Former Tassie cricketer, Gold Coast Dolphin Trent Keep retires after shock concussion injury

A gun batsman and triple state championship-winning coach has detailed the frightening symptoms he has been battling with post concussion syndrome since being hit in the head by a cricket ball and how it could spell “trouble” for his future.

Dolphins will be hosting the Queensland one-day finals against Norths, where 1st and 2nd grade will be competing. First graders Trent Keep and Scott Polombo ready to hit out. . Picture Glenn Hampson

Gold Coast Cricket star and former Tasmanian cricketer Trent Keep has called time on an illustrious career after a shock concussion injury left him hospitalised for days.

Keep, 29, was training with the Broadbeach Robina Cats when a ball hit the back of his head in a “freak accident” last Wednesday, forcing him to hang up the bat after decades in the sport.

“I think the second the ball hit me on Wednesday I knew this was probably going to be the end result,” Keep said.

“It was obviously a bit difficult to watch the boys (Broadbeach) win the grand final on Sunday, but you’re as equally proud and happy as you are a bit miserable that you’re not there.

“I don’t think it will sink in until the season’s over and everyone heads back to pre-season next year.

“Ultimately, it was a pretty easy decision given the circumstance and it’s something that I’ve wrestled with for a while now.

“I’m happy enough have made that call.”

Broadbeach Robina (in blue) vs Southport Labrador cricket at Southport's Golden Wheel Park. Trent Keep. 3 December 2022 Arundel Picture by Richard Gosling

Keep was walking out a net session at Broadbeach when the ball from the next session hit him in the back of the head, leaving him hospitalised at the Gold Coast University Hospital until Monday afternoon.

“I just remember the first thought (when I was hit) was here we go again really,” he said.

“The symptoms were certainly there from the get go, I went straight to the hospital and the rest was a bit of a blur until about Saturday morning.

“The chances of that happening at that moment and me being there are minuscule, so perhaps it’s a bit of a divine sign.”

Keep was on a league high before his injury, as the Taper Premier League’s second highest run-scorer, a regular Team of the Week member and part of the coaching team to help Broadbeach to their one day grand final victory on Sunday.

But the head knock was one of many for Keep, who was first hit while battling in the Blundstone Arena nets in 2018, and then knocked out while marking in a Aussie rules game in 2020.

His concussion issues forced him to sit out the 2020-21 Cricket Tasmania Premier League season for the Kingborough Knights just months after taking out the competition’s highest individual honour, the Emerson Rodwell medal.

CTPL 2019/2020 season award winner Trent Keep. SUPPLIED

With concussion rehab to complete, Keep moved to the Gold Coast in 2021 where he soon found himself coach of the Gold Coast Dolphins, coaching them to three premierships in the 2021-22 season.

“For me the best part has been the relationships I’ve been able to build, whether that's playing with them or against them.

“I’ve won a fair share of grand finals, and that’s why some people play entirely and it’s a nice reward for all your hard work throughout the year, but it will always forever be the relationships I’ve been able to build and the individual success at the time.

“It always comes back to the relationships I’ve been able to form and some of my best friends I wouldn't have met if I didn't play cricket.”

Keep said he will now learn to manage post concussion syndrome, symptoms of which he has felt since his first knock in 2018.

Kingborough Knights captain and CTPL Emerson Rodwell Medal winner, Trent Keep has been forced to sit out the whole cricket season due to ongoing concussion issues. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“The brain fog and the added short term memory and inability to remember long term things is probably going to be something that I deal with, there’s no guarantee that I’ll deal with it the rest of my life but the signs initially are that is something that will trouble me throughout.

“I’m pretty lucky that it may just be that.

“There’s so many people that are far worse off out there, I just need to front up and deal with this next little period of post concussion syndrome.”

While Keep’s injury will rule him out of playing high risk or physical contact sports, he said coaching is still on the cards in the future after he takes a break from the sport to reassess his future in sport.

“I don’t look back at my career — if you can call it that — with any regret, and that’s nice.”

Cricket, Under 17 National Championships, Hobart, Twenty20 (20/20) game at New Town Oval, Tasmania vesus New South Wales (NSW), Tasmanian batsman Trent Keep in action

Respected athlete and mentor hospitalised after “freak accident”

– Hannah Davies, January 20

Taper Premier League star and Broadbeach Robina Cricket Club captain Trent Keep has been hospitalised after a “freak accident” triggered existing concussion issues for the key batsman ahead of Sunday’s one day grand final.

Keep, Division 1’s second highest run scorer, was training in the nets on Wednesday night when he was hit in the back of the head with a ball and “went down”.

“It was a big shock for us, it all happened so far as it usually does with concussions,” Broadbeach cricketer Kyle Brockley said.

“He was hit in the back of head with a stray ball in the nets. He wasn’t knocked out, but he felt dizzy and concussed straight away.

“So he went straight to hospital on Wednesday night and has been there ever since.”

Keep has a rich history of concussion injuries, after being hit while battling in the Blundstone Arena nets in 2018, and then being knocked out while marking in a football game in 2020.

Brockley said the team will now prepare to face Mudgeeraba in the one day grand final without Keep.

“It’s more his leadership around the group and his knowledge of the game that we’ll miss,” he said.

“He was just starting to get this stride back on and off the field with everything he brings.

“He such as good clubman and person to have around all the young guys.

“It’s going to hurt us as a club as whole. It’s quite distressing for a few people, it’s different and we haven’t dealt with before.

“With the Sunday grand final coming up, it’s a bit of a test but good side’s battle through adversity.”

Second grade captain Ryan Armstrong is now set to step into the side again for the one day final.

Broadbeach Cricket Club wrote to Facebook to share their support.

“The Broadbeach CC and its members wish our current first grade captain, Trent Keep a speedy recovery from an unfortunate, freak accident which has triggered his ongoing concussion issues,” they wrote.

“He is currently in hospital and is being treated, his health is his number one priority at this point in time.

“Once he is given a clean bill of health, Trent will be up and about and supporting the Cats in any way he can.”