Does maximising ball speed in cricket fast bowling necessitate higher ground reaction forces?

This study aimed to investigate whether high peak ground reaction forces and high average loading rates are necessary to bowl fast. Kinematic and kinetic bowling data were collected for 20 elite male fast bowlers. A moderate non-significant correlation was found between ball speed and peak vertical ground reaction force with faster bowlers tending to have lower peak vertical ground reaction force (r = -0.364, P = 0.114). Faster ball speeds were correlated with both lower average vertical and lower average horizontal loading rates (r = -0.452, P = 0.046 and r = -0.484, P = 0.031, respectively). A larger horizontal (braking) impulse was associated with a faster ball speed (r = 0.574, P = 0.008) and a larger plant angle of the front leg (measured from the vertical) at front foot contact was associated with a larger horizontal impulse (r = 0.706, P = 0.001). These findings suggest that there does not necessarily need to be a trade-off between maximum ball release speed and the forces exerted on fast bowlers (peak ground reaction forces and average loading rates). Furthermore, it appears that one of the key determinants of ball speed is the horizontal impulse generated at the ground over the period from front foot contact until ball release.

Recovery from COVID-19 in athletes and impact on sporting participation.

Insight regarding the impact of COVID-19 on return to sporting participation is a key issue for many athletes. We report time-loss following respiratory tract infection (RTI), over the pandemic, in UK athletes preparing for international competition. During the study, 566 athletes developed COVID-19 and 217 developed other causes of RTI. Time-loss from COVID-19 reduced from a median (interquartile range) of 27 days (13- 40) in April-June 2020 to 10 days (8-13) from October-December 2022 (P<0.001). There was no change in time-loss following RTi (P=0.13). The time-loss period following COVID-19 has shortened over the pandemic. Further work is needed to explore why some athletes still have prolonged sporting time-loss.

Injury profiles in elite women's T20 cricket.

OBJECTIVES: To Describe the injury incidence and prevalence during two years of a professional women's T20 cricket tournament. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in asymptomatic professional fast bowlers in cricket.

Low back injuries account for the greatest loss of playing time for professional fast bowlers in cricket. Previous radiological studies have shown a high prevalence of degeneration of the lumbar discs and stress injuries of the pars interarticularis in elite junior fast bowlers. We have examined MRI appearance of the lumbar spines of 36 asymptomatic professional fast bowlers and 17 active control subjects. The fast bowlers had a relatively high prevalence of multi-level degeneration of the lumbar discs and a unique pattern of stress lesions of the pars interarticularis on the non-dominant side. The systems which have been used to classify the MR appearance of the lumbar discs and pars were found to be reliable. However, the relationship between the radiological findings, pain and dysfunction remains unclear.

Injuries to the lower back in elite fast bowlers: acute stress changes on MRI predict stress fracture.

In our study, the aims were to describe the changes in the appearance of the lumbar spine on MRI in elite fast bowlers during a follow-up period of one year, and to determine whether these could be used to predict the presence of a stress fracture of the posterior elements. We recruited 28 elite fast bowlers with a mean age of 19 years (16 to 24) who were training and playing competitively at the start of the study. They underwent baseline MRI (season 1) and further scanning (season 2) after one year to assess the appearance of the lumbar intervertebral discs and posterior bony elements. The incidence of low back pain and the amount of playing and training time lost were also recorded. In total, 15 of the 28 participants (53.6%) showed signs of acute bone stress on either the season 1 or season 2 MR scans and there was a strong correlation between these findings and the later development of a stress fracture (p < 0.001). The prevalence of intervertebral disc degeneration was relatively low. There was no relationship between disc degeneration on the season 1 MR scans and subsequent stress fracture. Regular lumbar MR scans of asymptomatic elite fast bowlers may be of value in detecting early changes of bone stress and may allow prompt intervention aimed at preventing a stress fracture and avoiding prolonged absence from cricket.