Cricket injuries are very common amongst both amateur and professional cricket players. The most common injuries are sprains, fractures and bruises. Chronic injuries include shoulder and wrist complaints as well as foot and ankle injuries. Blows to the face and hands may cause fractures and severe bruising. Injuries to the teeth and jaw can occur when a ball hits the face at high speed. Wearing a mouth guard is therefore recommended. Cricketers get mostly injured to the upper limbs, however over-use injuries are also common. Especially fast bowlers may suffer problems in the wrist and also the lower back, due to repeated stress during the bowling action. Stress fractures at other sites are common in fast bowlers and occur primarily in the metatarsal bones, the fibula, and the tibia.

Foot and ankle problems are often experienced by cricket players and they include strain of the plantar fascia, fractures to metatarsal bones and also the calcaneal heel bone, furthermore a bruised heel is quite common as well as tarsal tunnel syndrome or Morton’s Neuroma.

Achilles tendonitis is the inflammation and strain of the achilles tendons. With a fracture to a metatarsal bone swelling and pain is present at the point of fracture with the player unable to stand or walk on that foot. Pain at the back of the heel with redness, tenderness and swelling may indicate achilles tendonitis. Pain in the centre of the heel may be caused by a more chronic problem like plantar fasciitis. Besides having flat feet or low arches, over-pronation of the foot and ankle and tight calf muscles are the most important contributing factors to heel complaints. Fractures to the metatarsals or phalangal bones may happen when a player falls or is hit by a cricket ball. Stress fractures can occur when wearing incorrect, unsupportive footwear. Too much cricket training may cause foot fractures and sprains. (more...)

For many people, the finishing touch to any outfit are the shoes. It does not matter how smartly you are dressed, wearing inappropriate footwear can greatly spoil your look. For most women (and even some men!), skyscraper heels are a must when dressing to impress for a evening out on the town or to a formal occasion.

Of course, this style of footwear would not be appropriate when an activity involves being on your feet for long periods of time. For example, if you are planning a long walk or sporting activities, a pair of Puma trainers may be the most sensible option.

The beauty of trainers nowadays is that there are a wealth of styles to chose from in various colours, to complement almost every choice of outfit. Gone are the days when the only style of trainer available came in limited combinations of black, white or blue and were exclusively worn by sports enthusiasts. (more...)

The internet has revolutionised many fields of human interaction, and has irrevocably changed the way we conduct out everyday lives. We use it to talk to one another, to sell our products and to research, and the fields of telecommunications, advertising and academia respectively, will never be the same as they were in the past.

To this list of crucial areas of commerce and learning, each profoundly affected by the evolution of the internet, we can also add the field of broadcasting. The mass media has blossomed and expanded since the dawn of the virtual era and it now encompasses television, print and, of course, almost every nook and cranny of cyberspace.

Media consumers are now utterly spoilt. Business, finance, current affairs and, significantly, online sports have become key features of the internet browser's itinerary, and the most up to date details in every one of these areas is available across the globe at just the touch of a button. (more...)

Cricket enthusiasts will love this sports resource. Beyond the championship trophy, it's often a challenge to find a little something to give each of the team players after a special championship has been won. One of the best ideas we've found is sports Christmas tree ornaments that you can personalize with each person's name.

Whether you're looking for football, soccer, cricket, swimming or whatever, you'll find just the right gift for every age. Take a look at the special section on age-appropriate designs and where to find them.

Another important idea to consider is sports training. We've long felt coaches and support staff went way beyond the call of the job, because most of us truly believe in the work of getting the absolute most out of our athletes. The sports trophy in the school case or on the club mezzanine wall is certainly a testament to everyone's effort, but it's particular nice to reward the coach as an individual. She or he certainly deserves an award, though few of us every ask or "need" one. (more...)

In the United States, they don't much play cricket. They have popular sporting games that share some similarities to cricket - baseball and even golf to a certain extent - come to mind. But there are certainly are no professional or college cricket leagues to speak of that maintain any level of popularity.

The sports that are most popular in the United State are the aforementioned baseball, as well as football and basketball, and each sports has its own unique way of determining a champion. In the professional version of football, 12 of 30 teams make a playoff at the end of the season, with 8 teams playing the first weekend and four teams receiving byes. In the college version of football, experts and computer votes determine which two teams play for the championship.

The best and most effective playoff systems for U.S. sports, however, come from basketball. In U.S. professional basketball, 8 teams in each conference make the playoffs and compete in best-of-5 or best-of-7 series to see who advances to the next round. The college version is even more cutthroat, and March Madness 2012 is just around the corner. This "March Madness" tournament features 68 of the best teams in college basketball, matched up in a single-elimination tournament laid in out in a simple bracket. Sports fans in the United States love the setup, as each game is do or die and the bracket provides something that can be wagered on quite easily at offices. (more...)