Colour blind cricketers and snowballs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether colour blindness affects batting in professional cricketers.


METHODS
Comparison of batting averages of colour blind cricketers and those with normal vision.


METHODS
Players on 18 first class county cricket teams.


METHODS
280 of 306 players were tested.


METHODS
Results of Isihara colour blindness tests.


RESULTS
Batting average for the colour blind group (12 players) was slightly lower than for players with normal vision (20.88 v 26.31). There was no difference in the number of batsmen and bowlers affected. Batting averages before and after the introduction of the white ball into Sunday League cricket did not differ significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
That batting performance is not significantly impaired by colour blindness suggests that to some extent these players are self selected. Routine testing of cricketers for colour blindness is not recommended.
Goddard
N
N
Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine, London.
Coull
D
D
D003119:Color Perception Tests; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011361:Professional Competence; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*