Abstract
The sweat rate, heart rate and core temperature as well as urinary volume, osmolarity,
electrolyte concentration and pH of 20 cricketers were measured under cool, warm and
hot conditions with wet bulb globe temperature indices of 22.1, 24.5 and 27.1, respectively.
Simulated match conditions were used on the cool and warm days, while 3 bowlers were
measured under actual match conditions on the hot day. The tendency for higher heart
rate, sweat rate and renal conservation of water and sodium on the warm day compared
with the cool day is consistent with increasing thermoregulatory stress under relatively
moderate environmental conditions. The average dehydration of the three fast bowlers
was -4.3% of initial body mass after only two sessions of play, on the hot day. This
level of dehydration is sufficient to impair physical performance. These results suggest
that the adverse effects of dehydration could be minimised if the rules of cricket
were amended to allow players the opportunity to drink as desired when the environmental
conditions are extreme.
Key words
Cricket - dehydration - sweating - thermoregulation
