Cricket Calories Burned Calculator
Calculate calories burned during cricket training and matches using official MET values from the Compendium of Physical Activities.
How Many Calories Does Cricket Burn? 🏏
Cricket training burns between 240-1140 calories per hour, making it an excellent sport for cardiovascular fitness, hand-eye coordination, and strategic thinking. According to the Compendium of Physical Activities, cricket activities range from 4.0-12.0 METs depending on intensity and position. For a 150-pound person, vigorous cricket match play can burn approximately 571-857 calories per hour while developing exceptional coordination, endurance, and mental focus through the dynamic combination of batting, bowling, and fielding that characterizes this beloved sport.
Cricket Activity Levels & Calorie Expenditure
Based on research from the Compendium of Physical Activities and metabolic equivalent (MET) values, here are the different cricket activity levels:
- Fielding Practice (4.0 METs): Basic fielding drills, catching practice, and light movement with moderate cardiovascular demand
- Batting Practice (5.0 METs): Net sessions, batting drills, and technique practice with continuous moderate activity
- General Cricket Training (6.0 METs): Combined skills practice including batting, bowling, and fielding with sustained activity
- Bowling Practice (7.0 METs): Bowling drills, run-up practice, and delivery technique with higher intensity bursts
- Match Play – Moderate (8.0 METs): Casual match play with moderate intensity and regular activity periods
- Match Play – Vigorous (10.0 METs): Competitive match play with high intensity, quick movements, and sustained concentration
- Fast Bowling/Wicket Keeping (12.0 METs): High-intensity fast bowling or wicket keeping with explosive movements and maximum effort
According to research published in PMC, cricket training significantly improves cardiovascular endurance, hand-eye coordination, strategic thinking, and mental focus while providing excellent social interaction and team-building benefits!
Cricket Calorie Burn Chart
| Duration | Fielding Practice (4.0 MET) |
General Training (6.0 MET) |
Match Play (8.0 MET) |
Fast Bowling (12.0 MET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 120-190 calories | 180-285 calories | 240-380 calories | 360-570 calories |
| 60 minutes | 240-380 calories | 360-570 calories | 480-760 calories | 720-1140 calories |
| 90 minutes | 360-570 calories | 540-855 calories | 720-1140 calories | 1080-1710 calories |
| 120 minutes | 480-760 calories | 720-1140 calories | 960-1520 calories | 1440-2280 calories |
Calories Burned by Body Weight (60 minutes of cricket)
| Body Weight | Fielding Practice | General Training | Match Play | Fast Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125 lbs (57 kg) | 240 calories | 360 calories | 480 calories | 720 calories |
| 150 lbs (68 kg) | 286 calories | 428 calories | 571 calories | 857 calories |
| 175 lbs (79 kg) | 333 calories | 499 calories | 665 calories | 998 calories |
| 200 lbs (91 kg) | 382 calories | 573 calories | 764 calories | 1146 calories |
Formula for Calculating Cricket Calories Burned
Calories Burned = (MET × Weight(kg) × 3.5) ÷ 200 × Duration(min)
- MET Value: 4.0-12.0 (based on cricket activity and intensity)
- Weight: Your body weight in kilograms
- Duration: Activity time in minutes
- 3.5: Standard metabolic factor
Calorie Burn by Cricket Position
According to research on cricket player fitness, different playing positions offer varying calorie-burning potential:
- Fast Bowler (12.0 METs): High-intensity bowling with explosive run-ups, requiring exceptional cardiovascular fitness and muscular power
- Wicket Keeper (8.0-10.0 METs): Constant squatting, quick reflexes, and explosive movements behind the stumps with sustained concentration
- All-rounder (8.0-10.0 METs): Combination of batting, bowling, and fielding skills requiring versatile fitness and endurance
- Batsman (6.0-8.0 METs): Focused batting technique, quick running between wickets, and sustained concentration during long innings
- Spin Bowler (6.0-8.0 METs): Moderate-intensity bowling with emphasis on accuracy, spin technique, and strategic field placement
- Fielder (4.0-6.0 METs): Alert fielding positions, quick sprints, catching, and throwing with intermittent high-intensity bursts
Cricket Health & Performance Benefits
According to research published in BMJ Open, cricket participation provides exceptional physical and mental health benefits:
- Cardiovascular Health: Cricket training significantly improves heart health, endurance, and overall cardiovascular fitness through varied intensity activities
- Hand-Eye Coordination: Batting, catching, and bowling develop superior coordination skills that transfer to daily activities and other sports
- Mental Focus: Strategic gameplay, concentration during long matches, and decision-making under pressure enhance cognitive function
- Social Benefits: Team sport participation improves social connections, communication skills, and mental well-being through community engagement
According to fitness research, cricket’s combination of aerobic and anaerobic activities makes it an excellent choice for overall fitness, burning more calories than many traditional exercises while providing enjoyable social interaction!
Cricket Match Format Energy Demands
Research from PMC Sports Medicine reveals the varying physiological demands of different cricket formats:
- T20 Cricket: High-intensity, explosive gameplay with rapid decision-making, requiring 15-20% more energy per minute due to aggressive batting and bowling
- One Day Cricket: Balanced endurance and intensity over 50 overs, requiring sustained energy management and strategic pacing throughout the match
- Test Cricket: Ultimate endurance challenge over 5 days, emphasizing mental concentration, technique refinement, and long-term energy conservation
- Training Sessions: Skill-focused practice with varied intensity, allowing for technique development while maintaining moderate calorie burn
According to sports science research, cricket players develop excellent aerobic capacity and anaerobic power due to the sport’s unique combination of sustained activity and explosive movements!
Factors Affecting Cricket Calorie Burn
Research from cricket fitness studies identifies key variables that influence cricket energy expenditure:
- Playing Position: Fast bowlers burn 40-50% more calories than fielders due to explosive bowling actions, long run-ups, and high-intensity delivery
- Match Intensity: Competitive matches burn 25-35% more calories than practice sessions due to increased pressure, faster gameplay, and sustained concentration
- Weather Conditions: Hot weather cricket increases calorie burn by 10-15% due to thermoregulation demands and increased cardiovascular stress
- Skill Level: Advanced players often burn more calories due to longer training sessions, higher intensity play, and more complex skill execution
To maximize calorie burn during cricket, focus on active fielding positions, practice explosive bowling actions, maintain continuous movement between deliveries, and engage in high-intensity interval training to improve match fitness!
References
- Bullock, G. S., Panagodage-Perera, N. K., Murray, A., Arden, N. K., & Filbay, S. R. (2019). Relationship between cricket participation, health and well-being: Scoping review protocol. BMJ Open, 9(11), e032070.
- Sheikh, A., Ali, S. A., Saleem, A., Ali, S., & Ahmed, S. S. (2013). Health consequences of cricket – view from South Asia. International Archives of Medicine, 6, 30.
- Wagh, Smita & Wagh, Yatin & Nikam, Kamini. (2022). Assessment of role of physical fitness of cricket players in response to the various tests. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences. 13. 223-227. 10.3126/ajms.v13i7.44498.
