Hand trauma in English domestic professional county cricket

BACKGROUND: Hand trauma is a frequent and disabling injury in cricket. However, there is limited published data on its impact on the sport at the elite level. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the incidence and mechanism of hand injuries in professional cricket over a decade and the impact of these injuries upon player availability. METHODS: A retrospective hand injury review at Northampton County Cricket Club (NCCC) over 10 years (2009–2018) was performed. All hand injuries had been contemporaneously documented. They were analysed for cause of injury, treatment, and time away from competitive play. RESULTS: There were 45 hand injuries in total. Eleven percent needed surgical intervention. These hand injuries required a total recovery time of 1561 days, and in-season 1416 days were lost from competitive play. The injuries requiring surgery were unavailable for 229 total days during the season. A player had an annual 18% risk of sustaining a hand injury requiring time away from the sport and resulting in a 4% reduction in playing resources during a season. CONCLUSION: Hand injuries have major implications for player selection during the cricket season and place a potential burden upon the entire squad and the team’s success.