An analysis of specific batting demands in the women’s The Hundred competition

Abstract

Background: No research has investigated the shortest format of the game of cricket, The Hundred competition. Furthermore, women’s  cricket research is particularly limited, with most focusing on injuries and little literature investigating specific batting demands. These  demands are important if training programmes are to mimic the game’s movement patterns.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was  to analyse specific batting demands and variables associated with the women’s The Hundred competition.

Methods: Thirty-one matches  from the Women’s 2021 The Hundred competition were analysed using Hudl Sportscode Elite. Variables analysed included: bowler type  (seam or spin), free hits, no ball runs, reason for no ball (height/wide/front foot), run scored (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6), type of key event (fall of  wicket, bowling referral, batting referral, umpire referral, bowling time out, rain delay, or injury) as well as time between deliveries and  sets, overall and between the power play and non-power play. A total of 6073 deliveries were analysed.

Results: A significant difference  (p<0.05) was observed for time between deliveries for spin bowlers (26.90±22.16 s) compared to seam bowlers(31.70±20.37 s) as well as  time between sets for the power play (58.00±13.28 s) and nonpower play phases (63.70±42.00 s). Additionally, in the power play, most  runs were made up of “1’s” and “4’s”. In the nonpower play phase, “1’s” made up the biggest contribution of runs (as a percentage).

Conclusion: The fact that singles make up a significant portion of a typical match means that strength and conditioning coaches should  incorporate high-intensity sprint-type training into training programmes to mimic these demands.