Bangor University DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Preliminary stages in the validation of a talent identification model in cricket Barney, Edward Award date: 2015 Awarding institution: Bangor University Link to publication General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 23. Sep. 2021 1 Preliminary stages in the validation of a talent identification model in cricket Ph.D. Thesis Edward George Barney Thesis submitted to Bangor University in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the School of Sport Health and Exercise Sciences 2015 2 Thesis Summary Talent identification is an integral component of the ever-professionalised sporting landscape. However, to date, there is a dearth of high quality evidence upon which to conduct talent identification practice. This thesis represents the preliminary stages in the validation of a talent identification model for cricket. The thesis contains six chapters (four empirical), which examine varying methodological approaches to talent identification, and present initial evidence (cross sectional and longitudinal) of those attributes that may be related to elite success. Chapter 2 presents two pilot studies examining the reliability and discriminant validity of batting and pace bowling assessments. Varying levels of validity and reliability are found. Some evidence suggests that skill-based differences (between high and low ability groups) become more pronounced after familiarisation / practice. Chapter 3 presents two studies examining the discriminant validity of scouting, and the most appropriate methodologies through which scouting can be conducted. The analysis documents significant discriminant value in scouting data. Skill-based scouting parameters consistently discriminate between low and high ability groups. Psychological scouting variables are the only data that discriminate between high and very high ability groups. Chapter 4 presents a longitudinal analysis of performance statistics. Findings suggest that performance statistics may be a valuable talent identification tool. Performance statistics that represent non-traditional metrics (e.g., ability to adapt on entering a new environment) consistently correlated with subsequent performance and are worthy of further examination. Chapter 5 presents evidence examining relative age effect and maturation across the male and female England Cricket Pathway. The findings suggest that RAEs may be advantageous from a development perspective, with relatively young athletes who remain in the system, becoming overrepresented at later stages. 3 Contents Acknowledgments 8 Declaration and Consent 10 Chapter 1 General Introduction 14 Definitions 15 Existing Models 17 Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT) 18 Deliberate Practice 19 Empirical Studies – Limitations 21 Approaches to Talent Identification 23 Traditional methodologies 23 Scouting 25 Performance Statistics 26 Thesis Context 28 Project Overview 29 Testing – England Development Programme Talent Testing 30 Scouting 30 Performance Statistics 32 Contributions 32 Thesis Format 34 Chapter 2 Pilot studies examining the reliability and validity of five batting and 37 two bowling cricket tests Research Progression 38 Introduction 40 Methods 46 Results 57 Discussion 63 Chapter 3 Pilot studies exploring the discriminant validity of age group cricket 72 scouting Research Progression 73 4 General introduction 76 Study 1 80 Study 2 91 General discussion 101 Chapter 4 A longitudinal study of performance statistics in cricket 107 Research Progression 108 General introduction 111 Method 116 Study 1 122 Results 122 Discussion 126 Study 2 128 Method 128 Results 130 Discussion 136 General discussion 137 Chapter 5 Relative Age Effects throughout a Talent Development Pathway: A 142 Chronological and Biological Analysis of English Cricket Research Progression 143 Introduction 145 Method 149 Results 153 Discussion 158 Chapter 6 General Discussion 161 Summary of results 162 Implications 166 Theoretical implications 167 Applied implications 171 Limitations 174 Future directions 176 5 References 181 Figures 1.1 - Methodological approaches to talent identification research 29 1.2 - Technical, skill, tactical, physiological, maturation and psychological 31 variables within England Development Programme Talent Testing framework 2.1 - Development pathway of ECB 149 Tables 1 - Accumulation test delivery order – Pilot Test 1 53 2 - Accumulation test delivery order – Pilot Test 2 54 3 - Test of multivariate and between-subject effects when batting against 59 pace 4 - Test of multivariate and between-subject effects for bat-ball contact 60 (frequency) when batting against pace with a thin bat 5 - Independent t tests exploring MPS results for each block and scorer 60 6 - Independent t tests exploring test accuracy and speed differences 63 between school and university bowlers 7 - Descriptive statistics detailing player numbers and number of reports 86 filed 8 - Results of independent t tests comparing short and long listed players – 87 All reports 9 - Results of independent t tests comparing short and long listed players – 88 Only outdoor reports 10 - Results of independent t tests comparing short and long listed players 89 – 1st outdoor report 11 - Results of independent t tests comparing short and long listed players 90 for two reports from different scouts and the same scout 12 - Descriptive statistics detailing player numbers and reports filed 94 13 - Results of univariate follow-up tests, to significant Hotelling’s T2 tests 95 14 - Results of independent t tests comparing short and long listed players 95 on overall performance 6 15 - Descriptive statistics detailing player numbers and reports filed for 96 psychological and physiological data 16 - Results of follow- up tests to significant Hotelling’s T2 tests 99 17 - Results of independent t tests comparing short and long listed players 99 on overall performance 18 - Results of Hotelling’s T2 tests comparing short and long listed players 100 on technical and tactical ratings 19 - Results of independent t tests comparing short and long listed players 100 on overall performance 20 - Predictor variables for batting and bowling analyses: List A and 1st 119 Class cricket pre England debut (unless otherwise stated) 21 - Relationship between professional (List A and 1st Class, pre debut) 123 and Test batting performance statistics 22 - Relationship between professional (List A and 1st Class, pre debut) 124 and ODI batting statistics 23 - Relationship between professional (List A and 1st Class, pre debut) 124 and Test bowling performance statistics 24 - Relationship between professional (List A and 1st Class, pre debut) 125 and ODI bowling performance statistics 25 - Number of players included in analyses at progressive England 129 cricket pathway stages and average number of games contributing to statistics 26 - Relationship between performance statistics of England cricket 132 pathway stages and professional cricket, when considering predictors of Test batting 27 - Relationship between performance statistics of England cricket 132 pathway stages and professional cricket, when considering predictors of ODI batting 28 - Relationship between performance statistics of England cricket 134 pathway stages and professional cricket, when considering predictors of Test bowling 29 - Relationship between performance statistics of England cricket 135 pathway stages and professional cricket, when considering predictors of 7 ODI bowling 30 - Relative age effects for different male age-groups across the ECB’s 154 development pathway 31 - Relative age effects for different female age-groups across the ECB’s 155 development pathway 32 - Relative age effects according to cricket discipline for different male 156 age-groups across the ECB’s development pathway 8 Acknowledgements A marriage, a baby, a job, two house moves, other slightly less significant moments, a life or death skiing accident for my supervisor, and the departure of one supervisor to Canada – an eventful PhD – before even addressing academia. Writing this sentence leads me to question the predictability of life, a particularly pertinent question, bearing in mind the talent identification context of the PhD…I digress (a challenge with my writing!). I can honestly say that I had no idea of the exceptional environments that I was being exposed to on starting this Ph.D. Bangor University had featured on the undergraduate radar, but quickly disappeared with the lure of sports science on the south coast at Exeter. It was 6 years later that an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Bangor University collaboration drew me to North Wales. Four years on, I can reflect on the most welcoming, positive and supportive environment. Unquestionably,