da esport bet： Dav Whatmore National Coach It may seem strange but five months of non-stop international cricket hashad a slightly detrimental effect on the fitness levels of the Sri Lankanplayers
da poker： Dav Whatmore21-May-2001Dav Whatmore
National CoachIt may seem strange but five months of non-stop international cricket hashad a slightly detrimental effect on the fitness levels of the Sri Lankanplayers. Alex Kontouri, the team physio, has detected a few extra kilos, theresult of too much lounging in the dressing rooms, too many rich hotelmeals, and not enough time spent doing general fitness training.This is common for all teams and is why periods of rest are so important inthe crowded international calendar. During the next nine-weeks Kontouri maynot endear himself to the players much, but they will thank him when theirinternational duties start again. He will be pushing them hard – reducingtheir weight, increasing the strength of their muscles and joints, andimproving their flexibility.These efforts will be essential in the ongoing struggle to prevent injury.The Indian Test series will be especially grueling with three-Tests in thespace of 20 days. If the players are not extremely fit then there is a goodchance that someone could miss a game and that could have importantimplications in a closely fought series. As it is a number of the playerscame back from Sharjah carrying little niggles. Nothing serious, the oddsore back or knee, so in addition to the fitness training, Alex has giventhem all individual rehabilitation programs and is making sure that they getback to 100 per cent.During the first phase of preparation we will be concentrating on generalaerobic fitness, which will include group sessions in the gym, swimmingpool, and some road running. This week there were seven sessions and nextweek there will be eight. Gradually we raise the tempo until, sometime inmid-June, a base level of fitness and stamina has been achieved.Then we change tact, introducing specific anaerobic exercises, which areshorter in duration and higher in intensity. Cricket is a “stop-start” sport(ie. a sprint to the bowling crease followed by the walk back to your mark)and anaerobic exercises are designed to reduce the recovery time betweenthese “stop-start” actions, ensuring the bowler or batsman reduces his heartrate before the next delivery or run.Interspersed between these group fitness sessions we will be havingindividual net sessions, aimed at improving techniques and honing skills.During competitions it is very difficult to find the time to address theseissues because of a lack of time. Thus, for example, during the next twoweeks I am having a series of batting sessions with Chaminda Vaas, NuwanZoysa, and Dilhara Fernando.Soon we will start team net and fielding sessions, an area that needs plentyof attention, as I feel that our normally high standards in the field havesagged slightly in recent months. In late June and July we will begin toplay some internal practice matches and will probably have an intensivetraining camp just before the triangular starts in mid-July.All the while the players will be playing Mercantile cricket on theweekends. Though there is some concern that this tournament ensures that theplayers are effectively playing non-stop cricket throughout the year, it isa tough one-day competition and therefore helps to keep the players at thetop of their game.When India and New Zealand arrive in Sri Lanka I expect our 22-man squad tohave extremely high fitness levels and be fully prepared for the ensuingcompetition. Furthermore, the players will be mentally refreshed and readyto do battle.
