The effects of mental fatigue on cricket-relevant performance among elite players

This study investigated the effects of a mentally-fatiguing test on physical tasks among elite cricketers. In a cross-over design, ten 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 to 6.66; most likely). Cricket run-two (P = 0.002; d = -0.51, 95% CIs = -0.72 to 0.30; very likely), Yo-Yo-IR1 distance (P = 0.023; d = 0.39, 95% CIs = 0.14 to 0.64; likely) and RPE (P = 0.001; d = -1.82, 95% CIs = -2.49 to 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 to 0.87) change was likely. Mental fatigue, induced by an app-based Stroop test, negatively affected cricket-relevant performance.