Cricket
An estimated 580,000 Australians aged 15 and over played cricket in 2021–22 (ASC, 2022). 
There were 1,000 injury hospitalisations attributed to cricket – 960 males and 64 females. For those aged 15 and over, the hospitalisation rate was about 155 per 100,000 participants.
The age-standardised rate of cricket injury hospitalisations increased between 2019–20 and 2020–21, but is now trending downward in 2021–22 (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Trend in cricket injury hospitalisations, by sex, 2012–13 to 2021–22
For more detail, see data tables B1–2.
The highest number of hospitalisations was in the 35–39 age group (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Age distribution of cricket injury hospitalisations, 2021–22
Source: AIHW NHMD.
For more detail, see data table A14.
Over half of the hospitalisations were fractures (56%) (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Top 5 injury hospitalisations from cricket, by type of injury as a proportion, 2021–22
Note: Type of injury is derived from the principal diagnosis.
Source: AIHW NHMD.
For more detail, see data table A25.
There were 17 hospitalisations for concussion.
The main injury was to the hand or wrist in about 4 out of 10 cases (43%), and to the head or neck in about 2 in 10 cases (20%) (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Cricket injury hospitalisations, by principal body part injured, as a proportion, 2021–22
Diagram of human body shows percentage of body parts injured in hospitalisations in 2021–22. Ankle and feet contributed the least at 2% of cases.
Notes
1. Body part injured is derived from the principal diagnosis.
2. ‘Trunk’ includes thorax, abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine & pelvis.
Source: AIHW NHMD.
For more detail, see data table A26.
Sports equipment incidents, such as being hit by the ball, were the most common cause of injury (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Cause of injury as a proportion when specified, cricket injury hospitalisations, 2021–22
Source: AIHW NHMD.
For more detail, see data table A27.