Bilateral Motor Coordination as predictor of Inhibited Performance in Cricket

Accuracy in anticipation along with emotional resilience has always been emphasized as vital for peak sport performance and cricket being characterised as “game of uncertainty”, impaired motor coordination has been postulated as possible inhibiting factor for persistent peak performance. Present study was done to identify the extent of direct and moderating contribution of asymmetry in bilateral motor and movement coordination on the cognitive-emotional competence required for performance excellence in cricket. Twenty National-selection group cricketers of Bangladesh and twenty Nationaldevelopment-squad cricketers of Malaysia were categorized into high and low performers (Gr. A and B - 10 high and low level cricketers from Bangladesh; and, their counterparts from Malaysia - Gr. A-1 and Gr. B-1). They were assessed with autonomic measures (orienting activity) and with bilaterally recorded visual-motor coordination ability. Significant differences in skin conductance measures were obtained both in Gr. B and in Gr. B-1 players, which were not evident in high performers. Furthermore, Gr. B players were evident with inhibited visual motor co-ordination in left lateral side, but no such difference was observed in either of the high performer groups (i.e., Gr. A and Gr. A-1 players). Asymmetry in motor coordination was evident as predictor of low performance.