What are Cricket Australia's junior pace bowling workload guidelines, and who do they cover?
Guideline- Australia
- Cricket Australia
- Pace bowling workload
- Under 11-Under 19
- Player safety
- 2026/27
- Coaches
The Junior Pace Bowling Workload Guidelines aim to reduce the risk of lumbar bone stress injury (LBSI), an injury to the bones of the lower back that can interrupt development and need long breaks from bowling.
- They apply to young male and female pace bowlers. Teenage pace bowlers are at the highest risk.
- Limits are set by age band (Under 11 through to 17 to 19) for overs per spell, overs per match day and bowling days per week.
- Training and matches both count as bowling days.
- A spell is a continuous block of bowling, and a bowling day is any day with training or matches that involves bowling.
- The guidelines are published by Cricket Australia on its Play Cricket site, with a poster, pocket guide and checklist for coaches and parents (April 2026 versions).
Updated 22 Oct 2026