Oz to use GPS vest as secret weapon to boost performance

Sydney, Dec 10 (UNI) Cricket Australia (CA) is going to use GPS technology as its secret weapon to stay ahead of the pack and plan its 2009 Ashes and the 2011 World Cup campaign.

Coach Tim Nielsen has ordered that the majority of the data from the GPS vests --which are now regularly fitted to Australian players during matches-- be kept secret to prevent rival nations gaining crucial intelligence.

Several Australian players will wear the devices during tomorrow's Twenty20 international against New Zealand in Perth.

Part of an Australian Institute of Sport trial, Australia says no other country is using similar technology and it will be a secret weapon in preparing for the 2009 Ashes and the 2011 World Cup.

''It will deliver us a tactical advantage and allow us to move forward and plan our workload even better with the next World Cup in mind,'' a team insider was quoted as saying by the 'Herald Sun'.

Using a global positioning system (GPS) tracking device, attached to the player and relaying information back to a computer, researchers have been able to calculate how much running a player does out on the field.

The information includes players' heart rates, the distances they cover and the speeds they reach during a match are fed into the computer.

The players were staggered by the results.

Wicketkeeper Chris Hartley said, ''I knew that a full day of wicketkeeping, especially in the warmer, more humid Brisbane climates, leaves me pretty tired.

''The weariness in my feet and legs tells me that. But I was certainly surprised to see just how much territory I covered in that day in the field.

''This experiment shows that today's cricketer needs more than just an outswinger or a cover drive to compete at the highest levels,'' he said.

UNI