Heart Rate Variability and Batting Decision-Making Under Varying Bowler Familiarity: A Real-Time Physiological and Biomechanical Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56532/mjsat.v6i2.670Keywords:
Heart Rate Variability, Cricket Batting, IoT Wearable Devices, Shot Selection, Decision-Making, Stress MonitoringAbstract
Cricket batting demands rapid decision-making under intense psychological pressure, where shot selection accuracy directly influences match outcomes. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a validated physiological marker for stress and cognitive load, yet its specific relationship with batting decision-making under varying bowler familiarity remains underexplored. This study proposes an integrated framework using a custom-built IoT wearable device powered by a 3.7V LiPo battery, ESP32 microcontroller, and MAX30102 sensor to monitor HRV in real-time during batting scenarios against familiar versus unfamiliar bowlers. The device acquires raw photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals at 100 Hz through its integrated 16-bit analogue-to-digital converter, which provides the temporal resolution necessary for accurate RR interval detection and subsequent HRV computation. From these high-resolution raw data, processed heart rate values are derived and transmitted at a rate of three data points per second for real-time display and session logging. Preliminary validation against the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro, a consumer-grade wrist-worn device with established optical heart rate sensing capability, across four physiological states (morning post-sleep, noon post-meal, evening post-exercise, and night pre-sleep) demonstrated a 98% accuracy rate based on primary data from batsmen. Combined with synchronized 4K 60 FPS video analysis, this study aims to uncover neurophysiological correlates of shot selection behaviour in cricket. Findings are expected to inform personalized training and stress management strategies, offering significant implications for modern cricket coaching.
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