Injury profiles in elite women’s T20 cricket

• Published in: Journal of science and medicine in sport Vol. 22; no. 7; pp. 775 - 779
• Main Authors: Warren, A., Dale, S., McCaig, S., Ranson, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2019; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Cricket; Epidemiology; Injury prevention; Sports injuries; Sports medicine; Surveillance; Tournaments & championships; United Kingdom > UK; Surveillance; Epidemiology; Sports medicine
• ISSN: 1440-2440; 1878-1861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2019.01.018

To Describe the injury incidence and prevalence during two years of a professional women’s T20 cricket tournament.
Prospective cohort study.
Injuries were recorded prospectively for 68 matches during a professional women’s T20 tournament in 2016 and 2017. There were six teams of 15 players. Participants were female, aged between 16–38 years (mean 23.4±4.8). Time-loss and non time-loss incidence and prevalence were calculated for match days, region, skill group, mode and activity at time of injury.
The greatest incidence occurred in the shoulder (1.8 injuries per 100 match days), lower back (1.7 injuries per 100 match days) and knee (1.7 injuries per 100 match days). The highest time-loss prevalence occurred in hand (1.7%), head/face (0.8%) and thigh (0.6%). All head injuries were concussion. Catching related injuries caused the most time-loss (2.5% prevalence) and throwing related shoulder injury had the highest incidence (2.3 injuries per 100 match days). Gradual onset injuries had the highest overall incidence (7.9 injuries per 100 match days).
In elite female T20 cricket, time-loss injuries, particularly impact/traumatic injuries are most likely to occur during fielding, suggesting pitch side support and trauma training is a priority. The high incidence of gradual onset injuries, particularly throwing related shoulder pain, indicates that managing workload and ensuring physical preparedness is vital.