Smartplay’s Preventing Cricket Injuries Fact Sheet provides easy assistance on how to avoid injuries this summer.

Developed in conjunction with Cricket Australia, the fact sheet encourages players to prepare their bodies for play.

This will allow competitors to get the most from their game and most importantly avoid injury.

Each year many cricketers’ seasons are cut short due to injuries.

From 2002 to 2003, more than 1000 people were admitted to hospitals across Australia for cricket-related injuries with bowlers most at risk.

Sports Medicine Australia’s spokesperson, Mark Brown said all cricketers need to be aware of how to prepare their body to avoid injuries.

“Because cricket is a non-contact sport, people think they won’t get injured,” he said.

“Therefore they don’t prepare their body like they would when playing a contact sport like football.”

Mr Brown said this was a wrong assumption to make as the same amount of preparation is needed for all sports.

“Injury is more likely to come about through inadequate preparation,” he said.

To help prevent injury, Smartplay, Sports Medicine Australia’s sports injury prevention program funded by the Department of Health and Ageing, offers these timely tips:

• Be aware of how to prepare for hot conditions to protect yourself against dehydration, heat stress and sun damage. Wear sunscreen and a hat.

• Pace bowlers should restrict the number of overs bowled during play, taking into account their physical maturity and fitness. Most junior competitions will recommend over limits for bowlers.

• Pace bowlers should practise the correct bowling action, either fully side on or fully front on. Mixed actions are more likely to result in injury.

• Warm up, stretch and cool down.

• Learn the proper sliding stop technique.

• Wear the right protective equipment. Whilst batting, wear body padding including gloves, leg pads, boxes and forearm guards. When wicket keeping, batting or fielding in close, wear a cricket helmet with a faceguard.

• If you have a history of injury, speak to a sports medicine professional about appropriate bracing or protective gear.

• Seek professional advice on footwear.

• Keep the playing environment safe. Remove hazards such as stones and water and make sure the pitch is smooth and clean.

To download Smartplay’s Preventing Cricket Injuries Fact Sheet visit www.smartplay.com.au