Effect of High-Intensity Circuit Training on Aerobic Capacity and Muscular Endurance among Male Recreational Cricket Players

Background: Cricket is an intermittent sport requiring repeated high-intensity actions interspersed with lower-intensity activity. Adequate aerobic capacity and muscular endurance are important for sustaining performance and recovery during prolonged participation. High-Intensity Circuit Training (HICT) combines aerobic and resistance exercises within a time-efficient training format. However, limited research has examined HICT among male recreational cricket players. Aim: To determine the effect of HICT on aerobic capacity and upper-body muscular endurance among male recreational cricket players. Methods: A pre-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design was used. Thirty male recreational cricket players aged 18?25 years were recruited using convenience sampling. Participants completed an 8-week supervised HICT programme, three sessions per week on non-consecutive days, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes. Aerobic capacity was assessed using the 12-minute Cooper run test, and upper-body muscular endurance was assessed using the 1- minute push-up test. Pre-test and post-test values were compared using a paired t-test. Results: Aerobic capacity improved significantly, with the mean Cooper run distance increasing from 2436.00 ± 291.93 m at pre-test to 2633.33 ± 320.70 m at post-test (t = 16.28, p < 0.001). Upper-body muscular endurance also improved significantly, with the mean push-up score increasing from 21.83 ± 7.18 repetitions to 26.50 ± 8.87 repetitions (t = 13.33, p < 0.001). Conclusion: An 8-week HICT programme was associated with significant improvements in aerobic capacity and upper-body muscular endurance among male recreational cricket players. HICT may provide a practical and time-efficient conditioning approach for this population.