic and international cricket teams over 13 seasons.

PARTICIPANTS

Elite Australian cricket players.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

Symptomatic LBSI requiring time off cricket and lumbar nonunited defects, both confirmed by imaging.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence, presentation, history, healing, and management.

RESULTS

211 LBSI were identified at an average incidence of 5.4 per 100 players per season. LBSI were most common in male pace bowlers younger than 20 years of age (58.1 per 100 players per season), however, were also observed in older players, females, and non-pace bowlers. Recurrent LBSI accounted for 33% (27%-40%) of all LBSI. Median days to return to match availability was 182 (128-251) days for all LBSI, with a shorter time frame observed for new and less severe injuries, and male spin bowlers. Healing was demonstrated in 87% (81%-91%) of all LBSI cases. 29 nonunited defects were identified and predisposed subsequent pain, LBSI, and spondylolisthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

LBSI are experienced by approximately 5.4 in every 100 elite Australian cricket players per season, with a high time cost of approximately 4 to 8 months. Nonunited defects also have a high time cost with associated subsequent lumbar spine issues. The findings of this study reinforce the importance of early detection and conservative management of LBSI, particularly for younger male pace bowlers and players with recurrent LBSI, which may be supported by MRI.

English and Welsh men's domestic cricket injury risk by activity and cricket type: A retrospective cohort study from 2010 to 2019

OBJECTIVES

Explore whether injury profiles and mechanisms differ between red (First-Class multi-day) ball cricket and white (One-Day and Twenty20 limited over) ball cricket in elite men's domestic cricket from 2010 to 2019.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort analysis.

METHODS

Injury incidence calculated according to the updated international consensus statement on injury surveillance in cricket, along with seasonal days lost and injury severity descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Across both cricket types, bowling resulted in the most seasonal days lost (mean 1942, 95 % confidence interval: 1799-2096) and highest mean injury severity (30 days, 95 % confidence interval: 28-33), with the lumbar spine the body region with the most seasonal days lost (mean 432 seasonal days; 95 % confidence interval: 355-525) from bowling. Injury incidence was higher in white ball compared to red ball cricket (per unit of time), with bowling (and its various phases) the most frequently occurring mechanism in both cricket types (white ball: 67.0 injuries per 1000 days of play [95 % confidence interval: 59.6-75.3]; red ball: 32.4 injuries per 1000 days of play [95 % confidence interval: 29.1-36.1]). When bowling, the abdomen and thigh were the body regions most injured from white (13.4 injuries per 1000 days of play [95 % confidence interval: 10.3-17.4]), and red ball (6.4 injuries per 1000 days of play [95 % confidence interval: 5.0-8.2]) cricket respectively. Overall, clear differences emerged in the nature and mechanism of injuries between red ball cricket and white ball cricket.

CONCLUSIONS

Bowling presents the highest injury risk (across both cricket types), as well as highlighting the increased risk of injuries from diving during fielding and running between the wickets when batting, in shorter white ball cricket.

Player Perceptions of Face Validity and Fidelity in 360-Video and Virtual Reality Cricket

Virtual reality (VR) and 360° video can provide new opportunities for testing and training in sport. Both options offer different benefits in terms of efficacy for training, ease of use, and cost. This creates questions about the implementation of immersive technologies, and research is required to further understand their use. We aimed to gain initial evidence of athletes' perceptions of face validity and fidelity in VR and 360-video. Thirty-nine international pathway cricketers experienced five overs in VR cricket and in a 360-video recording. After trying each technology, players completed questionnaires to measure perceptions of presence and task workload. Participants reported immersive experience in both methods, but higher levels of realism, possibility to act, physical effort, temporal constraints, and task control in VR. 360-video offers a better possibility to visually examine the environment, while VR offers enhanced realism and physical elements, but 360-video may still offer affordable solutions for visual tasks.

Acute changes in the metabolome following resistance exercise combined with intake of different protein sources (cricket, pea, whey)

INTRODUCTION

Separately, both exercise and protein ingestion have been shown to alter the blood and urine metabolome. This study goes a step further and examines changes in the metabolome derived from blood, urine and muscle tissue extracts in response to resistance exercise combined with ingestion of three different protein sources.

METHODS

In an acute parallel study, 52 young males performed one-legged resistance exercise (leg extension, 4 × 10 repetitions at 10 repetition maximum) followed by ingestion of either cricket (insect), pea or whey protein (0.25 g protein/kg fat free mass). Blood and muscle tissue were collected at baseline and three hours after protein ingestion. Urine was collected at baseline and four hours after protein ingestion. Mixed-effects analyses were applied to examine the effect of the time (baseline vs. post), protein (cricket, pea, whey), and time x protein interaction.

RESULTS

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics resulted in the annotation and quantification of 25 metabolites in blood, 35 in urine and 21 in muscle tissue. Changes in the muscle metabolome after combined exercise and protein intake indicated effects related to the protein source ingested. Muscle concentrations of leucine, methionine, glutamate and myo-inositol were higher after intake of whey protein compared to both cricket and pea protein. The blood metabolome revealed changes in a more ketogenic direction three hours after exercise reflecting that the trial was conducted after overnight fasting. Urinary concentration of trimethylamine N-oxide was significantly higher after ingestion of cricket than pea and whey protein.

CONCLUSION

The blood, urine and muscle metabolome showed different and supplementary responses to exercise and ingestion of the different protein sources, and in synergy the summarized results provided a more complete picture of the metabolic state of the body.

The ground offers acoustic efficiency gains for crickets and other calling animals

Male crickets attract females by producing calls with their forewings. Louder calls travel further and are more effective at attracting mates. However, crickets are much smaller than the wavelength of their call, and this limits their power output. A small group called tree crickets make acoustic tools called baffles which reduce acoustic short-circuiting, a source of dipole inefficiency. Here, we ask why baffling is uncommon among crickets. We hypothesize that baffling may be rare because like other tools they offer insufficient advantage for most species. To test this, we modelled the calling efficiencies of crickets within the full space of possible natural wing sizes and call frequencies, in multiple acoustic environments. We then generated efficiency landscapes, within which we plotted 112 cricket species across 7 phylogenetic clades. We found that all sampled crickets, in all conditions, could gain efficiency from tool use. Surprisingly, we also found that calling from the ground significantly increased efficiency, with or without a baffle, by as much as an order of magnitude. We found that the ground provides some reduction of acoustic short-circuiting but also halves the air volume within which sound is radiated. It simultaneously reflects sound upwards, allowing recapture of a significant amount of acoustic energy through constructive interference. Thus, using the ground as a reflective baffle is an effective strategy for increasing calling efficiency. Indeed, theory suggests that this increase in efficiency is accessible not just to crickets but to all acoustically communicating animals whether they are dipole or monopole sound sources.

Spatial and Sexual Divergence of Gut Bacterial Communities in Field Cricket Teleogryllus occipitalis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

The insect gut is colonized by microbes that confer a myriad of beneficial services to the host, including nutritional support, immune enhancement, and even influence behavior. Insect gut microbes show dynamic changes due to the gut compartments, sex, and seasonal and geographic influences. Crickets are omnivorous hemimetabolous insects that have sex-specific roles, such as males producing chirping sounds for communication and exhibiting fighting behavior. However, limited information is available on their gut bacterial communities, hampering studies on functional compartmentalization of the gut and sex-specific roles of the gut microbiota in omnivorous insects. Here, we report a metagenomic analysis of the gut bacteriome of the field cricket Teleogryllus occipitalis using 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicon sequencing to identify sex- and compartment-dependent influences on its diversity and function. The structure of the gut microbiota is strongly influenced by their gut compartments rather than sex. The species richness and diversity analyses revealed large difference in the bacterial communities between the gut compartments while minor differences were observed between the sexes. Analysis of relative abundance and predicted functions revealed that nitrogen- and oxygen-dependent metabolism and amino acid turnover were subjected to functional compartmentalization in the gut. Comparisons between the sexes revealed differences in the gut microbiota, reflecting efficiency in energy use, including glycolytic and carbohydrate metabolism, suggesting a possible involvement in egg production in females. This study provides insights into the gut compartment dependent and sex-specific roles of host-gut symbiont interactions in crickets and the industrial production of crickets.

Characterization and Localization of Sol g 2.1 Protein from Solenopsis geminata Fire Ant Venom in the Central Nervous System of Injected Crickets (Acheta domestica)

Solenopsis geminata is recognized for containing the allergenic proteins Sol g 1, 2, 3, and 4 in its venom. Remarkably, Sol g 2.1 exhibits hydrophobic binding and has a high sequence identity (83.05%) with Sol i 2 from S. invicta. Notably, Sol g 2.1 acts as a mediator, causing paralysis in crickets. Given its structural resemblance and biological function, Sol g 2.1 may play a key role in transporting hydrophobic potent compounds, which induce paralysis by releasing the compounds through the insect's nervous system. To investigate this further, we constructed and characterized the recombinant Sol g 2.1 protein (rSol g 2.1), identified with LC-MS/MS. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was performed to reveal the structural features of the rSol g 2.1 protein. Furthermore, after treating crickets with S. geminata venom, immunofluorescence and immunoblotting results revealed that the Sol g 2.1 protein primarily localizes to the neuronal cell membrane of the brain and thoracic ganglia, with distribution areas related to octopaminergic neuron cell patterns. Based on protein-protein interaction predictions, we found that the Sol g 2.1 protein can interact with octopamine receptors (OctRs) in neuronal cell membranes, potentially mediating Sol g 2.1's localization within cricket central nervous systems. Here, we suggest that Sol g 2.1 may enhance paralysis in crickets by acting as carriers of active molecules and releasing them onto target cells through pH gradients. Future research should explore the binding properties of Sol g 2.1 with ligands, considering its potential as a transporter for active molecules targeting pest nervous systems, offering innovative pest control prospects.

Triceps injury in non-bowling arm in cricket: an unusual mechanism

Cricket is a non-contact sport that is popular worldwide and consists of repetitive throwing, bowling and fielding. Fast bowlers are prone to injury to the bowling arm due to repetitive stress, but this case study focuses on the damage caused to the bowler's non-bowling arm. This individual was a right-handed fast bowler who developed pain and dysfunction in his left arm after competing in more than 20 cricket tournaments. Following the stipulated bowling spell, he had severe pain in the posterior aspect of his left arm. On the field, he was managed with ice compression. Ecchymosis was seen on the distal part of his posteromedial arm. Diagnostic ultrasound revealed an acute triceps injury. The pain lasted 2 weeks and was gradually relieved with analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications. This observation led to the recommendation that elbow flexion of the non-bowling arm be checked for and avoided.

Concussion assessment and management - What do community-level cricket participants know?

OBJECTIVES

To explore Australian cricket participants' knowledge of concussion assessment and management, and awareness of current concussion guidelines.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

Novel and validated surveys were disseminated online, among over 16 year Australian cricket players and officials at the end of the 2018/19 cricket season. Data were collected on knowledge and awareness of concussion and analysed using descriptive statistics and crosstabulations. Further comparisons were made for the players between injured and non-injured, and helmet wearers and non-helmet wearers using Fisher's exact statistical test.

RESULTS

Both players (n = 224, 93 %) and officials (n = 36, 100 %) demonstrated strong knowledge of the importance of immediately evaluating suspected concussions. In comparison with players without helmets (n = 11), those using helmets (n = 135) considered replacing their helmets after a concussion to be vital to concussion assessment (p = 0.02). Overall, 80-97 % of players and 81-97 % of officials understood the importance of many factors regarding concussion management. When concussion management knowledge was compared by injury status, injured players (n = 17, 94 %) believed someone with a concussion should be hospitalised immediately, in contrast to non-injured players (n = 154, 69 %) (p = 0.04). Players (63 %) were less aware of concussion guidelines than officials (81 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the knowledge of concussion assessment and management was satisfactory. However, there were discrepancies among players on some aspects of awareness of concussion guidelines. Increasing players' familiarity and experience in using the concussion guidelines is warranted. Targeted campaigns are needed to further improve concussion recognition and treatment at community-level cricket, so all participants play a role in making cricket a safe sport.

Optimal initial position and technique for the front foot contact phase of cricket fast bowling: Commonalities between individual-specific simulations of elite bowlers

Group-based and individual-based studies in cricket fast bowling have identified common technique characteristics associated with ball release speed. The applicability of these findings to individual bowlers is often questioned, however, due to research approach limitations. This study aims to identify whether the optimal initial body position at front foot contact and subsequent technique to maximise ball release speed exhibit common characteristics for elite male cricket fast bowlers using individual-specific computer optimisations. A planar 16-segment whole-body torque-driven simulation model of the front foot contact phase of fast bowling was customised, evaluated, and the initial body position and subsequent movement pattern optimised, for ten elite male fast bowlers. The optimised techniques significantly increased ball release speed by 4.8 ± 1.3 ms-1 (13.5 ± 4.1%) and ranged between 37.8 and 42.9 ms-1, and in lower peak ground reaction forces and loading rates. Common characteristics were observed within the optimal initial body position with more extended front knees, as well as more flexion of the front and bowling arm shoulders than in current performances. Delays to the onset of trunk flexion, front arm and bowling arm shoulder extension, and wrist flexion were also common in the subsequent movement during the front foot contact phase. Lower front hip extensor and front shoulder flexor torques, as well as greater bowling shoulder extensor torques were also evident. This is useful knowledge for coach development, talent identification, and coaching practice.

Is MRI screening for bone marrow oedema useful in predicting lumbar bone stress injuries in adult male professional cricketers? A New Zealand pilot study

OBJECTIVES

The aims were to (1) prospectively observe the incidence of bone marrow oedema in asymptomatic adult male domestic professional cricketers during a season and evaluate its relationship to the development of lumbar bone stress injury and (2) further understand the practicalities of implementing a Magnetic Resonance Imaging-based screening program to prevent lumbar bone stress injury in New Zealand cricket.

DESIGN

Prospective observational cohort.

METHODS

Adult male pace bowlers received 6-weekly pre-planned Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans over a single season to determine the presence and intensity of bone marrow oedema in the posterior vertebral arches of the lumbar spine. The participants bowling volume and back pain levels were monitored prospectively.

RESULTS

22 participants (mean age 25.3 years (range 20-32 years)) completed all 4 scans. Ten participants had a prior history of lumbar bone stress injury. Ten participants (45 %, 95 % confidence interval 24-68 %) had bone marrow oedema evident on at least one scan, with 9 (41 %) participants recording a bone marrow oedema intensity ≥ 2 and 5 (23 %) participants demonstrated an intensity ≥ 3. During the study one participant was diagnosed with a lumbar bone stress reaction. No participants developed a lumbar bone stress fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the lower incidence of lumbar bone stress injuries in adult bowlers coupled with uncertainty over appropriate threshold values for bone marrow oedema intensity, implementation of a resource intense screening program aimed at identifying adult domestic cricketers at risk of developing a lumbar bone stress injury is not currently supported.

Electromagnetic field exposure affects the calling song, phonotaxis, and level of biogenic amines in crickets

The electromagnetic field (EMF) is ubiquitous in the environment, constituting a well-known but poorly understood stressor. Few studies have been conducted on insect responses to EMF, although they are an excellent experimental model and are of great ecological importance. In our work, we tested the effects of EMF (50 Hz, 7 mT) on the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus: the male calling song pattern, female mate choice, and levels of biogenic amines in the brain. Exposure of males to EMF increased the number and shortened the period of chips in their calling song (by 2.7% and 5% relative to the control song, respectively), but not the sound frequency. Aged (3-week-old) females were attracted to both natural and EMF-modified male signals, whereas young (1-week-old, virgin) females responded only to the modified signal, suggesting its higher attractance. Stress response of males to EMF may be responsible for the change in the calling song, as suggested by the changes in the amine levels in their brains: an increase in dopamine (by 50% relative to the control value), tyramine (65%), and serotonin (25%) concentration and a decrease in octopamine level (by 25%). These findings indicate that G. bimaculatus responds to EMF, like stressful conditions, which may change the condition and fitness of exposed individuals, disrupt mate selection, and, in consequence, affect the species' existence.

Enhancing Cricket Performance Analysis with Human Pose Estimation and Machine Learning

Cricket has a massive global following and is ranked as the second most popular sport globally, with an estimated 2.5 billion fans. Batting requires quick decisions based on ball speed, trajectory, fielder positions, etc. Recently, computer vision and machine learning techniques have gained attention as potential tools to predict cricket strokes played by batters. This study presents a cutting-edge approach to predicting batsman strokes using computer vision and machine learning. The study analyzes eight strokes: pull, cut, cover drive, straight drive, backfoot punch, on drive, flick, and sweep. The study uses the MediaPipe library to extract features from videos and several machine learning and deep learning algorithms, including random forest (RF), support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, decision tree, linear regression, and long short-term memory to predict the strokes. The study achieves an outstanding accuracy of 99.77% using the RF algorithm, outperforming the other algorithms used in the study. The k-fold validation of the RF model is 95.0% with a standard deviation of 0.07, highlighting the potential of computer vision and machine learning techniques for predicting batsman strokes in cricket. The study's results could help improve coaching techniques and enhance batsmen's performance in cricket, ultimately improving the game's overall quality.

Treating low back pain in athletes: a systematic review with meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To summarise the evidence for non-pharmacological management of low back pain (LBP) in athletes, a common problem in sport that can negatively impact performance and contribute to early retirement.

DATA SOURCES

Five databases (EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus) were searched from inception to September 2020. The main outcomes of interest were pain, disability and return to sport (RTS).

RESULTS

Among 1629 references, 14 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving 541 athletes were included. The trials had biases across multiple domains including performance, attrition and reporting. Treatments included exercise, biomechanical modifications and manual therapy. There were no trials evaluating the efficacy of surgery or injections. Exercise was the most frequently investigated treatment; no RTS data were reported for any exercise intervention. There was a reduction in pain and disability reported after all treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

While several treatments for LBP in athletes improved pain and function, it was unclear what the most effective treatments were, and for whom. Exercise approaches generally reduced pain and improved function in athletes with LBP, but the effect on RTS is unknown. No conclusions regarding the value of manual therapy (massage, spinal manipulation) or biomechanical modifications alone could be drawn because of insufficient evidence. High-quality RCTs are urgently needed to determine the effect of commonly used interventions in treating LBP in athletes.

Defining cricket batting expertise from the perspective of elite coaches

Traditionally in sporting tasks, expertise has been thought of as the attainment of near flawless technical abilities. While contemporary views have become more holistic in nature, in certain sporting domains it is still not clear what exactly encapsulates expertise. This study sought to further understand the crucial and defining characteristics of cricket batting; a complex and difficult perceptual-motor skill with minimal error tolerance and severe time constraints. Eight elite cricket batting coaches, who themselves were former international or state level batsmen, were interviewed to identify characteristics of cricket batting expertise. From this, a conceptual model was developed in relation to an expert within their performance environment. This model highlights several key factors experts possess beyond just technical proficiency, such as self-awareness of their technical and tactical strengths in relation to the situation of the game; self-regulatory behaviours to problem solve performance challenges in-game; and psychological strategies such as between-ball routines to manage cognitions and emotions. The conceptual model of batting expertise described in this paper is designed to introduce an order to how these various skills, possessed by an expert batter, interact within the performance environment to interpret expert performance.

A Study to find out the Correlation between Handgrip Strength and Hand Breadth of Bangladeshi Male Cricket Batsman

This cross sectional analytical type of study was conducted at department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2015 to June 2016 on 50 adult Bangladeshi male sprinters (Group A) and 50 adult Bangladeshi male cricket batsman (Group B). Sample collection was done by convenient purposive sampling technique. History of any injury of hand during playing was excluded to construct standard measurement. Hand breadth was measured with the help of slide calipers. Hand grip strength Dynamometer was used to measure the hand grip strength. Paired Student's 't' test, unpaired student's 't' test and Pearson's correlation coefficient test were done for statistical analysis of the result. The aim of the present study was to determine hand breadth and average hand grip strength of Bangladeshi male cricket batsman to find out correlation between them that may be used as a baseline for other professions as well for future research in our country. The mean right and left hand grip strength was significantly higher in the cricket batsman than in the sprinters. The mean right and left hand breadth was found to be significantly higher in the cricket batsman than in the sprinters. Right and left hand grip strength showed significant positive correlation with hand breadth in both hand. The study findings suggest that regular physical exercise and training increase hand grip strength.

Accelerometer detected lateral sway during a submaximal running test correlates with endurance exercise performance in elite Australian male cricket players

OBJECTIVE

To identify whether movement patterns during a standardized submaximal running test (SSRT), assessed by accelerometry, were associated with improvements in endurance exercise performance.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of data collected from the 2018-2019 Australian cricket preseason.

METHODS

Thirty-nine high-performance male cricket players were studied (25±3 years, 82±6kg, 183±6cm). SSRT was performed monthly prior to a two kilometre (km) running time trial (2kmTT). SSRT involved running between markers, positioned twenty metres apart, for three minutes. Foot strikes were timed to a metronome (154beats/min) to elicit a running speed of ˜eight km/h. Triaxial accelerometers were worn in vests on the upper back and used to assess PlayerLoad medio-lateral vector (PL1D_side%), vertical vector (PL1D_up%) and anterior-posterior vector (PL1D_fwd%) were assessed.

RESULTS

2kmTT performance improved over the study period (p<0.05). PlayerLoad vectors during the first minute of SSRT were not related to 2kmTT performance (p>0.23). During the second and third minutes there were positive associations between 2kmTT (run time) and PL1D_side% (SSRT_2min, β 2.12, p<0.03, 95% CI: 0.22-4.01; SSRT3_min, β 2.30, p<0.03, 95% CI:0.32-4.29), but not PL1D_up% (SSRT_2min, β -0.15, p=0.77, 95% CI: -1.13-0.83; SSRT_3min, β -0.15, p=0.77, 95% CI: -1.11-0.87) or PL1D_fwd% (SSRT_2min, β -0.45, p=0.42, 95% CI: -1.49-0.62; SSRT_3min, B-0.45, p=0.40, 95% CI: -1.51-0.60).

CONCLUSION

Assessment of PL1D_side% during the second or third minutes of SSRT may inform how an athlete's endurance exercise performance is responding to changes in training load.

Relationship between cricket participation, health and well-being: scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Cricket is a popular sport played by 2.5 billion people of all ages and abilities. However, cricket participation is decreasing in the UK, despite an increased focus of governments on increasing sport participation to enhance public health. Understanding the health benefits and mitigating the health risks of cricket participation may help cricket organisations promote cricket participation while optimising the long-term health of cricket participants. Currently, there is no literature review on the relationship between cricket participation, health and well-being; thus, this relationship remains unclear. Therefore, the aims of this scoping review were (1) to investigate the relationship between cricket participation, health and well-being and (ii) to identify the research gaps related to cricket, health and well-being.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Due to the broad nature of our research question and the large number of health outcomes assessed within the cricket literature and to facilitate identification of research gaps, a scoping review methodology was used. The methodology of this paper was informed by previous scoping review protocols and best practice methodological frameworks. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Web of Science and PEDro and grey literature sources (Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN Registry and ProQuest) will be systematically searched. Studies that assess a construct related to health and/or well-being in current and/or former cricketers from all ages and standards of play will be eligible. Two reviewers will independently screen full texts of identified studies for eligibility and will perform data extraction. Results will be presented in tabular and graphical forms and will be reported descriptively.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This research is exempt from ethics approval due to the data being available through published and public available resources. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed sports and exercise medicine journal regardless of positive or negative findings. In addition, results will be disseminated through multiple platforms, including conference presentations and social media using multimedia resources (eg, infographics, animations, videos, podcasts and blogs), to engage stakeholder groups, including cricketers, cricket coaches, sporting bodies, sports medicine professionals and policy makers. There findings will inform clinical decision making, policy changes and future research agendas.