The incidence, prevalence, nature, severity and mechanisms of injury in elite female cricketers: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Incidence, prevalence, nature, severity and mechanisms of injury in elite female cricketers over two seasons from March 2014 to March 2016, inclusive. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Injury data collected via Cricket Australia's Athlete Management System on all elite female players over two seasons were analysed. Profiles of the nature, anatomical location and mechanism of injuries were presented according to dominant player position. Injury incidence rates were calculated based on match playing hours. RESULTS: There were 600 medical-attention injuries; with 77.7% players reporting ≥1 injury. There were 79.5% acute injuries compared to gradual onset injuries. Of the all medical-attention injuries, 20.2% led to time-loss; 34.7% were match-time-loss injuries. Match injury incidence was 424.7 injuries/10,000h for all injuries and 79.3 injuries/10,000h for time-loss injuries. Of all the injuries, 31.8% were muscle injuries and 16.0% joint sprains. Wrist and hand (19.8%), lumbar spine (16.5%) and knee (14.9%) injuries were the most common time-loss injuries. Six players sustained lumber spine bone stress injury that resulted in the most days missed due to injury (average 110.5days/injury). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to focus on specific injuries in female cricket, including thigh, wrist/hand and knee injuries because of their frequency, and lumbar spine injuries because of their severity.