A Swansea University postgraduate student who also works as a Strength and Conditioning coach for the English Cricket Board (ECB) is hoping the innovative sports science methods developed at Swansea which helped him prepare the English Cricket Team for victory in the Ashes will also lead the Team to glory in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2010/11 which started on 19 February.
Huw Bevan is currently pursuing a PhD focusing on training methods to develop powerful athletes within the Health and Sport Portfolio in the University’s College of Engineering.
Huw’s research into increasing speed and power in athletes, together with his considerable sporting background have put him in prime position as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the English Cricket team.
Together with a team of researchers within the Health and Sport Portfolio, and led by Senior Lecturer, Dr Liam Kilduff, Huw has worked in conjunction with the ECB on neuromuscular and endocrine response to Twenty20 and 1-day test cricket to better understand the demands of the game and the subsequent recovery from it.
Dr Liam Kilduff said: “Although Huw would never admit to it, it is very clear for everybody to see what a massive impact he has made to the conditioning of the English cricket players allowing them to compete physically with the other leading cricket countries.
“Huw’s approach is very much centred on his previous experiences in professional sport coupled with his ability to translate key research findings into applied practice.
“We pride ourselves at Swansea University in ensuring our research has a direct application to our primary industry which in my case is elite sporting partners. Huw’s success is another prime example of how our research is continuing to contribute to elite sport in Wales and further afield.”
Huw said: “My role as Strength & Conditioning coach with the Senior side is centred around making sure the players are in the best physical condition possible to allow for optimal performance. I try to achieve this through my previous experience working as a strength & conditioning coach and more recently through the skills and knowledge I have developed throughout my PhD studies.
“I’ve developed a very strong working relationship with Dr Kilduff at Swansea University since my time with the Ospreys which lead me to undertake my PhD at Swansea. I hope to continue this relationship in the future to further enhance my ability to work at the very elite end of sport.”
For further information about the Health and Sport Portfolio within the College of Engineering, visit: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/engineering/SportsScience/
