Strengthening Rehabilitation Services for Fast Bowlers to Facilitate Sustainable Participation: A Narrative Review

Abstract Fast bowlers in cricket play a pivotal role in dismissing opposition batters through their bowling variations. The objectives of the current narrative review are to identify different types of common injuries among fast bowlers, ascertain the various impacts of injuries to fast bowlers, enlist rehabilitation strategies, and propose public health interventions to ensure sustainable participation of fast bowlers in cricket. An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was carried out in the PubMed search engine, and relevant research articles focusing on injuries in fast bowlers in cricket published during the period 2009–2024 were included in the review. Initially, 45 research articles were identified based on the keywords, and finally, 28 articles were selected based on their suitability with the current review objectives and analyzed. The repetitive high-impact actions place significant stress on the spine, shoulders, knees, and ankles and significantly enhance the risk of injuries due to the high-intensity nature of their role. Injured fast bowlers can be subjected to different rehabilitation programs, which are customized to their physical demands and injury patterns. Acknowledging the high prevalence of injuries among fast bowlers and the widespread impact of these injuries on the sport as a whole and the community, there is an indispensable need to plan and implement targeted interventions. In conclusion, fast bowlers in cricket, due to the immense physical demands, are prone to a wide spectrum of injuries. The need of the hour is to implement targeted injury prevention and strengthen management strategies, including rehabilitation services, to ensure longevity and performance of fast bowlers.