Fitness training for cricket - good or bad? | Cricket coaching, fitness and tips

Fitness training for cricket - good or bad?

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Fitness training for cricket is a contentious issue. Should you consider traditional gym work and running to improve your fitness for cricket?

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I believe fitness is essential for almost every level of cricketer, but in the interest of balance lets review both sides:

The argument against fitness training

  • Fun - Fitness training is boring and no fun. Who wants to pound the roads and pound iron in a sweaty gym?
  • Specificity - Fitness training is highly specific. Runners don't train on a bike because it's not as good as running. The only way to properly get fit for cricket is to play as much cricket as possible.
  • Time - Cricket is a long game and if you are talented enough you can be playing or practising almost every day. When do you get time to squeeze in a gym session?
  • Age - You can't fight the march of time. There is no point in being fit if you are an older player.
  • Bulking Up - Too much weight training will bulk you up and ruin your timing and technique with big muscles.

The argument For fitness training

  • Performance - Fitness improves bowling speed, hitting power, reaction times and running speed. It does this for everyone without fail (no matter how old). What's more, even highly trained elite players suffer no loss of performance through bulking up - they are not training for huge bodybuilder muscles and neither should you (for more on the science of fitness of performance see Further Reading).
  • Injury Prevention - Stronger bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons reduce the risk of injury.
  • Teamwork - Training in pairs or in a team is great for building camaraderie between teammates. Making training competitive also makes it more fun.
  • Variation - Playing cricket is the best way to get fit for cricket. That said, the body likes variation. Different activities cross train your body and keep your mind alert.
  • Health - General fitness makes you feel and look better in the rest of your life too.

So while fitness should not overtake skills or actually playing cricket there really is only one way - from serious player to the park on a Sunday - an organised, specific training programme.

To find out how to improve your fitness for cricket subscribe to harrowdrive.

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respeted sir,
i have to become an cricketet. i am 16 years old. i living in gandhidham in (gujarat)what i have to do now so plz

Hey David,

I am a 17 year old from India. I am on the fatter side and I want to get fit for cricket. What am i to do now in order to achieve this?

i am a ten year old what do u reckon i should do.

At 10 it's more important just to have fun, run around and play. Run around, climb trees, ride a bike, play football, play LOTS of cricket (both formal matches and just knocking about in the park with mates). Have FUN!

thanks david i'll just HAVE FUN

Good job!

bad job

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