title: The effects of mental fatigue on cricket-relevant performance among elite players.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of a mentally fatiguing test on physical tasks among elite cricketers. In a cross-over design, 10 elite male cricket players from a professional club performed a cricket run-two test, a Batak Lite reaction time test and a Yo-Yo-Intermittent Recovery Level 1 (Yo-Yo-IR1) test, providing a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) after completing a 30-min Stroop test (mental fatigue condition) or 30-min control condition. Perceived fatigue was assessed before and after the two conditions and motivation was measured before testing. There were post-treatment differences in the perception of mental fatigue (P < 0.001; d = -7.82, 95% CIs = -9.05-6.66; most likely). Cricket run-two (P = 0.002; d = -0.51, 95% CIs = -0.72-0.30; very likely), Yo-Yo-IR1 distance (P = 0.023; d = 0.39, 95% CIs = 0.14-0.64; likely) and RPE (P = 0.001; d = -1.82, 95% CIs = -2.49-1.14; most likely) were negatively affected by mental fatigue. The Batak Lite test was not affected (P = 0.137), yet a moderate (d = 0.41, 95% CIs = -0.05-0.87) change was likely. Mental fatigue, induced by an app-based Stroop test, negatively affected cricket-relevant performance.
authors.affiliation: a School of Sport, Health and Applied Science , St Mary's University , London , UK.|b Somerset County Cricket Club , The County Ground , Taunton , UK.
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veness
authors.affiliation: a School of Sport, Health and Applied Science , St Mary's University , London , UK.
authors.forename: Stephen David
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4667-9939
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: a School of Sport, Health and Applied Science , St Mary's University , London , UK.
authors.forename: Owen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jeffries
authors.affiliation: a School of Sport, Health and Applied Science , St Mary's University , London , UK.|c School of Science and Technology , University of New England , Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waldron
mesh_terms: D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005222:Mental Fatigue / Q000523:psychology*; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D057190:Stroop Test; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fatigue; Motivation; cricket; psychobiological