Somatotype profile of the state level cricketers of Tripura

Abstract

Background of the study: The introduction of Twenty-20 cricket being a shorter version, the physical demand of the game have increased manyfold subjecting players of all body types to strain due to the structure of the game and the distinct roles of batsmen, bowlers, and all-rounders-roles usually filled by tall, athletic professional cricket players. Purpose: The aims of the study was to compare the somatotype between State-level cricketers of Tripura with their various specializations. Methods: For the purpose of the study, a total of 60 male cricket players who were selected for the U-19 state camp of Tripura State were chosen as subjects. The age range of the subjects was 16-19 years. The subject has been distributed 20 each for batsmen, bowler and All-rounder. Anthropometric data were collected from the selected players in two different shifts during their practice session. The descriptive statistics and One-way ANCOVA were employed to analyzed the data. Results: The results revealed that the U-19 Batsmen leaned toward an Ectomorphic Mesomorph build, while U-19 Bowlers displayed a Mesomorphic Ectomorph somatotype. All-rounders fell in line with Ectomorphic Mesomorphy. Notably, BMI varied significantly between bowlers and all-rounders, emphasizing distinct physical profiles. Comparing bowlers and all-rounders together revealed marked differences in traits like Mesomorphy and Ectomorphy. However, there were no significant variations in Endomorphy attributes among batsmen, bowlers, and all-rounders, indicating similarity in this aspect across player roles. Conclusion: These findings elucidate the nuanced physical distinctions among U-19 cricketers, contributing valuable insights into their somatotype profiles based on specific playing roles.