Prasanna J Gamage

Faculty of Health, School of Health Sciences and Psychology, Australian Collaboration for Research into Injury in Sports and its Prevention (ACRISP)

Perceived injury risk among junior cricketers: a cross sectional survey

Understanding injury risk perceptions will enable the development of appropriate strategies to address at-risk activities and prevent injuries. This study investigates how Sri Lankan junior cricketers (n=365, aged 11-14 years, boys) perceive injury risks associated with playing cricket. The study used a Sri Lankan modification of an Australian junior cricket injury risk perception survey that considered playing cricket versus other sports, different cricket playing positions and roles, and different ground conditions. The risk of playing cricket was considered to be greater than that for basketball and cycling, but lower than that for rugby and soccer. Fast-bowlers, batters facing fast-bowlers, fielding close in the infield, and wicket-keeping without a helmet were perceived to pose greater risks of injury than other scenarios. Playing on hard, bumpy and/or wet ground conditions was perceived to have a high risk opposed to playing on a grass field. Fielding in the outfield and wicket-keeping to fast-bowlers whilst wearing a helmet were perceived as low risk actions. The risk perceptions of junior cricketers identified in this study, do not necessarily reflect the true injury risk in some instances. This information will inform the development of, injury prevention education interventions to address these risk perceptions in junior cricketers.

Prasanna Gamage is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend and RTP Fee-Offset Scholarship through Federation University Australia.