Citation

Gamage PJ, Fortington LV, Kountouris A, Finch CF. J. Sci. Med. Sport 2019; 22(6): 647-652.

Affiliation

School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Australia; DVCRI Portfolio, Federation University Australia, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Sports Medicine Australia, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsams.2018.11.025

PMID

30616997

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Understanding the nature of injuries in cricket is key to mitigate injury risks and prioritise preventive measures. This study aimed to identify the incidence and nature of match injuries among Sri Lankan junior cricketers.

DESIGN: Longitudinal follow-up study with prospective in-season data collection.

METHODS: A national survey of schoolboy, division-1 cricket teams in under-15 and under-17 age groups. Using a paper-based questionnaire, distributed to school-teams at the start of the 2016 cricket season, respondents recorded any injuries, including the site, type and mechanism. Match injury incidence rates (match-IIR) (injuries/100 match-player-days) were calculated overall, by position and for match time loss (MTL) and non-MTL injuries.

RESULTS: From 59 school-teams, 573 players responded, with 404 players reporting 744 injuries in 648 matches. The match-IIR was 28.0 injuries/100 match-player-days (95% CI=26.0-30.2). The highest match-IIR was reported among fielders (46.0% of all injuries sustained; match-IIR=12.9) compared with batters (25.4%; match-IIR=7.1) and bowlers (20.3%; match-IIR=5.7). Abrasions and bruises to the knee or elbow were the most common injuries among fielders, with the majority being non-MTL injuries.

CONCLUSIONS: Almost half (46.0%) of all injuries were to fielders, and more research into their severity and mechanisms is needed to identify the need for, and design of, preventive measures. Batters sustained a relatively large number of facial-organ injuries from being struck by the ball, presenting a need to evaluate the use and appropriateness of helmets by Sri Lankan junior cricketers. Similar to other junior cricket studies, the most common injuries among bowlers were strains and sprains, mainly affecting the lower limbs and lower back.

Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescents; Athletic injuries; Epidemiology; Sports; Sports medicine