Women’s cricket is becoming more popular in countries all over the world. However, the evidence around injury risk factors is limited. Jolandi Jacobs discusses what is currently known about injuries sustained by female cricket players, the possible causes, and how to prevent these injuries in clinical practice.
The health benefits of regular physical activity are well known, and females who participate in team sports such as cricket experience positive physical and mental health effects(1). Although women have played cricket for over 200 years, the sport’s popularity among women of all ages and levels of play (from community to elite) has grown in recent years(2). In addition, females compete at a competitive level comparable to men, thanks to increased popularity and investments in women’s sports. The women’s game has evolved to where countries can compete in World Cups, and individual players have the opportunity to compete in international competitions such as the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), FairBreak International Tournament, and the new Women’s T20 Challenge, which will begin in 2023.
As the women’s game becomes more professional, similar to other sports, there will be more injuries among players(3). Previously, what practitioners knew about female cricket injuries was limited to findings from the men’s game. Injuries negatively impact sports participation, performance, and short- and long-term health and well-being. Therefore, injury prevention is essential for safe, long-term participation. However, injury epidemiology in women’s cricket is a novel and emerging research field.
The current injury rate for men’s cricket (from community to elite levels) seems to be lower than the women’s injury rates(3). However, research findings from team sports such as soccer, basketball, and ice hockey show that injury risks vary between sexes(4,5). The high prevalence of injuries in women’s cricket can be due to skill level, bowling speed, physical development, workloads, and fixture schedules(6).
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