The impact of all-rounders and team injury status on match and series success in international cricket.

ABSTRACT

The association between injury status of the team and all-rounders on match outcome were investigated in international cricketers. Time and non-time loss injuries were recorded over a 32-month period in 47 senior international cricketers. Team injury status was expressed on a 1-4 scale from "fully available" to "unavailable". Generalised linear model (GLM) was employed to examine whether team injury status and the injury status of all-rounders (AR) and single skill (SS) players was associated with the outcome of the match or series. A significant association between team injury status and match and series outcome was found. Team mean injury status was 12.0% lower (P < 0.001; ES = 1.06) during successful series wins and 7.8% lower (P < 0.001; ES = 0.66) during successful match outcomes. Skill group injury status was also significantly associated with match (P = 0.001) and series (P = 0.001) outcomes with AR exhibiting greater injury status than SS cricketers (P < 0.001, ES = 0.44). All injuries, irrespective of time lost, influence the outcome of international cricket series' and matches with injuries to AR having a higher impact on the results. The findings will impact on the injury prevention strategies in elite cricket.