The relationship between fast bowling workload and injury in first-class cricketers: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Cricket Performance Analysis

Background:

• Fast bowlers in first-class cricket experience high injury rates.
• Understanding safe bowling workload thresholds is crucial for injury prevention in cricket.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between bowling workload and injury incidence in first-class fast bowlers.
• To identify a potential safe fast bowling workload threshold to mitigate injury risk.

Main Methods:

• Observed 12 male fast bowlers over a cricket season, quantifying workload through fixture scorecards and training surveillance.
• Collected injury data from Cricket Australia's Injury Surveillance System.
• Analyzed bowling deliveries per session and weekly/monthly bowling frequency in relation to injury occurrence.

Main Results:

• Seven out of twelve bowlers sustained nine injuries during the season.
• Increased deliveries per session (mean=77) were observed 8-21 days prior to injury compared to the rest of the season (mean=60).
• Bowlers exceeding a weekly workload of 203 deliveries (Risk Ratio=6.0) or bowling in 5+ sessions/week (Risk Ratio=4.5) faced significantly higher injury risk.

Conclusions:

• A consistent relationship exists between high bowling workload and increased injury risk in fast bowlers.
• Sessional, weekly, and monthly bowling workloads exceeding the group mean, particularly when sustained, elevate injury risk substantially.
• Identifying and adhering to workload thresholds is vital for preventing injuries in cricket fast bowlers.