Five Most Common Sports Injuries in Cricket
- Ajinkya Achalare
- Dec 10, 2025
- 5 min read
We all agree that cricket is a religion in India. You will find cricket enthusiasts and players, whether recreational or professional, in every household. It is not only a game of skill, strategy and precision but also a sport that demands repetitive movements, sudden bursts of speed, and intense physical efforts.
From weekend enthusiasts to professional athletes, cricketers are prone to a variety of injuries depending on their playing role. Bowlers often face overuse injuries of the shoulder and back, batsmen deal with wrist and elbow problems, and fielders commonly suffer from impact and agility-related injuries.
Here we try to oversee some common injuries in cricket players, helping them seek treatment at the right time, return safely to the pitch and sustain a long-term high level of fitness.
1. Shoulder injuries: Bowler’s burden
The shoulder is one of the most stressed joints in cricket, especially for the bowlers who perform repeated overhead actions at a high velocity. This being true, every player needs to field and repetitive throwing action can cause shoulder injuries too.
Common injuries
Cause
The bowling and throwing actions involve extreme external rotation, followed by a rapid acceleration and deceleration phase. Repeated stress in the presence of weak muscles can lead to recurrent inflammation, structural changes such as tendinosis, and eventually an injury. Falling on an outstretched hand while fielding is also one of the most typical modes of getting injured.
Symptoms
Pain in the shoulder during overhead motion
Loss of pace or strength
Difficulty with throwing accuracy
Clicking or catching sensation
Treatment
Activity modification and physiotherapy
Strengthening rotator cuff and scapular stabilisers
Early diagnosis and arthroscopic repair for structural injuries such as labral tears
Prevention
Structured shoulder conditioning
Limiting the number of overs for young fast bowlers
Thorough warm-up, posterior capsular stretching
Frequent assessment and correction of bowling biomechanics
2. Lower back injuries: Stress of repetition
Pace bowling places enormous strain on the lumbar spine, making lower back pain one of the most common problems.
Common Injuries
Lumbar muscle strain
Stress fractures (pars interarticularis, transverse process)
Intervertebral disc prolapse
Cause
The combination of trunk rotation, hyperflexion, and lateral bending during delivery increases the risk of overuse injuries. Young bowlers with improper technique or sudden increase in workload are especially vulnerable.
Symptoms
Localised back pain, frequent muscle spasms
Pain on bending forward or backward
Reduced bowling speed
Difficulty with daily activities
Treatment
Rest and gradual workload management
Core and hip strengthening, postural correction
Bracing in certain stress fracture cases
Surgery is rarely required in extreme cases
Prevention
Monitoring bowling workload
Correct bowling action and technique (avoiding mixed action)
Core stabilisation training
Early screening for pain in young bowlers
3. Knee injuries: Impact, twisting, overuse
The knee joint absorbs substantial forces during all the actions, whether it be batting, bowling, or fielding. Twisting injuries during wicket keeping, fielding or running between the wickets are nasty and may cause structural damage to the vital structures like ligaments and meniscus.
Common Injuries
Patellar tendinitis (jumper’s knee)
Cause
Sudden directional changes while fielding, landing impact from bowling, and repetitive squatting positions in wicketkeepers increase knee stress. Hard grounds amplify the joint forces.
Symptoms
Pain during running, jumping or pivoting
Locking or clicking (meniscus injury)
Swelling or instability
Treatment options
RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) in acute stages
Physiotherapy modalities, activity modification
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for tendinitis
Arthroscopic repair for meniscus or ligament injuries
Prevention
Strengthening hip muscles, quadriceps, and hamstrings
Adequate warm-up before play
Using proper footwear suitable for the pitch
Avoiding a sudden return after a long break
4. Ankle injuries: A fielder’s nightmare
Fielders have to sprint, dive, and make abrupt stops, making the ankle one of the most vulnerable joints.
Common Injuries
Lateral ankle sprain (most common)
High ankle (syndesmotic) sprain
Achilles tendinitis or rupture
Cause
Uneven outfields, sudden direction changes and landing from a jump place excessive strain on the ankle ligaments.
Symptoms
Pain, sudden swelling and bruising
Difficulty bearing weight
Treatment
Phase-wise rehabilitation
Ankle taping or bracing, rarely a plaster cast
Strengthening and proprioceptive exercises
Surgery is only for persistent chronic instability or complete ligament tears
Prevention
Balance and agility training
Strengthening peroneal muscles
Proper landing techniques during dives
Supportive footwear
5. Hand injuries: Don’t just carry on with strapping
Cricket balls are heavy, hard, and high-speed impact injuries to the fingers while batting or taking catches are common. Not all injuries are minor, and ignoring them can lead to permanent deformity or disability
Common Injuries
Finger fractures or dislocations
Hook of hamate fracture in batsmen
Tendon avulsion injuries (mallet finger, jersey finger)
Cause
Mistimed shots
Flipping of the finger during catches
Symptoms
Pain, swelling, deformity
Reduced grip strength
Difficulty holding the bat or catching
Treatment
Clinical and radiological assessment (X-ray, MRI)
Splinting, depending on the nature ofthe injury
Surgery for displaced fractures or complete tendon tears
Prevention
Proper catching technique
Protective gloves with adequate padding
Strengthening hand grip and forearm muscles
Key tips for injury prevention:
1. Proper warm-up (10–15 minutes)
Light jog
Dynamic stretching
Mobility drills
Sport-specific movements
2. Cooling down
Static stretching
Foam rolling
Hydration replenishment
3. Year-round conditioning
Cricket is a multi-season sport; players must maintain strength and flexibility throughout the year.
4. Hydration & nutrition
Maintain good hydration
Adequate protein intake for muscle recovery
5. Early symptom reporting
Playing through pain worsens injuries. Early evaluation prevents chronic issues.
6. Use of screening tests
Sports clinics can perform:
Functional movement screening (FMS)
Core stability testing
Shoulder rotation assessments
Jump-landing analysis
These identify at-risk players before injury occurs.
Modern approaches in treatment:
Recent advances in sports medicine have transformed how cricket injuries are assessed and managed:
1. Ultrasound-guided injections
For tendinitis, bursitis, and ligament injuries.
2. PRP and biologics
Helpful in chronic tendinopathies and cartilage injuries.
3. Arthroscopy
Minimally invasive surgery for meniscus tears, shoulder injuries, and ligament reconstructions.
4. Early rehabilitation
Focus on restoring strength, proprioception, and sport-specific skills.
5. Workload monitoring
Especially critical for bowlers to prevent overuse injuries.
So in a nutshell..
Cricket injuries are common but largely preventable with proper technique, conditioning, and workload management.
Early detection and timely treatment are key to ensuring long, injury-free playing careers. Whether you're a fast bowler battling shoulder pain, a batsman with wrist discomfort, or a weekend player facing recurrent ankle sprains, addressing issues early can prevent chronic problems and improve performance.
If you are a cricket player suffering from an injury, consult Dr. Ajinkya Achalare at ArthroSports Speciality Orthopaedic Clinic right at Shivaji Park, Dadar West, Mumbai. Dr Achalare has a special expertise in the management of all kinds of sports injuries. He will make sure you get back to playing cricket in a quick, safe and long-lasting way!
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