pathoscribe

Written by Siddharth Adarapu | Art by MollyAnn Caulfield 

Cricket is a sport filled with action, drama, sportsmanship, intensity, but also many injuries. Hello, I am Siddharth Adarapu, and I am a sixth grader who has played cricket for the past seven years. Throughout all seven years, I have only gotten injured five times, with all of them being minor injuries. However, many legends of the game have not been so lucky, suffering serious injuries. For example, Jasprit Bumrah got a stress fracture, which has forced him to put a pause to his cricketing career.  In this article, I will share information about different muscle strains and healing methods.  

First, I will share about common muscle strains you can get in cricket. A hamstring strain is the most common injury from sprinting (batting/fielding) or bowling. It leads to  pain in the back of the thigh, and can range from mild aching to the inability to walk (tear). Side strains happen when the internal oblique muscle tears. Those who suffer from this injury may feel a sudden sharp pain in the ribs or side, often opposite from the bowling arm, worse with breathing and coughing. Calf strains often occur on the bowling side during explosive actions and are linked to lower back issues. 

Sudden movements such as sprints, stops, and changes in direction can cause muscle strains. This can also happen because the quads are stronger than the hamstrings, resulting in a muscle imbalance. These strains happen frequently  especially in T20 cricket, which includes intense fielding and quick singles being taken. If you don’t warm up or loosen your muscles enough, it will be like inviting trouble to your body. Lastly, playing a large amount of overs or taking an intense training session can strain your muscles a lot. Luckily, there are ways to prevent this from happening. Having a good warm-up to prepare your body for an intense session of training is very beneficial for potential injury mitigation. Stretching your muscles can also be very important to prevent injury. Strengthening your core to protect your back and side is especially crucial for bowlers.

A way to manage a muscle strain if you already have one is by taking physiotherapy, which is important for recovery. Once you recover, do not go straight into playing, and instead build strength first and gradually return.

In conclusion, cricket is an amazing game filled with lots of action, drama, and excitement. Unfortunately,  there is a risk of serious injuries. Because of this, it is important to stay healthy and fit through maintaining proper exercise habits.