Researchers are going to bat for England's cricket team and their conclusions could not have come at a better time. Mark Foster reports

FOR a research project, the timing could not have been better - but when it comes to putting it into practice will it be in time to make a difference?

England, the mother country of cricket, has just fared disastrously in the Ashes, hammered 4-1 by the Aussies in a series most English fans would prefer to forget.

Now they are about to tested again as they put politics aside and prepare to launch themselves into the World Cup.

Also in Africa, but for a somewhat different reason, are sports science researchers Colin Sanctuary and Barry Thombs, of St John College, York.

They are in Cape Town for the second World Congress of Sports Science and Medicine in Cricket where they are presenting their research into cricket performance.

They are studying which factors most influence the performance of players at different levels, in a bid to identify the most critical elements in determining performance.

Their ultimate aim is to produce clear performance measures that cricketers can aspire to - and in doing so ensure success, be it at local, county or Test level.

Two phases of their study have already been carried out. The first asked players and coaches to rate their performances in various categories, including concentration, self-confidence, motivation, decision-making and mood.

In the second, county players completed a questionnaire after each innings over a season as the researchers looked for reasons for differing performance during one and four-day matches.

The next phase will follow individual cricketers through a whole season, asking them to measure how they felt mentally and physically during each match.

Mr Sanctuary, a keen cricketer and fan himself, said: "Many people will be able to identify the main skills required to be a successful sports person.

"But this research aims to find out the most important elements which need to be focused on in training and development, to improve and maintain successful performance in cricket.

"When the main motor and psychological skills affecting good performance have been found, then new training techniques and match preparations techniques can be applied to improve the chances of success on the field."

The England and Wales Cricket Board has already expressed an interest in the work. "We are always looking for new ways in which we can improve the development of our most talented young players," said a spokesman.

"Our consultant sports psychologist, Steve Bull, is in Cape Town for the same conference and I'm sure he will be taking the chance to discuss their work in greater depth."