Level The Playing Field

For a skills-based game such as cricket, good technique is integral to winning the game. For teams to solidify their chances of victory, they must have high levels of fitness. Ahead of the World Cup, we spoke to four Proteas to find out what fitness means to them – and how it improves their game.

- Megan Flemmit

A sudden pop in his right shoulder sent a shock wave of pain through Dale Steyn’s body. Clutching his throbbing arm, the fast bowler made his way off the WACA ground in Perth. He’d only bowled 12.4 overs that day, but the onset of pain signified that it would be his last session for that test match. As Steyn made his way to the hospital, the Proteas were forced to continue without him.

Despite losing their best bowler, the Proteas still managed to thrash the home team. “It was such a thriller of a game,” says fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. “After Dale’s injury, we were just three bowlers left. We stepped up and bowled them out, and we even got a lead. Then in the second innings, the batsmen stepped up, and we ended up turning the game around.”

Riding the high of this win, the Proteas emerged victorious from that Test series – a testament to what adequate preparation can do for a team’s chances of winning. This preparation is often a combination of skills training and fitness training.

WHILE CRICKET IS FIRST and foremost a skills-based game, players need a good understanding of how their physical prep will enhance their performance on the field. Regardless of which of the three formats they’re playing, players cannot rely on skill alone. “Skill is about trying to do a particular movement, about focusing on your technique,” says Rabada. “Fitness gives you that extra edge. It gives you that extra power out of your legs, and helps you bowl for longer.”

As with most sports, fitness for cricket encompasses a wide range of attributes. Players need speed, agility, power, endurance, and flexibility. While individual players all have their own strengths, focusing on these attributes can improve their performance on the field.