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Mudgeeraba Nerang player recounts horror on-field collision during Kookaburra Cup T20 cricket grand final on Gold Coast

“They had to hold me down … then I saw all the blood on the ground.” A Gold Coast cricketer involved in a sickening on-field collision has spoken for the first time since the incident and described the effects he is still feeling in the aftermath.

GOLD Coast cricketer Josh Nelson says he is still feeling the affects of the sickening on-field collision that left he and teammate Talha Abbasi hospitalised.

The Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts Cricket Club player is in good spirits but is taking pain killers every day in the aftermath of the incident that occurred in the Kookaburra Cup T20 cricket grand final on Sunday.

“I’m still suffering from headaches. Every day I have been taking six or seven pain killers and I’m really lethargic and tired,” Nelson said.

Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts Cricket Club player Josh Nelson. Picture: Supplied.
Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts Cricket Club player Josh Nelson. Picture: Supplied.

“I have been laying down a lot and when I get up I take a few breaths before I start walking around.”

Nelson and Abbasi were knocked out cold while trying to take a catch midway through the innings of opposition team Helensvale and the match was ultimately called off, as four ambulances arrived on the scene to treat the two players.

It left Nelson with a broken nose and he required eight to 10 stitches in his head.

Nelson recounted the events leading into the collision and what happened in the moments after.

“I can remember everything up to the actual accident,” Nelson, who was fielding at cover, said.

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I turned around to run for the ball. It was really windy so it kept taking the ball further towards Talha. I was calling my name but I don’t think he heard me because of the wind.

“I remember diving full stretch before waking up in the recovery position.

“I told them ‘lets start playing again’ and tried to get up.

“They had to hold me down because of the precautions they needed to take with my neck and they told me I had been knocked out.

“Then I saw all the blood on the ground. I couldn’t see Talha but I could hear him. The paramedics were talking to him and he was a bit dazed.”

Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts Cricket Club player Josh Nelson. Picture: Supplied.
Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts Cricket Club player Josh Nelson. Picture: Supplied.

Nelson said he only felt pain after around an hour.

“I asked for the green whistle but but they gave me morphine when my head started ringing.”

Nelson has an appointment with a surgeon on Friday to discuss potential surgery on his nose.

He has had to pull out of the Bulls Masters tournament, set to be played this weekend, but is hopeful of returning to play in Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts first two-day game, starting on October 16.

Nelson and Abbasi’s teammates went in to see them in hospital on Sunday and took the former out to dinner on Wednesday as they continue to support the duo.

EARLIER

TWO Mudgeeraba Nerang & Districts Cricket Club players were released from hospital in the early hours of Monday morning following a sickening outfield collision during the Kookaburra Cup T20 grand final on Sunday.

Josh Nelson and Talha Abbasi were knocked out cold midway through the Helensvale innings and the match was ultimately called off, as four ambulances arrived on the scene to treat the two players.

They were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital, where Abbasi was treated for a compound cheekbone fracture and Nelson facial lacerations and a broken nose.

Mudgeeraba president Matthew Gill was watching from the boundary and likened it to the infamous Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie collision in 1999.

Talha Abbasi at home after being released from hospital following his sickening collision with teammate Josh Nelson in the Kookaburra Cup T20 grand final on Sunday.
Talha Abbasi at home after being released from hospital following his sickening collision with teammate Josh Nelson in the Kookaburra Cup T20 grand final on Sunday.

“It was a nasty collision,” Gill said.

“They were out – as soon as they hit, they were out.

“Both eyes on the ball, both going full tilt. Josh was in at close cover and Talha was at deep long-off and (the batsman) lobbed it over the top of them and they went in helter skelter.

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“It was a little reminiscent of the Gillespie-Waugh collision if I’m being honest, although I think Nels was probably travelling quicker than that. He was flying.”

Grand final of the T20 Kookaburra Cup cricket competition at Sam Loxton Oval at Runaway Bay Cricket Club. Helensvale (green) vs. Mudgeeraba batting. Kevin Chapman. 26 September 2021 Runaway Bay Picture by Richard Gosling
Grand final of the T20 Kookaburra Cup cricket competition at Sam Loxton Oval at Runaway Bay Cricket Club. Helensvale (green) vs. Mudgeeraba batting. Kevin Chapman. 26 September 2021 Runaway Bay Picture by Richard Gosling

Gill spoke to Nelson on Monday morning and said the batsman had avoided any significant damage.

“Josh is OK. He has two days off (but) should be back to work by the end of the week,” Gill said.

“He has a laceration on his forehead and a laceration above his eye.

“I think he’s got 8-10 stitches to his face.”

Abbasi came out of the collision much worse, with a compound cheekbone fracture that Gill said could require reconstructive surgery.

“They’ve sent him home and he has to wait a week until the swelling goes down to decide if he needs a facial reconstruction,” Gill said.

Both players had made key contributions to Mudgeeraba’s batting innings.

No. 3 Nelson struck 25 off 23 while Abbasi, who came in at five, saw out the Mudgeeraba innings on 61 not out, smashing eight boundaries including three sixes.

Mudgeeraba was in a winning position, having posted 5/177, and Helensvale was struggling in the chase at 4/49, when the incident occurred.

“No one really cared about the result,” Gill said.

Grand final of the T20 Kookaburra Cup cricket competition at Sam Loxton Oval at Runaway Bay Cricket Club. Helensvale (green) vs. Mudgeeraba batting. Jack Baird celebrates a wicket. 26 September 2021 Runaway Bay Picture by Richard Gosling
Grand final of the T20 Kookaburra Cup cricket competition at Sam Loxton Oval at Runaway Bay Cricket Club. Helensvale (green) vs. Mudgeeraba batting. Jack Baird celebrates a wicket. 26 September 2021 Runaway Bay Picture by Richard Gosling

“It affected the batsmen, it affected everyone who saw it or heard it. It was a pretty sickening noise when they collided.

“The umpires declared a result (Mudgeeraba win) but there was no presentation – no one has said anything about it.

“No one cared, to be honest.

“I know Cricket Gold Coast hasn’t finalised the result yet – they’ll do that later in the week. We’re just happy (Nelson and Abbasi) are both home and OK.”

Gill hailed the response of players and officials from both teams as the reality of the situation became clear.

“I think everyone handled it really well. Hats off to the Helensvale boys, they were really good,” he said.

“It was an unfortunate way for the day to end … (but) people are more important than the game of cricket itself.”

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/mudgeeraba-nerang-players-transported-to-hospital-after-colliding-while-fielding-in-t20-final/news-story/190d055d4cac7ae93815561268e41790