A fitness tracker developed by the University of South Australia is helping predict sports performance among Australian cricketers to elevate their performance.

Developed in partnership with the South Australian Cricket Association (Saca), the technology helps coaches detect changes in an athlete’s aerobic performance, providing information about their stamina and recovery.

Currently being trialled by the West End Redbacks, the tool has the capacity to measure fatigue between matches, enabling coaches to know immediately whether a player needs rest or can ramp up their training.

UniSA PhD researcher and strength and conditioning coach at Saca, Fabian Garcia-Byrne, said the tool could be a game-changer for Australian sports.

“Over the past four years we’ve been developing a technology that can detect changes to players’ aerobic performance and stamina,” Garcia-Byrne said. “By using a very simple running tool, we can measure players’ running form – their gait and lateral sway – and can predict fitness levels within the span of only two minutes.”

He said aerobic performance was an important component of fitness because it enabled players to reduce the effect of fatigue during long periods of play or across multi-day matches.

“Ultimately, this test will provide coaches with an alternative method to determine players’ fitness levels,” he said. “Instead of getting players to do a traditional maximum level effort test which can increase existing levels of fatigue, this test can be deployed as part of their warmups, so it doesn’t even impact on their training time.”

The researchers are now working with Saca in the hope of introducing the tool to bigger leagues such as Cricket Australia, as well as other sports such as the English Premier League football, AFL, AFLW and rugby.