The seasonal incidence and nature of injuries in schoolboy cricketers.

This study investigated the seasonal incidence and nature of injuries sustained by schoolboy cricketers. Questionnaire responses of 116 cricketers were obtained (59.2% of the sample). The overall seasonal incidence of injuries in all the players was 49.0%. The most common sites of injury were the back and trunk (33.3%), upper limbs (24.6%), and lower limbs (22.8%). The seasonal incidence of injuries in bowlers (47.4%) was found to be greater than in batsmen (29.8%) and fielders (22.8%), although not significantly so. The injuries occurred with equal frequency during matches (45.6%) and practices (47.4%), particularly during the early and later parts of the season; 29.8% of the injuries were recurrent injuries from the previous season. Of the total injuries sustained, 36.8% recurred during the same season. The pattern of injuries in the schoolboy cricketers was similar to that in the club and provincial cricketers. Although cricket injuries have not reached serious proportions, cognisance needs to be taken of these patterns so that the risks of injury can be reduced even further.