Cricket: It's strife in the fast lane

Stephen Fleming. Photo / Getty Images

Bowlers are the cricketers most at-risk of injury but research may help them return to fitness.

A new study aimed at investigating shoulder injuries in cricket bowlers is under way at the University of Canterbury.

Researcher Sibi Boycott Walter, a qualified physiotherapist with a masters degree in sports science from Lund University in Sweden, hopes to improve the shoulder rehabilitation methods for cricketers through the research - his topic for his PhD - at the university's school of sport and physical education.

Mr Walter, who is originally from Chennai, India, home of the Chennai Super Kings, arrived in New Zealand in December.

Previous research into Black Caps' injuries over a six-year period showed 49 per cent of injuries occurred when players were bowling.

Fast bowlers had the most injuries, with a prevalence rate of 18.7 per cent.

Spin bowlers were the next most injury-prone, with a rate of 5.5 per cent.

Latest available ACC data showed there were 9778 active injury claims related to cricket in the 12 months to June 30.

Dr Carl Petersen, who is supervising Mr Walter, said data from players at a range of cricketing levels in New Zealand, and possibly Australia, would be used in the study.

"He's going to look at the shoulder injuries and then try and look at how the physios are rehabilitating those shoulder injuries [and] how long it takes them to get back to 100 per cent fitness," Dr Petersen said.

"He's also going to compare that to swimmers and how they rehabilitate their shoulder injuries."

Mr Walter hoped to develop better rehabilitation programmes for cricketers through his research, Dr Petersen said.

Identifying whether cricketers were returning to the game too quickly because of a heavy playing schedule, which often included numerous international one-day matches and Indian Premier League commitments, may also be investigated in Mr Walter's study.

Lindsay Crocker, head of cricket at New Zealand Cricket, said the organisation, which has done its own research, would be interested in seeing the results of the study.

Fleming stars in cup show

The opening ceremony for the Cricket World Cup on Thursday will be packed with musical, theatrical and cultural performances from some of New Zealand's best-known cricketers and entertainers.

Shapeshifter will join Sol3 Mio, Hayley Westenra and Ginny Blackmore.

Former captain Stephen Fleming will take part in the theatrical part of the show, taking the stage with some familiar faces to tell the story of a young cricketer who dreams of making it big.

Since seeing the stage set up in North Hagley Park, Fleming said the nerves had kicked in.

"It's looking pretty impressive. Now I've just got make sure I get my lines right."

The event will finish with the biggest fireworks display Christchurch has ever seen.

The free event will begin at 6.30pm with a giant game of backyard cricket, and the main event will then run from 8.30pm to 10pm.

Two days later the first game, between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, will be held at nearby Hagley Oval.