Enhancing batting skills in young female cricketers via simulator
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20260961Keywords:
Young female cricket players, Shot perfection, Reaction time, Footwork efficiency, Advanced digital cricket simulator, Batting skillsAbstract
Background: This research explored the potential of an advanced cricket simulator- integrating cutting-edge technology- to transform traditional training methods for young female cricket players. The system features an LED-based display for realistic bowler animations, a programmable bowling machine, and a machine vision replay for detailed feedback. This setup creates an immersive, data-rich environment that sharpens batsmen’s timing, anticipation, and decision-making through lifelike simulations of real bowlers. The primary aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of this individualized digital simulator, combined with performance and fitness analytics, in boosting batting skills among young female athletes. Specific objectives included enhancing key fitness metrics: reaction time, shot perfection, and footwork efficiency.
Methods: Thirty college-level female cricket players, aged 18-22 from the Coimbatore region, met the inclusion criteria and participated. The simulator quantitatively assessed reaction time, shot perfection, and footwork efficiency. Participants underwent pre-testing before a 4-week matrix training protocol, followed by post-testing to measure improvements.
Results: Post-intervention data showed significant gains across all parameters. The matrix training protocol delivered outstanding enhancements in reaction time, shot perfection, and footwork efficiency for all 30 players.
Conclusions: The individualized advanced digital cricket simulator, with its integrated performance and fitness analysis, markedly improved batting skills, reaction time, footwork efficiency, and shot perfection in young female cricket players. Additionally, it boosted players’ speed and dynamic balance, offering a promising tool for optimized training.
Metrics
References
Mishra S, Agarwal P, Verma A. Design and control of a programmable bowling machine for cricket practice. Int J Mech Engin Robot Res. 2017.
Müller S, Abernethy B. Batting with occluded vision: An in situ examination of the information pick-up and interceptive skills of high-and low-skilled cricket batsmen. J Sci Med Sport. 2006;9(6):446-58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2006.03.029
Stenros M, Salin K, Smed J. Immersive training with virtual reality in sports: a review. Sports Tech J. 2020.
Pandey R, Dutta S, Srivastava S. Machine vision-based biomechanical analysis in cricket batting. Proced Computer Sci. 2019;152:643-50.
Müller S, Abernethy B, Farrow D. How do world-class cricket batsmen anticipate a bowler’s intention? Quart J Exp Psychol. 2006;59(12):2162-86. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02643290600576595
Carson HJ, Collins D, MacNamara Á. Real-time feedback and skill acquisition: applications in sports coaching. Int J Sports Sci Coach. 2018;13(2):256-66.
Yoon J, Kim Y, Lee H. Development of an immersive baseball batting simulator using virtual pitcher animation and ball projection. IEEE Access. 2021;9:30291-300.
Rathore A, Singh J. Technological advancements in cricket training: a review of existing tools and emerging trends. J Sports Tech Analyt. 2020;2(1):1-12.
Tissera K, Orth D, Huynh M, Benson AC. The impact of augmented feedback (and technology) on learning and teaching cricket skill: a systematic review with meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2022;17(12):e0279121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279121
Gururaj BN, Sooda K. Design of a comprehensive virtual reality cricket simulator for immersive skill training. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Computational System and Information Technology for Sustainable Solutions (CSITSS); 2024:1-6.
Kelly N, Stafford J, Craig C, Herring MP, Campbell M. Using a virtual reality cricket simulator to explore the effects of pressure, competition anxiety on batting performance in cricket. Psychol Sport Exercise. 2022;63:102244.
Jayaraj L, Wood J, Gibson M. Results of measuring immersion in a cricket simulation game for improved vr with real-time time-of-flight performance capture. In: IEEE International Conference on Metrology for eXtended Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Neural Engineering (MetroXRAINE); 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/MetroXRAINE62247.2024.10795906
Fogt JS, Fogt N. Studies of vision in cricket- a narrative review. Vision. 2023;7(3):57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vision7030057
Wickramasinghe I. Applications of machine learning in cricket: a systematic review. Mach Learn Appl. 2022;10:100435. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mlwa.2022.100435
Jayaraj L, Wood J, Gibson M. Improving the immersion in virtual reality with real-time avatar and haptic feedback in a cricket simulation. In: IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR-adjunct); 2017:310-4.
Silva KP. Effect of a Cricket Batting Simulation on the Quality of Shot Selection. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 2025.
Portus MR, Farrow D. Enhancing cricket batting skill: implications for biomechanics and skill acquisition research and practice. Sports Biomech. 2011;10(4):294-305. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2011.629674
Davis J, Perera H, Swartz TB. A simulator for Twenty20 cricket. Aust N Z J Stat. 2015;57(1):55-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/anzs.12109
Kelly N, Stafford J, Craig C, Herring MP, Campbell M. Using a virtual reality cricket simulator to explore the effects of pressure, competition anxiety on batting performance in cricket. Psychol Sport Exercise. 2022;63:102244. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102244
Dhawan A, Cummins A, Spratford W, Dessing JC, Craig C. Development of a novel immersive interactive virtual reality cricket simulator for cricket batting. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Computer Science in Sport (ISCSS). Springer International Publishing; 2015:203-210. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24560-7_26
Jayaraj L, Wood J, Gibson M. Improving the immersion in virtual reality with real-time avatar and haptic feedback in a cricket simulation. In: IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR-adjunct); 2017:310-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ISMAR-Adjunct.2017.95
Gururaj BN, Sooda K. Design of a comprehensive virtual reality cricket simulator for immersive skill training. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Computational System and Information Technology for Sustainable Solutions (CSITSS); 2024:1-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/CSITSS64042.2024.10816833
Runswick OR, Phillips M, Morrone J, North JS, Wilkins L. Construct Validity and Reliability of a Virtual Reality Cricket Batting Simulator. SportsRxiv. 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.584
Runswick OR. Player perceptions of face validity and fidelity in 360-video and virtual reality cricket. J Sport Exercise Psychol. 2023;45(6):347-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2023-0122
Justham LM, West AA, Harrison R, Jones R, Harland AR, Caine MP, et al. The use of virtual reality and automatic training devices in sport: a review of technology within cricket and related disciplines. Engin Syst Design Analysis. 2004;4174:333-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/ESDA2004-58257
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
