New Zealand cricketers keep themselves in shape during winters

Amidst the onset of the winter season in New Zealand, with temperatures dropping to create sub zero climate, playing cricket under such conditions becomes a task. Therefore, it becomes a challenge for the domestic as well as the international players to keep themselves match ready for a foreign league or the upcoming home season.

Players such as Kane Williamson, Colin Munro, Mitchell McClenaghan and Martin Guptill are currently featuring in the ongoing Carribean Premier League (CPL) while the likes of Tim Southee and Adam Milne featured in the Natwest T20 Blast.

NZC’s High-Performance Strength and Conditioning Manager Ant Sharp has been engaged with a group of 10 players in an NZC winter training squad. Hamilton and Tauranga based Black Caps Kane Williamson, Trent Boult and BJ Watling are operating similar programmes and with a highly competitive squad the players train together and keep each other motivated.

“With cricket becoming a more dynamic sport the physical awareness and development work really helps with players body awareness and balance. Instances of dynamic fielding can change a match and if players are more equipped to move well in the field it can make a big difference,” quoted Ant Sharp, New Zealand Cricket’s High-Performance Strength and Conditioning Manager, according to New Zealand Cricket’s official website.

Sleep pivotal for performances of athletes

“Sleep plays a huge role in helping athletes to be best prepared to perform, as well as optimise learning from playing and training, alongside their physiological recovery. With cricketers spending so much time away from their home environments we are trying to give them some skills to still get optimal rest even away from home,” further added Sharp.

The Kiwis next tour India for a 3 match ODI and T20I series starting Late October to the first week of November, tentatively. The Black Caps last featured in the Champions Trophy as they were knocked out of the league stages after facing defeat at the hands of Bangladesh and England.