Cricket Season Research Articles

Comparison of Body Composition Changes and Non-Contact Musculoskeletal Injuries Among Professional First-Class Cricket Pace Bowlers

Background. Pace bowling is the most injury susceptible position in cricket due to repeated high intensity maneuvers. Previous studies on pace bowlers have considered anthropometric, biomechanical, and kinesiological factors for deciphering the injury etiology. Study purpose. The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the association of body composition parameters with the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries among pace bowlers in cricket. Materials and methods. A total of 44 healthy professional male pace bowlers (N=44; Age: 22.89±4.5 years; Height: 176±9 cm; Body weight: 76.34±8.09 kg; BMI: 21.4±3.1) were recruited from various cricket academies. They were assessed on anthropometrics, body composition, and aerobic fitness before the start of Indian cricket season (typically mid-September). Any non-contact sports injury accounting for significant time loss during the season was recorded followed by assessment of change in body composition status among injured and non-injured pace bowlers. Results. We found hamstring injury as the most prevalent injury (05/12). Lower back injury accounted for highest severity with time loss of 48 matches. Injured pace bowlers underwent higher training volume (hours/day; p=.009) prior to injury incidence, were significantly heavier, and had greater volume of total body water. All the pace bowlers gained significant amount of fat-free mass (FFM) from pre- to post-season. Conclusions. Higher training workload and higher body weight were associated with more injury risk among pace bowlers. Further research accommodating other predictive factors of body composition and psychomotor learning must be carried out to precisely predict injury risk among pace bowlers in cricket.

Concussion assessment and management — What do community-level cricket participants know?

ObjectivesTo explore Australian cricket participants' knowledge of concussion assessment and management, and awareness of current concussion guidelines. DesignCross-sectional survey. MethodsNovel and validated surveys were disseminated online, among over 16 year Australian cricket players and officials at the end of the 2018/19 cricket season. Data were collected on knowledge and awareness of concussion and analysed using descriptive statistics and crosstabulations. Further comparisons were made for the players between injured and non-injured, and helmet wearers and non-helmet wearers using Fisher's exact statistical test. ResultsBoth players (n = 224, 93 %) and officials (n = 36, 100 %) demonstrated strong knowledge of the importance of immediately evaluating suspected concussions. In comparison with players without helmets (n = 11), those using helmets (n = 135) considered replacing their helmets after a concussion to be vital to concussion assessment (p = 0.02). Overall, 80–97 % of players and 81–97 % of officials understood the importance of many factors regarding concussion management. When concussion management knowledge was compared by injury status, injured players (n = 17, 94 %) believed someone with a concussion should be hospitalised immediately, in contrast to non-injured players (n = 154, 69 %) (p = 0.04). Players (63 %) were less aware of concussion guidelines than officials (81 %). ConclusionsOverall, the knowledge of concussion assessment and management was satisfactory. However, there were discrepancies among players on some aspects of awareness of concussion guidelines. Increasing players' familiarity and experience in using the concussion guidelines is warranted. Targeted campaigns are needed to further improve concussion recognition and treatment at community-level cricket, so all participants play a role in making cricket a safe sport.

A case study of behaviour: Differences between a head coach and player-coach

Background Coach behaviour has received extensive attention in our literature base. This is particularly the case in recent times where systematic observations have highlighted common behaviours exhibited by coaches across various contexts. The current literature, however, lacks significant focus on the behaviours and practices of player-coaches. This is surprising given that these individuals may represent a significant proportion of the non-professional sporting industry. Purpose The purpose of this case study was to investigate the differences in behaviours used by a player-coach and head coach within the sport of cricket and provide a position statement as to how and why further research in this area could be conducted. Method One head coach (age = 26 y; Level 1 Cricket Australia coaching accreditation) and one player-coach (age = 30 y; Level 2 Cricket Australia coaching accreditation) were filmed during their typical practice sessions at various points of the cricket season. The behaviours of each coach were coded using a modified, cricket-specific version of the Coach Analysis and Intervention System. 1 Findings Across 12 practice sessions (head coach n = 4, number of minutes recorded = 1004; player-coach n = 8, number of minutes recorded = 567), observation (on task) and questioning (convergent) were the two most frequent behaviours, irrespective of the coach's role. The player-coach tended to use more instruction when compared to the head-coach, in addition to asking fewer (divergent) questions. Significantly more of the session was spent observing (on task) by the head coach than the player-coach. Specific to this study, the player-coach spent significantly more time involved in training as a player than the head coach. Based on the current findings, it appears that the role of the player-coach is likely to shape practice and behaviour. Indeed, we deploy social theory to provide tentative explanations for these key differences. Conclusion Overall, this paper is among the first to explore the role and practices of the player-coach. Given that player-coaches likely make up a significant proportion of the non-professional sporting industry, much greater research and attention is needed on this area moving forward. In particular, we feel that multiple or mixed-method studies that engage with social theory would be well positioned to develop generative insights into a) intentions behind the deployment of player-coach behaviour, b) actual behaviours engaged, and c) athlete (and others’) perceptions of such practice. Doing so would provide significant opportunities to develop bespoke education for this highly specialised – yet under examined – role.

The Physical Qualities of Elite Australian Pace Bowlers: Typical Characteristics and Longitudinal Changes in Men and Women.

To determine whether the most important physical qualities in elite Australian male and female cricket pace bowlers change with age and phase of the cricket season. An existing longitudinal database (7 cricket seasons) of selected and routinely collected physical testing data from 103 male and 58 female elite Australian pace bowlers age 18-30years was retrospectively analyzed. Male and female physical testing data from the isometric midthigh pull, 1-repetition-maximum bench pull, run-of-3, and countermovement jump (male only) were analyzed separately by performing linear mixed models on each of the physical qualities. Type III analysis-of-variance tests were conducted to determine if a significant effect existed within the fixed effects of age, season phase, and the age × season phase interaction. Appropriate pairwise comparisons were conducted. Absolute and relative measures of force in the isometric midthigh pull and strength in the 1-repetition-maximum bench pull tests were significantly greater in older male and female pace bowlers. Older male pace bowlers demonstrated significantly faster absolute and relative best run-of-3 times. Most physical qualities across both male and female pace bowlers demonstrated an improvement with age. This is likely due to a training effect and would be anticipated to lead to a gradual enhancement of ball release speed, in accordance with previous research. Future research should look to investigate the relationship between the development of physical qualities and ball release speed among elite male and female pace bowlers.

Design and construction of the Compton and Edrich stands, Lord’s Cricket Ground redevelopment

This paper describes the key design and construction challenges of the Compton and Edrich stands – two striking additions to Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. The new stands increase the capacity of the ground and bring new sponsor boxes and other modern facilities. The design includes steel moment frames and a steel-framed canopy, with a secondary timber beam network, partially covering the stands. The varying geometry of the stands required complex steelwork fabrication. Construction challenges included the programme constraints of working around the cricket seasons, and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic around six months after work began on site.

Hamstring injuries in England and Wales elite men's domestic cricket from 2010 to 2019

ObjectivesDescribe hamstring injury incidence across competition formats, activity at time of injury, and time of season, facilitating the identification of injury risk factors in elite men's senior First-Class County Cricket. DesignProspective cohort. MethodsHamstring time loss injury incidence (between format, activity, and time of season) calculated for elite men's senior First-Class County Cricket seasons 2010 to 2019. ResultsThe diagnosis with the highest seasonal incidence was ‘Biceps femoris strain grade 1–2’ (2.5 injuries/100 players). Hamstring injury incidence was highest in One-Day cricket (mean 27.2 injuries/1000 team days). Running between wickets when batting was the activity associated with the highest incidence in the shorter competition formats (8.4 and 4.8 injuries/1000 team days for One-Day and T20, respectively). Bowling delivery stride or follow through was the activity with the highest incidence for longer multi-day Test format (mean 2.3 injuries/1000 team days), although similar incidence was observed across all formats for this activity. Most injuries were sustained at the start of the season (April; 22.7 injuries/1000 team days), with significantly fewer injuries at end of the season (September; 4.1 injuries/1000 team days). ConclusionsSimilar bowling injury incidence across formats suggests hamstring injury risk is associated more with the activity itself, whereas injury risk when batting was susceptible to changes in match intensity. The notably higher (albeit non-significant) incidence in April may allude to a lack of preparedness to meet the physical demands of the start of the season. The findings have practical relevance for practitioners, identifying potential opportunities for preventative strategies.

The Impact of COVID-19 Related Disruption on Injury Rates in Elite Men's Domestic Cricket.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 enforced prolonged training disruption and shortened competitive season, on in-season injury and illness rates. Injury incidence and percent proportion was calculated for the 2020 elite men's senior domestic cricket season and compared to a historical average from five previous regular seasons (2015 to 2019 inclusive). The injury profile for the shortened 2020 season was generally equivalent to what would be expected in a regular season, except for a significant increase in medical illness as a proportion of time loss (17% compared to historic average of 6%) and in-season days lost (9% compared to historic average of 3%) due to COVID-19 related instances (most notably precautionary isolation due to contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case). There was a significant increase in the proportion of in-season days lost to thigh injuries (24% compared to 9%) and a significant decrease in the proportion of days lost to hand (4% compared to 12%) and lumbar spine (7% compared to 21%) injuries. These findings enhance understanding of the impact prolonged period of training disruption and shortened season can have on cricket injuries and the challenges faced by practitioners under such circumstances.

Association of intrinsic factors with non-contact low back pain among fast bowlers aged between 15-19 years in division 1 boys’ schools in Colombo

Background: Cricket fast bowlers are identified as the players with a higher risk of injury due to their susceptibility to develop low back pain (LBP). Aims and Objective: This study aims to investigate how intrinsic factors associate with LBP among fast bowlers aged between 15-19 years in Colombo division 1 boys’ schools in Sri Lanka. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with one hundred and two (102) fast bowlers who were prospectively monitored over the competition period of 2019 cricket season and the demographic data, severity of LBP, general characteristics and intrinsic factors related data were recorded. Results: Thirty-seven (43.5%) of the subjects were presented with LBP. Reduction of quadriceps strength of dominant side, hamstring strength of non-dominant side and increased ankle dorsiflexion of non-dominant side were found to be significantly associated with non-contact LBP (P<0.05). There were significant differences for the quadriceps strength of dominant side and hamstring strength and ankle dorsiflexion of non-dominant side between the fast bowlers with and without LBP. Conclusion: The results concluded that reduced quadriceps muscle strength of dominant side, reduced hamstring muscle strength and higher ankle dorsiflexion of non-dominant side have an important role in predisposing a fast bowler to have an increase in non-contact LBP.

Hand trauma in English domestic professional county cricket.

Hand trauma is a frequent and disabling injury in cricket. However, there is limited published data on its impact on the sport at the elite level. This study investigated the incidence and mechanism of hand injuries in professional cricket over a decade and the impact of these injuries upon player availability. A retrospective hand injury review at Northampton County Cricket Club (NCCC) over 10 years (2009-2018) was performed. All hand injuries had been contemporaneously documented. They were analysed for cause of injury, treatment, and time away from competitive play. There were 45 hand injuries in total. Eleven percent needed surgical intervention. These hand injuries required a total recovery time of 1561 days, and in-season 1416 days were lost from competitive play. The injuries requiring surgery were unavailable for 229 total days during the season. A player had an annual 18% risk of sustaining a hand injury requiring time away from the sport and resulting in a 4% reduction in playing resources during a season. Hand injuries have major implications for player selection during the cricket season and place a potential burden upon the entire squad and the team's success.

A Higher Playing Standard, Bowling, and Intermittent Helmet Use Are Related to a Greater Odds of Injury or Concussion in Cricket.

To determine if playing position, a higher playing standard, and nonhelmet use are related to an increased odds of joint-specific injury and concussion in cricket. Cross-sectional cohort. Twenty-eight thousand one hundred fifty-two current or former recreational and high-performance cricketers registered on a national database were invited to participate in the Cricket Health and Wellbeing Study. Eligibility requirements were aged ≥18 years and played ≥1 cricket season. Main playing position (bowler/batter/all-rounder), playing standard (high-performance/recreational), and helmet use (always/most of the time/occasionally/never). Cross-sectional questionnaire data included cricket-related injury (hip/groin, knee, ankle, shoulder, hand, back) resulting in ≥4 weeks of reduced exercise and self-reported concussion history. Crude and adjusted (adjusted for seasons played) odds ratios and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression. Of 2294 participants (59% current cricketers; 97% male; age 52 ± 15 years; played 29 ± 15 seasons; 62% recreational cricketers), 47% reported cricket-related injury and 10% reported concussion. Bowlers had greater odds of hip/groin [odds ratio (95% CI), 1.9 (1.0-3.3)], knee [2.0 (1.4-2.8)], shoulder [2.9 (1.8-4.5)], and back [2.8 (1.7-4.4)] injury compared with batters. High-performance cricketers had greater odds of injury and concussion than recreational cricketers. Wearing a helmet most of the time [2.0 (1.4-3.0)] or occasionally [1.8 (1.3-2.6)] was related to higher odds of self-reported concussion compared with never wearing a helmet. Concussion rates were similar in cricketers who always and never wore a helmet. A higher playing standard and bowling (compared with batting) were associated with greater odds of injury. Wearing a helmet occasionally or most of the time was associated with higher odds of self-reported concussion compared with never wearing a helmet.

Stonewall Jackson, Beresford Hope, and the Meaning of the American Civil War in Britain by Michael J. Turner

Reviewed by: Stonewall Jackson, Beresford Hope, and the Meaning of the American Civil War in Britain by Michael J. Turner Robert Cook Stonewall Jackson, Beresford Hope, and the Meaning of the American Civil War in Britain. By Michael J. Turner. (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2020. Pp. xii, 334. $50.00, ISBN 978-0-8071-7108-0.) Not everyone in mid-Victorian Britain supported the breakaway Confederacy. Progressive academics like Francis W. Newman and ex-Radicals such as John Bright sided with the North, as did many unheralded middle- and working-class people who came to associate the imperiled Union with the ongoing struggle for domestic suffrage reform. However, most well-to-do Conservatives (and some prominent Liberals) articulated strong support for the southern cause. Among them was Alexander James Beresford Hope, a High Anglican, quondam Tory member of Parliament and newspaper owner who [End Page 728] championed the South in the pages of his Saturday Review and worked actively alongside Confederate agents in Britain to promote southern independence. As Michael J. Turner explains in this well-researched study, Hope also played a leading role in an ultimately successful project to build a statue of Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, which was unveiled in Richmond, Virginia, in 1875. Basing his findings on an impressive number of British newspapers and Hope’s published writings, Turner broadly confirms the Confederacy’s appeal to Englishmen committed to social hierarchy, the protection of property rights, and white supremacy and opposed to the putatively leveling democracy of the American North. Hope insisted that “our brethren of the South” were fighting for the quintessentially Anglo-Saxon values of liberty and self-determination and, in the process, were “trying to raise up a new English nation” (pp. 55, 56). Aware that slavery was hardly the Confederacy’s main selling point in Britain, he depicted the southern variant as benign and derided the Emancipation Proclamation as unenforceable. His considerable efforts to promote the southern cause at home were thwarted by the Palmerston government’s decision in late 1862 to put the national interest above the ruling class’s affective attachment to the Confederacy and by the decisive Union military successes in the second half of the Civil War. Turner’s analysis of the Richmond statue is rich in detail. He convincingly roots the statue’s genesis in the fact that Stonewall Jackson attained celebrity status in Britain during the war. For many Britons, Jackson exemplified the manly courage and devotion to high principle that they associated with the Confederacy. Ordinary folk as well as elite Tories like Hope thrilled to press reports of how the southern hero repeatedly outwitted hapless Yankee commanders in the Shenandoah Valley, and they admired his religious faith, self-discipline, and apparent affection for England and Scotland after his transatlantic trip in 1856. Manifestations of Jackson’s popularity included his name affixed to a race-horse, a boat at the Glasgow royal regatta, and a factory engine in Blackburn. E. M. Grace, brother of the more famous W. G. Grace, was applauded as “the Stonewall Jackson of the cricket field” after enjoying an exemplary cricket season in 1862 (p. 165). Jackson’s death did nothing to stem many Britons’ admiration for the general. Hope was the prime mover in a concerted campaign to raise money for a monument that would not only express its funders’ admiration for the general and his cause but also legitimate their support for the Confederacy. A brief Republican interregnum in postwar Virginia delayed matters, but defeated ex-Confederates quickly restored their political power in the state. They were predictably eager to accept a tangible testimony of well-to-do Englishmen’s admiration for one of the wartime South’s leading men. Although the author’s judgments are generally sound, there is good reason to question his assertion that into the twentieth century Stonewall Jackson’s “name and fame had abiding relevance in Britain” (p. 261). Few Britons today have any knowledge of either Jackson or the American Civil War. More abiding by far is the affinity of leading English Tories—illustrated by their fawning embrace of Donald J. Trump—for American opponents of democracy and racial equality. [End Page...

The cricketer's shoulder and injury: Asymmetries in range of movement and muscle length.

BackgroundShoulder injuries in cricket are often undetected and untreated.ObjectivesTo determine whether there are associations between shoulder internal and external rotation range of movement (ROM), throwing arc (TA) ROM, glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD), external rotation gain (ERG), pectoralis minor muscle length and the incidence of shoulder injury during the first 3 months of a cricket season amongst provincial and club cricketers.MethodMale, actively participating, provincial and club cricketers were included in this prospective longitudinal cohort study. The independent variables included shoulder pain, which did not limit participation in cricket training and matches; shoulder external and internal rotation (ROM, TA ROM, GIRD and ERG) and pectoralis minor muscle length. Time-loss dominant shoulder injury was recorded for 3 months.ResultsNine of the 32 participants sustained dominant shoulder injuries. Initial non-time-loss shoulder pain during baseline testing was associated with time-loss in-season shoulder injury (p = 0.007). Statistically significant side-to-side differences were found for all of the independent variables (internal rotation ROM, TA ROM and pectoralis minor muscle length distance), with the exception of external rotation ROM, amongst the uninjured players.ConclusionNon-time-loss-defined shoulder pain in actively participating cricketers seems to be a precursor to time-loss shoulder injury. Asymmetries in ROM and pectoralis minor muscle length in uninjured cricketers may have a protective role to play in the case of shoulder injury.Clinical implicationsThe presence of shoulder pain and asymmetries in ROM should be investigated during the pre-season screening procedures, and early intervention should be implemented where appropriate.

Playing sport injured is associated with osteoarthritis, joint pain and worse health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundSports participants are faced with the decision to continue or cease play when injured. The implications of playing sport while injured on joint health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between having played sport while injured and HRQoL, osteoarthritis, and persistent joint pain; and compare findings in elite and recreational cricketers.MethodsThe Cricket Health and Wellbeing Study cohort was used for this study. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥ 18 years, played ≥1 cricket season. Questionnaire data collected included a history of playing sport injured, SF-8 (physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component scores), physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis, and persistent joint pain (most days of the last month). Multivariable linear regressions and logistic regressions were performed. Continuous covariates were handled using fractional polynomials. Models were adjusted for age, sex, cricket-seasons played, playing status, joint injury, and orthopaedic surgery. All participants (n = 2233) were included in HRQoL analyses, only participants aged ≥30 years (n = 2071) were included in osteoarthritis/pain analyses.ResultsOf the 2233 current and former cricketers (mean age: 51.7 SD 14.7, played 30 IQR 24 cricket seasons, 60% were current cricketers, 62% played recreationally; median PCS: 51.4 IQR 9.0; MCS: 54.3 IQR 8.6) 1719 (77%) had played sport while injured. People who had played sport injured reported worse adjusted PCS (Effect(95% CI): − 1.78(− 2.62, − 0.93) and MCS (− 1.40(− 2.25, − 0.54), had greater odds of osteoarthritis (adjusted OR(95% CI): 1.86(1.39, 2.51) and persistent joint pain (2.34(1.85, 2.96)), compared to people who had not played sport injured. Similar relationships were observed regarding PCS, osteoarthritis and pain in elite and recreational subgroups. Playing injured was only related to worse MCS scores for elite cricketers (− 2.07(− 3.52, − 0.63)); no relationship was observed in recreational cricketers (− 0.70(− 1.79, 0.39)).ConclusionCricketers that had played sport injured had impaired HRQoL, increased odds of osteoarthritis and persistent joint pain, compared to those who had not played sport injured. Playing sport injured was only related to impaired mental-components of HRQoL in elite cricketers. The long-term impact of playing while injured on musculoskeletal health, should be considered when advising athletes on their ability to compete following injury.

Joint pain and osteoarthritis in former recreational and elite cricketers

BackgroundSport participants are at increased risk of joint pain and osteoarthritis. A better understanding of factors associated with joint pain and osteoarthritis in this population could inform the development of strategies to optimise their long-term joint health. The purpose of the study was to describe the prevalence of joint pain and osteoarthritis in former cricketers, and determine whether playing position, playing standard (i.e. elite or recreational standard) and length-of-play are associated with region-specific joint pain.MethodsThe data were from the Cricket Health and Wellbeing Study (CHWS), a cohort of 2294 current and former cricketers (played ≥1 season) in England and Wales. For this study, eligible individuals had to be aged ≥30 years and be a former cricket participant. Joint pain was defined as region-specific (hip/knee/ankle/shoulder/hand/back) pain on most days of the last month. Osteoarthritis was defined as joint-specific doctor-diagnosed osteoarthritis. Logistic regression was used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted (for history of joint injury resulting in > 4 weeks of reduced activity +/− age) odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).Results846 individuals from the CHWS were former cricketers aged ≥30 years (3% female, aged median 62(IQR 54–69) years, 62% played cricket recreationally, median 33(IQR 21–41) cricket seasons). One-in-two (48%) reported joint pain and 38% had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Joint pain and OA were most common in the knee (23% pain, 22% osteoarthritis), followed by the back (14% pain, 10% osteoarthritis) and hand (12% pain, 6% osteoarthritis). After adjusting for injury, bowlers had greater odds of shoulder pain (OR (95% CI) 3.1(1.3, 7.4)) and back pain (3.6(1.8, 7.4)), and all-rounders had greater odds of knee (1.7(1.0, 2.7)) and back pain (2.1(1.0, 4.2)), compared to batters. Former elite cricketers had greater odds of hand pain (1.6(1.0, 2.5)) than former recreational cricketers. Playing standard was not related to pain at other sites, and length-of-play was not associated with joint pain in former cricketers.ConclusionsEvery second former cricketer experienced joint pain on most days of the last month, and more than one in three had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Compared with batters, bowlers had higher odds of shoulder and back pain and all-rounders had higher odds of back and knee pain. Elite cricket participation was only related to higher odds of hand pain compared with recreational cricket participation.

MRI Bone Marrow Edema Signal Intensity: A Reliable and Valid Measure of Lumbar Bone Stress Injury in Elite Junior Fast Bowlers.

Comparative reliability and prospective validity. First, to evaluate the reliability of four methods of assessing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) bone marrow edema (BMO) of the posterior vertebral arch of the lumbar vertebrae of elite junior fast bowlers. Second, to evaluate the validity of the most reliable method for the early detection of lumbar bone stress injury. MRI has demonstrated utility in identifying BMO in lumbar vertebrae. Methods to grade the severity of BMO may provide valuable insight to inform clinical management, particularly in elite athletes where detection of early-stage bone stress may prevent progression to more severe and costly bone stress injury. Sixty-five male elite junior fast bowlers had repeat MRI scans during a cricket season. A subset of 19 bowlers' images were reassessed by experienced musculoskeletal radiologists to determine intra- and inter-rater reliability. All images were aligned with independent medical records of lower back symptoms and diagnosed bone stress injuries to establish the relationship of BMO and lumbar bone stress injury. Clinical detection of abnormal BMO, whether the pars region of the vertebra was considered in its entirety or subdivided into regions, had fair-to-moderate inter-rater reliability, and fair-to-almost perfect intra-rater reliability. Measurement of BMO signal intensity using an imaging software tool had excellent intra-rater and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.848, 0.837). BMO signal intensity was positively associated with subsequent LBSI (P < 0.001), and differentiated between asymptomatic and symptomatic bowlers (P < 0.001). Measurement of BMO signal intensity using an imaging software tool proved a reliable and valid measure of the severity of lumbar bone stress injury in elite junior fast bowlers. 2.

External and internal workload demands of women’s twenty 20 cricket competition

ObjectiveTo quantify the external and internal workloads of women’s Twenty–Twenty (T20) cricket and compare match demands between International, National and Youth level cricket players. DesignA retrospective analysis of data collected form T20 matches played by Australian teams (International level, n = 3; National level, n = 12; Youth level, n = 4) during the 2016–17 Australian cricket season. MethodThirty-four women’s T20 cricket players playing for the Australian (International; n = 10), South Australian (National; n = 11) and South Australian Youth (Youth; n = 13) teams participated in the study. Global Positioning System devices captured player movements during matches including distance (metres [m]), PlayerLoad (arbitrary units [AU]), and distance covered at different velocities. A smartphone app was used to capture the sessional rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) for each match Multilevel mixed-effects linear regression was performed for each outcome to evaluate the differences between player level (International, National and Youth). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. ResultsInternational players covered the most total distance per match (International players 5250 ± 1664 m, National players 4113 ± 885 m, Youth players 3436 ± 1026 m, p < 0.003 for main effect) and covered more distance at >21 km/h (i.e. high speed running; International players 73 ± 62 m, National players 31 ± 28 m, Youth players 20 ± 4 m, p < 0.003). PlayerLoad was greatest in International players (426 ± 143 AU) compared to National players (391 ± 84 AU) and Youth players (290 ± 4 0 AU) (p < 0.001). sRPE was lower for International players (352 ± 77 AU) and National players (398 ± 58 AU) compared with Youth players (499 ± 171 AU) (p < 0.005). ConclusionsThe external workload of women’s T20 cricket matches became greater as the level of competition increased from Youth to National to International, but Youth players perceive the match demands as greater.

Moderating factors influence the relative age effect in Australian cricket.

BackgroundThe relative age effect is a commonly occurring phenomenon whereby there is a tendency for relatively older players to be over-represented during high level competitions. This effect is often seen to diminish as player’s age, however, there has been far less investigation on other potential moderating factors.MethodThis study investigated the impact of the relative age effect, and potential moderating factors, within the talent selection process of Australian cricket. Relative age distribution of 2,415 male and female junior and senior state level cricket players, who played in the Junior National Championships or State competition (senior level) between 2011 and 2015, were analysed.ResultsPlayers born in the first quartile of the cricket season were significantly over-represented in both male Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and female Under-15 and Under-18 levels. However, there was no significant difference at the senior state level for either male or female cricketers. Further investigation of the relative age effect in the junior talent pathway revealed that male all-rounders, batters and pace bowlers, and female all-rounders and batters, born in first quartile were over-represented. Right-handed batters and bowlers were also influenced by the relative age effect at all Junior National levels, while left-handed batters and bowlers were only influenced at the Under-15 and Under-17 levels. These results highlight the impact relative age has on junior cricket talent pathways, including sex, age, handedness and primary skills. Only state level, and left-handedness at the Under-19 level, were unaffected by relative age.DiscussionThe findings of this study highlight the influence of relative age effects for both male and female junior cricket players. Interestingly, there may be an advantage to being left-handed that is more prevalent at the older (male Under-19; female Under-18) age levels.

Match injuries in Sri Lankan junior cricket: A prospective, longitudinal study

ObjectivesUnderstanding 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. DesignLongitudinal follow-up study with prospective in-season data collection. MethodsA 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. ResultsFrom 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. ConclusionsAlmost 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.

MRI bone marrow oedema precedes lumbar bone stress injury diagnosis in junior elite cricket fast bowlers

ObjectivesLumbar bone stress injury (‘bone stress injury’) is common in junior fast bowlers. The repetitive loading of cricket fast bowling may cause bone marrow oedema (BMO), detectable on MRI, before...

Musculoskeletal predictors of non-contact injury in cricketers – Few and far between? A longitudinal cohort study

ObjectiveTo determine the musculoskeletal risk factors for injury amongst professional, domestic cricket players. DesignLongitudinal cohort study. SettingMedical suites associated with the respective cricket franchises. ParticipantsProfessional, domestic cricket players (n = 97). Main outcome measuresA pre-participatory musculoskeletal screening battery consisting of 21 tests including flexibility, neural tension, stability, strength, balance and pain provocation tests at the start of the cricket season. Non-contact, low back and lower limb (lower quarter) injuries were monitored throughout the season. Binary logistic regression and receiver operating curves were used to determine predictive value of each test. ResultsDuring the course of the cricket season, 38 of the 97 (39.2%) cricketers sustained a non-contact low back and/or lower limb injury. Increased hip internal rotation ROM on the dominant side (OR = 1.065; p = 0.036), no symptoms on active slump dominant side (OR = 0.289; p = 0.014), decreased combined elevation (OR = 0.934; p = 0.029), increased shoulder internal rotation ROM on the non-dominant side (OR = 1.022; p = 0.035) and increased GIRD (glenohumeral internal rotation deficit) (OR = 1.026; p = 0.042) predicted in-season non-contact lower quarter injuries. Although statistically significant, none of these variables were strong predictors of injury as shown by the logistic regression models (accuracy in classification rate: 59.8–62.9%), the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC≤0.652) and the cut-off scores which revealed high sensitivity (68.4–86.8%), but low specificity (25.4–54.2%). ConclusionAlthough only a few of the many tests included in the battery showed predictive validity, the value of screening procedures should not be underestimated due to other benefits such as building patient rapport, identification of pre-existing injuries, establishing clinical and functional baselines upon which individualised management programmes can be based.