Cricket is a physical game of immense concentration and mental endurance.
No matter what role you’re playing – be it batsman, bowler, or fielder, your body will thank you for every bit of fuel you can give it.
This is why, BOOST, V Energy drink, Relentless, and REIZE are the perfect pick-me-up for this situation.
You’re bound to feel absolutely knackered without the right pick-me-up to keep you going.
Find out more about these energy drinks and whether or not they can give you just the boost you need to gain that crucial edge on the cricket field.
Ingredients to Look For in Energy Drinks
The first thing to consider before deciding what’s the best energy drink for a cricket player is the list of key ingredients:
Caffeine
Caffeine is known to give you the wake-up call that you need when you’re feeling tired. It energizes your body and helps you power through activities while keeping your mind sharp and ready
According to the FDA, the maximum amount of caffeine you can have in a day is 400mg. Keep in mind that as good as it can make you feel, it is always best to limit your daily intake.
All energy drinks have some amount of caffeine in them. Different brands have varying amounts per serving, usually around 100mg but sometimes up to a whopping 300mg.
In my opinion, keeping my caffeine intake levels between 50mg to 100mg per serving feels just right. This is also a good amount for cricket players to consume for concentration without risking getting the jitters and a racing pulse.
That being said, everyone has a different level of tolerance for caffeine.
Based on an article from Healthline, consuming unhealthy amounts of caffeine can also cause:
- anxiety
- irritability
- insomnia
- muscle breakdown
- addiction
Frequent caffeine consumption can lead to dependency, affecting you psychologically and physically. If you are struggling with caffeine addiction, learn more about how you can overcome it in my other article.
When selecting the right energy drink, keep an eye out for the caffeine content that you’ll find on the label. If taken in moderation, caffeine can have performance-enhancing benefits for cricket players. Just keep your needs and tolerance levels in mind when choosing.
Sugar
According to NHS, an average adult should consume less than 30g of sugar a day.
Too much sugar has detrimental effects on your:
- brain
- mood
- teeth
- joints
- skin
- liver
- heart
- pancreas
- kidneys
- body weight
Yep, that sounds like pretty much everything your body is made up of. Sugar is generally bad news.
The usual public perception of energy drinks is that they’re all very sugary. This is true for most brands of energy drinks but it’s not always the case anymore (lucky us!).
Now you have the option of getting sugar-free energy drinks.
During training and when you are out on the field, your body uses up its energy which can leave you feeling weak and tired.
Sugar can give you a quick fix for energy but that is exactly what it is, a quick fix. What follows is a sugar crash that will leave you feeling worse off than before.
I usually choose sugar-free energy drinks to avoid a sugar crash. This is a particularly useful tip for a long game of cricket so you don’t burn out mid-game.
It is best to pay attention to the sugar content mentioned on the nutrition label before you purchase any brand of energy drink.
Taurine
Taurine is naturally made in your body and is responsible for creating proteins that help speed up muscle and tissue recovery.
Plenty of studies and articles show just how beneficial this synthetic ingredient is.
Some of the benefits of taurine are:
- improves metabolism and digestion
- protects the heart
- boosts exercise performance
These positive effects will make a marked improvement in your cricketing abilities. As a rule of thumb, do pay attention to the nutrition label on your energy drink of choice before purchase.
Guarana
Guarana is one of the ingredients prevalent in energy drinks. It contains a higher concentration of caffeine compared to coffee beans and is used as a sort of ‘caffeine-booster’.
Guarana in low dosages doesn’t cause side effects to your body but combined with an existing caffeine content, could have adverse effects.
This is dependent on your caffeine tolerance.
As I like to keep my daily dose of caffeine below 100mg, I usually steer clear of energy drinks that contain guarana.
Can energy drinks boost my performance on the cricket field?
Yes, energy drinks can boost your performance through improved stamina and mental endurance.
Energy drinks help your body with a variety of functions. This includes getting you to be more alert and productive. The content of caffeine, sugars, and taurine in energy drinks helps in reducing fatigue and keeps your body replenished.
In a study that investigated the effects of Red Bull on human functions, it was reported that the psychomotor performance and physical endurance levels of 36 volunteers took on a significant improvement.
Energy drinks improve cognitive functions.
In addition, energy drinks enhance:
- mental concentration
- reaction time
- alertness
- verbal memory
These effects on neurological endurance are incredibly useful for cricket players who need to have prolonged concentration during a match.
However before we jump into the list of energy drinks perfect for cricketers, let’s address some doubts you may have…
Do energy drinks contain illegal substances for athletes?
No, not anymore.
Caffeine was once banned by The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
However, this ban was lifted in 2004 as new research shed light on the more positive effects of caffeine in relation to sports performance.
Rest assured, the caffeine content in your Red Bull will not land you in any official trouble.
A can of Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine and 27g of sugar.
The caffeine content is pretty reasonable. That being said, as I mentioned before, I personally prefer sugar-free energy drinks.
With cricket matches being known to last long you may want to skip the risk of getting a sugar crash that will leave you feeling sluggish and unwell.
How can I get the most energy?
Energy drinks – they definitely pack a punch!
Every energy drink is going to give you that energy boost you are looking for during training and matches.
Although energy drinks are a surefire way to pump yourself up for a good game of cricket – it is no substitute for a balanced diet and good ‘ol water for hydration.
Is one can of energy drink a day OK?
Yes, having a single energy drink can daily is alright.
Just be aware of your other caffeine and sugar intakes to keep the less desirable side effects at bay.
Also, sticking to a sugar-free energy drink will give you more wriggle room to enjoy other sweet foods and drinks. If you’re a coffee fan, you may want to pay closer attention to the caffeine content as well so you get to enjoy both beverages.
Which energy drink is best for cricket?
I’ve previously made a comprehensive list of energy drink ingredients for you to check out if you want to learn more.
Now that you know more about what to consider when choosing an energy drink, there are plenty of brands you could experiment with.
Here are a few that might be worth a look…
BOOST Energy Drink
| Ingredients | |
| Caffeine | 80mg |
| Sugar | 12.3mg |
| Taurine | 0.4% |
| B Vitamins: Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B4) Cobalamin (B12) and Vitamin B6 |
The caffeine content is on the higher end for me at 80mg. However, still within my preferred daily limit. It’s a decent energy source before a game or training session.
BOOST has a good composition of B Vitamins and taurine that will aid in your energy stores and cell repair. You would do well to want to have this in your pre-sports drink.
However, with 12.3mg of sugar, I believe you may be risking a sugar crash that could potentially disrupt your game. BOOST does have a sugar-free option in its range that would be a better fit in my opinion.
V Energy Drink
| Ingredients | |
| Caffeine | 85mg |
| Sugar | 29.2mg |
| Taurine | 500mg |
| Guarana | 330mg |
| B Vitamins: Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B4), Riboflavin (B2) and Vitamin B6 |
V Energy drink is definitely a very very energising drink with 85mg of caffeine combined with a further caffeine booster of 330mg guarana.
That being said, depending on your caffeine tolerance – this steep dose of caffeine could harm your play with unwanted side effects like shaky hands and nausea.
I would recommend that you err on the side of caution if you aren’t too familiar with your caffeine tolerance levels, i.e. not have your first can of V right before a big match.
There is a sugar-free option with V. But if you’re going for the sugared version – just bear in mind, that what goes up must come down (pesky sugar crashes)!
I do particularly like that it’s got lots of taurines. Also, it has plenty of B Vitamins which are going to be beneficial for your overall athletic performance.
However, with all that caffeine, I personally would not recommend this for any sports – especially cricket which needs you to have sustained energy and concentration for many hours.
For a more in-depth look at the V energy drink, check out my honest review.
Relentless Energy Drink
| Ingredients | |
| Caffeine | 160mg |
| Sugar | 24mg |
| Taurine | 0.4% |
| Guarana | 0.005% |
| B Vitamins: Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Cobalamin (B12) and Vitamin B6 |
Although this exceeds my personal limit on daily caffeine consumption, you may have a higher tolerance and want to give this a go. Just keep it below the 400mg recommended daily dose to avoid any trouble.
Relentless has a healthy mix of taurine and vitamin B’s that’s useful for your body before, during, and after your cricket match.
There are plenty of flavored options available and they all contain a rather high sugar content except for Relentless Zero (sugar-free).
In my opinion, it’s best to cut sugar out of your diet whenever possible, so it’s a good thing we have the Zero option here.
You can read more about Relentless and find out how it compares to other notable brands in my detailed review.
REIZE Energy Drink (10 out of 10)
| Ingredients | |
| Caffeine | 50mg |
| Sugar | 0 |
| Taurine | 1000mg |
| B Vitamins | LOTS! |
| Ginseng |
You will find that REIZE has a perfectly sensible amount of caffeine to give you that edge you need on the field with minimal risk for less than favorable side effects.
This means you could even have several servings during a cricket match without overdoing it on the caffeine front.
In case you missed it, a sachet of REIZE is packed with 1000mg of taurine. I think this makes it a great choice for cricket players who need to keep their physical bodily functions working great whilst having their minds firing on all cylinders.
REIZE is also exclusively sugar-free and includes a smart mix of ginseng and a variety of B vitamins that make it a good choice for cricketers.
Since REIZE is a powdered energy drink that comes in a sachet, it’s really convenient to carry around in your pocket or bag to have fresh whenever you need a boost.
On top of all that, it’s only about $1 per drink including shipping right to your doorstep.
Give REIZE a try today and I’m sure you’ll soon agree with me that it really is the best energy drink for a cricketer.