Craniofacial injuries in professional cricket: no more a red herring

Abstract

The issue of head injury in a noncontact sport like cricket is a matter of great debate and it carries more questions than answers. Recent incidents of fatal head injuries in individuals wearing a helmet have caused some to question the protective value of the helmet. The authors discuss the pattern, type of injury, incidents, and location of cranio-facio-ocular injuries in professional cricket to date. They evaluate the history of usage of the helmet in cricket, changes in design, and the protective value, and they compare the efficacy of various sports' helmets with injury profiles similar to those in cricket. The drop test and air cannon test are compared for impact energy attenuation performance of cricket helmets. A total of 36 cases of head injuries were identified, of which 5 (14%) were fatal and 9 (22%) were career-terminating events. Batsmen are the most vulnerable to injury, bearing 86% of the burden, followed by wicketkeepers (8%) and fielders (5.5%). In 53% of cases, the ball directly hit the head, while in 19.5% of cases the ball entered the gap between the peak and the faceguard. Ocular injuries to 3 wicketkeepers proved to be career-terminating injuries. The air cannon test is a better test for evaluating cricket helmets than the drop test. Craniofacial injuries are more common than popularly believed. There is an urgent need to improve the efficacy and compliance of protective restraints in cricket. A strict injury surveillance system with universal acceptance is needed to identify the burden of injuries and modes for their prevention.

Traumatic cricket‐related fatalities in Australia: a historical review of media reports

“…A recent article described five cricket‐related deaths in a case series of 36 severe craniofacial injuries 2 . In Australia, a report of significant injuries in cricket, based on insurance claims during 2004–2013, 3 documented 19 deaths in community level cricket, including 15 cardiac arrests, two caused by lightning strikes, and two of unspecified causes, making it unclear whether there were any traumatic cricket‐related deaths (ie, direct effects of participation) in Australia during this decade.…”

A 3-year prospective study on ocular injuries with tennis or cricket ball while playing cricket: A case series

“…The personal impact of ocular injury is difficult to define although the lifestyle of the affected individual may be permanently altered. [ 2 3 ]…”

The Gentleman’s Game Has New Rules for Concussion: Possible Impact and Controversies

“…In our earlier publication, we have evaluated the spectrum of craniofacial injuries in professional cricket. 2 In retrospect, most of the injuries were concussions but they had a lasting impact on the players' career. If the ICC rulings are properly followed, we would likely be able to know the burden of the disease and the prevalence of injuries among players.…”

“…Interestingly, cricket was the first major international sport to publish recommended methods for injury surveillance. 1,2 The incidence of injuries varies with the formats of the game, with lesser injuries reported in the T20 format in comparison to the one day international (ODI) or test format. Similarly, the injury profile is less dangerous in women's cricket than men's cricket.…”