SYDNEY, July 31 AAP/Reuters - Glenn McGrath's lack of ability in wielding the willow may eventually affect his career, new research reveals.

McGrath is one of the world's worst Test batsmen, with an average of 6.52 an innings, even less in one day internationals where his high score is 11.

Now researchers including Dr John Orchard of the University of NSW say McGrath's lack of time in the middle with the bat, especially if his team bats first, makes him a prime candidate for injury.

In a report released in The British Journal of Sports Medicine this week, Orchard said the chances of suffering hamstring strains, groin injuries and damage to the wrists, hands and back are greater according to the batting/bowling order.

"Bowlers are more likely to be injured when undertaking big workloads and when bowling second (after batting)," said Orchard.

Fast bowlers in cricket have the highest risk of being injured but bowling first and batting second increases the odds even further, the report said.

About 14 per cent of fast bowlers receive injuries, compared to four per cent of spin bowlers and batsmen, and two per cent of wicket-keepers.

The scientists suspect bowlers may be more susceptible to injury when their team bowls second in a match because they warm up in the nets at the start of the first innings but in other innings they are more likely to start bowling immediately after batting.

McGrath is usually the last man out, and then the man to bowl the first over when Australia takes to the field.

Overall, cricket is a relatively safe sport. But after studying the type and number of injuries to Australian first class cricket teams during premier and one day international matches the researchers believe it could be made safer.

The scientists said the average injury rate for the 20 matches played in a season in Australia was 19.2 injuries for every squad of 25 players. One day internationals resulted in the highest number of injuries.

If a bowler bowled more than 20 match overs in the week before a game, he had almost double the risk of injury and bowling second after batting first raised the injury risk to 60 per cent.

The fastest bowlers had the greatest risk of injury and players colliding with the boundary fence while fielding were a major cause of injury.

"The most important potentially reversible risk factor is bowler workload. The sporting activity most similar to bowling is pitching in baseball, for which workload is monitored much more closely than bowling," said Orchard.

The biggest injury concerns for fast bowlers were accelerated degeneration of the lumbar spine over the course of their career, as well as disc degeneration, shoulder injuries, foot and ankle injuries, knee tendon injuries and side strains.

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.