Indian cricketers are going through a urine test before every match on the present Caribbean tour, an exercise which is intended to ensure that they do not suffer cramps or other injuries because of dehydration.
The sample tests are intended to check the fluid level of cricketers as the hot and humid conditions of the West Indies are a major concern for the touring Indians.
Indian team physio John Gloster said the wear and tear of muscles because of lack of fluids is always a risk.
"When you lose fluid the muscles can snap and lead to minor injuries. That's what we are trying to protect the players against," Gloster said.
Every cricketer submits himself to a urine test through a device called refractometre. It is then evaluated if a cricketer is properly hydrated or if the electrolyte content in the sample is absurdly high.
"Every cricketer is different. Some tend to lose salt in their body more than the water and we have made an evaluation of each player separately," he said.
Somebody like Rahul Dravid, who has a history of suffering cramps because of lack of fluids used to take salt tablets previously. Now because of exact nature of test, he is being hydrated with specific products available in the market.
"We have talked to world leaders in this field and taken into account their recommendations. We have thus come up with exact nature of drinks to help cricketers," Gloster said.
Fast bowler Irfan Pathan finds the method a great help.
"Yes, the device tells us exactly the components we are lacking in and the one we need to look after."
Gloster said the awareness about their body is helping cricketers. Through the carefully built data of cricketers, he hoped the injuries on cricketers could be minimised.
"For a common man, sometimes a yellow nature of urine is enough to suggest that he probably needs to drink more litres of water. However, for a cricketer the pale colour could be because of vitamins. Hence, the test are extremely important," he said.
The exact nature of drinks is also available to cricketers during the drinks break or when he signals towards the dressing room for a change or bat or glove.
India, in the past has suffered on this count, especially during the previous visit of 2002 when they took a lead of 1-0 in Port-of-Spain Test but then were so much exhausted with the exertion that they lost two of the remaining three matches.
