This study uses non-experimental methods, namely descriptive quantitative methods, cross-sectional study methods, and total sampling techniques. Hence, all population members become sample members in the East Java Cricket athletes. Thus, the research sample consisted of 25 athletes, 13 male and 12 female. This instrument uses a questionnaire to collect data. Questionnaires form written questions to collect information from respondents about research topics, usually related to personal data, opinions, or related information (Winarno, 2013).

Ethical clearance of the study was sought from the Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia with the Number: 29.11.8/UN32.14/PB/2024.

This research instrument uses a questionnaire to collect data. A questionnaire is a list of written questions to collect information from respondents about research topics, usually related to personal data, opinions, or related information (Winarno, 2013). Data collection is done by giving a questionnaire that has been loaded in Google Forms to all athletes. The athletes were asked to answer all questions.

After the data is obtained, it will be analyzed using percentage analysis. The incidence of injury is presented in percentage form. The formula for processing the data is as follows (Malik & Minan Chusni, 2018).

Based on the results of the analysis obtained that the type of injury experienced by East Java cricket athletes with a total of 25 respondents is a wound/blister injury (36%), muscle cramps injury (20%), strain injury (20%), sprain injury (8%), contusion injury (12%) and hematoma injury (4%). In previous research, according to Ihsan (2024), bruising injuries, which often occur on the hands, stand out as the most common type of injury, followed by cuts/abrasions and muscle cramps. According to Pardiwala et al. (2018), an epidemiological study showed that in Edinburgh, 22.4% of all injuries were caused by sport, and 2.5% were caused by cricket, i.e., abrasions/bruises.

The findings in this study are consistent with international literature. For example, in a multi-country study, Pardiwala et al. (2018) mentioned that cricketers' abrasions, muscle cramps, and strains were common injury types, mainly due to accumulated fatigue and poor biomechanical posture while bowling and fielding. In Australia, Orchard et al. (2016) also identified that more than 60% of injuries occur during training sessions due to high work volume without adequate recovery breaks.

However, differences emerged in treatment methods. This study used the RICE (60%) and PRICE (40%) methods. In contrast, some developed countries have started to adopt the PEACE & LOVE method, which emphasizes active recovery and education (Dubois & Esculier, 2020). This means the local understanding of injury recovery protocols must still be expanded.

The part of the body that was injured in East Java cricket athletes occurred in the shoulder at 16%, and the majority in the lower extremities, with a percentage of 56%. This is because cricket is a sport that relies on the body's lower extremities. In addition to the upper body muscles, the lower body muscles, or lower extremities, also have a vital role in the game of cricket. According to Pardiwala et al. (2018), in a longitudinal study on the nature of injuries in South African cricketers, injuries to the lower limbs accounted for almost half of the injuries (49.8%). They mainly included injuries to the hamstrings (17.8%) and quadriceps (10.1%), patella and knee (18.5%), and ankle (10.6%) muscles. Injuries in cricket athletes are often related to suboptimal body mechanics, such as in the lower extremities of the legs, which are often injured excessively without sufficient recovery time. They can cause short or long-term injuries (Jacobs et al., 2021). Handling injuries in cricket athletes can be done using the PRICE method. In addition, developing a rehabilitation program aims to maximize recovery in the legs and prevent the recurrence of injuries. Lower extremity injuries that are not appropriately treated can end the career of a cricket player. Research focusing on injury prevention can reduce the financial burden of medical treatment and loss of playing time.

Based on the research, the causes of injuries that often occur in East Java cricket athletes almost all occur due to overtraining, with a percentage of 52%, collisions of 16%, overuse and field injuries of 12%, and fatigue of 8%. The results showed that most injuries in athletes were caused by external factors in the form of continuous training without recognizing the need for time and rest (overtraining).

This is related to the characteristics of the game of cricket, which requires explosive movements and has a high intensity, resulting in fatigue due to continuous training without knowing when to rest. Overtraining can lead to an increased risk of injury in cricket players, such as shoulder, elbow, lower back, and knee injuries (Forrest et al., 2017; Zondo, Abdullahi, & Noorbhai, 2023). These often result from repetition of movements such as bowling or batting. This research is important to help coaches and health teams design balanced training programs, ensure athletes have adequate recovery time, and avoid overtraining.

The incidence of injury in East Java cricket athletes occurred during training, and a percentage of 52%. This shows that most injured athletes can continue the match, even though some are in pain.

The amount of overtraining that causes lower extremity injuries during training is due to several factors, namely 1) minimal rest time increases the risk of injury, 2) insufficient recovery time between training sessions, and 3) increased training intensity without adequate recovery. Research on the timing of injuries can help understand when the risk of injury is highest. Knowing whether the risk is at a particular time (acute) or develops slowly (chronic) can help in prevention planning (Bache-Mathiesen et al., 2023). Injury timing research can help develop optimal training schedules, with sufficient rest periods to prevent injuries from overtraining or matches too close together, and allow specific preventative training programs to reduce the risk of certain injuries at certain times.

Data analysis showed that most injuries occurred during training sessions (52%), with the dominant injury type being cuts/abrasions (36%). This suggests that training conditions, including inadequate court surfaces and a lack of protective gear, contributed to the high injury rate. The study by Orchard et al. (2016) also found that injuries were more common during training than matches due to longer training duration and minimal medical supervision.

In addition, injuries to the lower extremities, such as the thighs and legs (56%), were closely associated with activities such as sprinting and sudden changes of direction that are common in cricket. Lempainen et al. (2022) noted that such activities increase the risk of hamstring and quadriceps muscle injuries.

Handling given to athletes is done using the rice method by 60% and the price method by 40%. Coaches and teams entirely carry out first aid for injuries to East Java cricket athletes. The handling must be based on the type of injury experienced by the athlete, so that the athlete can recover quickly and vice versa. If the handling is inappropriate, it will hurt the athlete's injury condition. The provision of proper handling also has a positive impact on psychological conditions in the form of a decrease in anxiety levels (Catalá, Peñacoba, Pocinho, & Margarido, 2021; Lempainen et al., 2022; Reese, Pittsinger, & Yang, 2012). This indicates that the medical team and the coach's role are important for injury relief outside their primary tasks.

The RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) method is one of the standard approaches in managing acute injuries, especially soft tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, or hard impacts (Harmianto, Nurman, Erlinawati, & Age, 2024; Setiawati, E., Ivan, & Sjaaf, 2024). The basic theory behind the RICE method is to reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation in the early stages of injury, thereby speeding up recovery. It is important to understand how to administer first aid for injuries properly.

Cricket players often suffer acute injuries from explosive movements, such as ankle, hamstring, and knee sprains. In cricket, players need a quick recovery strategy to avoid injury accumulation. The RICE method can be an efficient solution for acute injury management amid competition. Proper management of acute injuries using the RICE method can prevent the development of chronic injuries. Rapid recovery from injury with the RICE method supports long-term fitness and prolongs the career of professional athletes.

This study has not stratified the data by gender, playing position (bowler, batsman, wicket keeper), or length of athlete experience, even though these variables may influence the injury profile. Stretch & Venter (2003) showed that bowlers have a higher risk of lower back and shoulder injuries, while batters are more prone to hand injuries. Gender differences are also influential; a study by Lystad et al. (2021) mentioned that female athletes have a greater risk of ligament injuries due to biomechanical and hormonal differences. Further research should consider stratifying data based on these characteristics to better target recommendations.

The results of this study are important for coaches, sports federations, and medical teams. First, training programs should be designed with athletes' physical limits in mind and provide adequate rest periods to prevent overtraining. Secondly, there is a need for first aid education and training for coaches to provide timely treatment. Third, these results provide an important basis for sports organizations to design national guidelines on injury management in young athletes.

Theoretically, this study enriches the literature on the epidemiology of sports injuries in developing countries. It opens opportunities for further exploration of the influence of training culture, infrastructure, and tropical climate on athlete injury patterns.

This study provides an initial foundation for developing injury prevention policies in cricket in Indonesia, especially at the regional level. Going forward, studies with longitudinal designs or interventions such as implementing structured warm-up programs or wearable technology to monitor training loads are highly recommended. Studies can also be expanded to include early age athletes, school competitions, and interprovincial comparisons to understand national variations in injury patterns.

One of the limitations of this study is that it has limited sample criteria, so it cannot represent the entire population of young athletes. Questionnaires or interviews can be influenced by social and psychological factors, such as providing answers that aim to satisfy researchers. Finally, the study's results may be less applicable to types of sports with different characteristics from cricket games.