Cricket Injury Report - Executive Summary

Cricket Injury Report background information

15-Jan-2004

Background

The science of injury prevention in cricket is still in its infancy, with very few proven risk factors and demonstrations of injury reduction.
Injury surveillance in professional cricket in Australia has been undertaken continuously since the start of the 1998-99 season.
A previous study was attempted during the 1995-96 season at the national and state level, although insufficient data was obtained to complete a formal report.
With the establishment of a Cricket Australia of a research board, the injury survey will be a core component of cricket research in Australia.
It will not only continue to provide a framework to highlight the most important areas which need further study, but also, in the long-term, injury surveillance can follow trends in injury rates to test the interventions which are recommended.

The Researchers

Dr John Orchard (MBBS BA PHD FACSP FACSM FASMF, Conjoint Senior Lecturer University of New South Wales, Senior Fellow University of Melbourne). Dr Orchard also conducts the research for the AFL's corresponding Injury Report.
Dr Trefor James (MBBS FACSP FASMF), Cricket Australia Medical Director.

Methodology

Matches under consideration for the report from September 2002 to June 2003 were:
Test Matches (Australian team)
One Day Internationals (Australian team)
Pura Milk Cup (Sheffield Shield) matches (state teams)
ING One Day matches (state teams)
Matches not included in the survey included those between touring teams and regional teams. Despite these often being first-class fixtures, from the perspective of injury surveillance they are difficult to compare to other first-class fixtures, as there is a much greater threshold for teams to rest players with minor injuries.

Major findings

Injury prevalence (overall percentage of players unavailable through injury) averages 8.7%, although this figure is much higher for pace bowlers (16.1%) than any other category.
Compared to the four previous seasons, in season 2002-03 there was both lower match injury incidence and seasonal injury incidence.
Shoulder tendon injuries, knee injuries, thigh muscle strains and side strains all fell in incidence in 2002-03.
Bowling workload particularly appears to be a risk for hamstring strains, side strains and shoulder injuries, which are the injuries that have fallen in the last 12 months.
Bowling second in a one-day match or in the second innings of a Test match compared to the first is associated with a slightly increased injury risk.
An intervention recommended three seasons ago that was acted upon - replacing the boundary fence with a rope at all venues - has been successful to date at eliminating serious injuries from collisions with fences.

Comparison with other studies internationally

South Africa and England also have ongoing regular injury surveillance in place at the first-class level, New Zealand and the West Indies also are planning similar studies.
English methodology is similar to that of Australia, allowing for some direct comparisons.
Injury incidences in English county cricket are slightly lower than in Australian cricket, but injury prevalence (percentage of players missing) is higher (10.2% compared to 8.7%).
It is possible that playing conditions in Australia (eg: harder pitches, greater use of couch grass) lead to higher injury incidences than those in England and other international venues, although further research is required in this area before conclusions can be drawn.

Comparison with injury rates in the past

Uncovered data from 20 years ago suggests remarkable similarity of long-term injury prevalence between the fast-bowlers of today and those of 20 years ago.
Today's fast-bowlers almost certainly miss more first-class matches through injury than their counterparts of 20 years ago because there are more matches on the cricket calendar, but the seasonal incidence of injury is similar.

Future role of the injury survey

The injury survey will be a core component of ongoing cricket research both in Australia and internationally.
The focus on injury prevention in the medium term should remain on bowling injuries in fast-bowlers, particularly ongoing injury surveillance, an ongoing workload study and regular biomechanical screening of all first class fast bowlers in Australia.

Injury prevalence by player position since 1995-96