Cricket world in shock after horror BBL crash
There have been horrible scenes in the BBL after a collision that was too graphic for TV networks to show replays of.
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Australian stars Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams were rushed to hospital after a sickening collision during Sydney Thunder’s BBL match with Perth Scorchers on Friday night.
There were terrifying scenes as the match was halted for an extended period while Sams was loaded onto a stretcher after appearing to have been knocked unconscious.
Sams, who has played 10 T20 international for Australia, appeared to take the worst of the head-on contact, however, Bancroft also had blood streaming from his nose.
The former Aussie Test opener was able to walk off the pitch.
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“Both players are conscious and talking, demonstrating symptoms of concussion and have possible fractures,” Thunder said on X.
“Both have been transported to hospital for assessment.”
The incident was too graphic for TV networks to show replays of with the scene reminiscent of the notorious Steve Waugh-Jason Gillespie incident in 1999.
Sams was coming in from the boundary at high speed when he crashed into Bancroft, who ran in from another direction to claim the catch after Perth’s Cooper Connolly skied a ball high in the air.
Bancroft, who was coming back with the flight, had no idea Sams was directly in front of him before it was too late and the duo clashed heads in sickening scenes at Perth Stadium.
“There’s been a horrendous collision,” Fox Cricket’s Mel Jones said, as reported by foxsports.com.au.
“There’s concern here. Both players fully committed to the ball, eyes on it. Didn’t see each other coming.
“This is what you don’t want to see.”
Both players were left lying prone on the Perth Stadium turf as teammates quickly sprinted to their aid.
It was then players were seen gesturing frantically for medical staff with Sams appearing out before his head hit the turf.
“The major concern is around Daniel Sams,” Jones explained.
“It’s Cam Bancroft on his feet actually walking off the ground. Looks like some damage done to his nose.
“Such courage – it was all eyes on the ball for both of them.
“It’s the last thing you want to see in any form of sport.
“It’s going to take a little while for the players to recoup and get back into things as well.”
Play was stopped for almost 15 minutes as medical staff from both the Perth Scorchers and paramedics treated the players.
Fox Cricket’s Kath Loughnan described the “chaos” that followed the heavy collision on the boundary as the Thunder tried to find two players to take the field.
One of those quickly getting changed was assistant coach Dan Christian – but he did not field.
“I think these Thunder boys have been really rattled by what they’ve seen,” she explained.
“Medical staff were only 50m or so away from him – they got straight to (Sams).”
Commentator Steve O’Keefe feared the massive Perth crowd played a part in the horror collision, as he didn’t believe either player could hear the other’s call.
“It’s going to be so difficult to switch back on,” he warned.
“These big stadiums, you can’t quite hear, yelling a player off the ball and something like this happens.
“Completely accidental, but it’s horrific to see.”
Remarkably Ollie Davies – who was earlier ruled out of the clash with illness – was rushed to the stadium from the team’s hotel and into the line up. Under 19s captain Hugh Weibgen also came in as a concussion sub.
“Ollie Davies one of two concussion subs – he was actually unwell at the hotel with mild cold symptoms. He was rested as a precaution,” Loughnan explained.
“He is actually sitting away from the team as a precaution right now.
“Because of his mild cold symptoms, they’ve opted to have him sit away.”
Originally published as Cricket world in shock after horror BBL crash
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