Player suffers serious injury in first round of Premier Cricket

A Fourth XI Premier Cricket player has had emergency surgery after seriously injuring his finger while trying catch a ball hit for six.

The first day of the Premier Cricket season was soured by a serious injury.

A young Victorian Premier Cricket player suffered a serious finger injury in the opening round of the season.

Cricket Victoria is awaiting a report of the incident in the Fourth XI match between St Kilda and Camberwell Magpies at Watson Park in Ashburton on Saturday.

The St Kilda player sustained an injury to the index finger on his left hand as he attempted to catch a ball hit over the boundary for six.

He went into shock and was treated at the ground by Camberwell official Dave Francis, a physiotherapist, before being rushed to nearby Cabrini Hospital in Malvern for plastic surgery.

Two sources told Leader the player’s teammates were distressed by the “freakish’’ incident, which occurred in the first innings of the one-dayer.

The match continued.

Cricket Victoria competitions manager Darren Anderson said on Saturday afternoon that CV had received reports of the player’s injury and was seeking information from the clubs.

He said Cricket Victoria’s thoughts were with the player.

“We certainly hope he makes a speedy recovery,’’ Anderson said.

St Kilda coach Glenn Lalor said the club was rallying around the player.

“The boys were messaging him last night on the WhatsApp group and he responded along the lines of thanks for the messages,’’ Lalor said.

“It’s a once-off... I don’t know .. it’s still a bit raw. You try to fathom how something like this could happen at a game of cricket.’’