Christie, Candice J.McEwan, KaylaMunro, Catherine E.King, Greg A.Le Roux, AdrianOlivier, BenitaJackson, Brandon SpencerManjra, ShuaibMacMillan, CandicePote, Lee2023-11-292023-11-292024-04Christie, C.J., McEwan, K., Munro, C.E., King, G.A., Le Roux, A., Olivier, B., Jackson, B., Manjra, S., MacMillan, C., & Pote, L. (2024). Do South African international cricket pace bowlers have similar bowling volume and injury risk associates compared to other elite fast bowlers? International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 19(2), 797-804. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541231174301.1747-9541 (print)2048-397X (online)10.1177/17479541231174301http://hdl.handle.net/2263/93527BACKGROUND : Although many cricket-playing nations have conducted research on bowling volume (BV) and injury risk, this relationship amongst international South African pace bowlers is yet to be investigated. Environmental, socio-economic and training strategy differences warrant similar research in a South African context. The purpose of this preliminary study was to establish whether South African pace bowlers have similar BV and injury associates compared to other elite fast bowlers. METHODS : This study was a prospective, observational, cohort study that monitored match and training BV and injuries amongst pace bowlers playing for the South African national team between April 2017 and April 2019. A sample of convenience that included 14 bowlers was selected. Bowling volume was quantified as the number of deliveries bowled during training and competition. Acute-, chronic- and acute:chronic BV ratios were independently modelled as association variables. RESULTS : There were 39 injuries with the most being to the lumbar spine (25.64%). Moderate-to-low and a moderate-to-high acute:chronic bowling load ratios were associated with a lower risk of injury. Chronic bowling load was associated with injury (z  =  2.82, p  =  0.01). A low acute workload, low chronic workload, moderate-high chronic workload and moderate-low acute:chronic ratio were also associated with an increased risk of injury. CONCLUSION : These findings confirm that there appears to be a dose–response effect between training BV and the likelihood of an injury occurring with a moderate-to-low and a moderate-to-high BV ratio being optimal. Considering the small sample size, the findings should be interpreted with caution.en© The Author(s) 2023.Acute:chronic workload ratioLumbar spineTrainingSDG-03: Good health and well-beingPostprint Article