Fast bowlers significantly increase their risk of injury when they bowl more than 20-30 overs a week, according to Cricket Australia (CA)'s inaugural Cricket Injury Report.

The study, which looked at Australia's Test, one-day international and interstate matches from September 1998 to June 2003, said on average one in six elite Australia fast bowlers would be out through injury at any given time.

The report found that although the overall percentage of players unavailable because of injuries was 8.7 percent, the figure was 16.1 percent for pace bowlers.

"The research determined that strike bowlers significantly increased their risk of injury when their weekly bowling tally strays above 20 to 30 overs per week," CA said in a statement on Thursday.

"Should a bowler bowl above this threshold, they are well advised to adjust their training schedule accordingly so the stresses and strains of fast bowling are allowed to recover."

Australia's leading fast bowler Glenn McGrath missed the recent drawn four-Test series against India with an ankle injury.

Brett Lee (ankle) missed the first two Tests while Jason Gillespie (groin) and left-armer Nathan Bracken (hip) were injured during the series.

"Cricket Australia is always working towards achieving the right balance between player workloads, ICC requirements, and Australian cricket's commercial interests," CA chief executive James Sutherland said.

Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) president Tim May told a news conference at CA headquarters in Melbourne on Thursday that the workload faced by paceman and highlighted in the report was an international problem.

"We are obviously concerned about fast bowlers and how much they do bowl," May said. "We'll track this study with keen interest just to ensure the welfare of our fast bowlers.

"It's not just back-to-back Test matches. It's the concentration of cricket over a specific period."

Sutherland said the findings of the report, which is to be updated annually, would be shared with other Test-playing nations so "all countries can work towards strengthening the safety of cricket for future generations".

CA also said they would be investing $192,500 a year in injury research, biomechanical analysis and prevention in conjunction with their National Pace Bowling programme, which includes coaching from Dennis Lillee.

On Wednesday, CA, after consulting with the ACA, declined an invitation to play in a one-day tournament in Sharjah starting in late March in order to allow for preparation for September's ICC Champions Trophy and the subsequent tour of India.