Peter Nevill left with suspected broken jaw after freak incident

A HORRIFIC freak incident left Australian cricket star Peter Nevill collapsed on the ground and players on both sides worried for his health.

A Strikers player checks on Nevill’s wellbeing.

A CRAZY incident sent Melbourne Renegades wicketkeeper Peter Nevill tumbling to the turf in his side’s match against the Adelaide Strikers on Monday night.

Brad Hodge swung a ball away to the leg side and his bat flew out of his hands. The willow soared behind him towards Nevill, who had turned to watch the Kookaburra roll across the outfield.

Having no idea the bat was heading towards him, the former Australian gloveman was stunned when the handle struck him in the head. Players and medical staff immediately rushed to his aid as he lay on the ground.

The 31-year-old had to leave the field with a suspected broken jaw. It was the second time in as many weeks he’s been taken from the ground after copping a blow to the head in the BBL.

“My goodness, I didn’t see that, I was watching the ball. That’s unbelievable,” Mark Waugh said. “I’ve never seen that happen.”

“That’s nasty,” Darren Lehmann added.

The strike did immediate visible damage to Nevill’s face,

“There’s a fair bit of swelling there, too,” mark Howard said. “That’s blown right up. Hopefully Nevill is OK.”

Renegades captain Aaron Finch took the gloves when Nevill went off.

There was some serious swelling.

BOOF REVEALS A BIT TOO MUCH

Darren Lehmann took his chance behind the microphone to let the Australian public in on a little-known fact about himself.

The Australian coach revealed he’s got a tattoo of a redback spider (South Australia’s nickname being the Redbacks), but suggested it may no longer look like it used to, much to the amusement of his fellow commentators.

“I’ve got one (a tattoo). It used to be a redback but it’s now a tarantula as the size of my bottom’s got bigger,” Lehmann said.

“Come on Boof, it’s a child-friendly audience,” Mark Howard laughed.

That's more about Darren Lehmann than we ever needed to know! #BBL06 pic.twitter.com/mpyvYM5kcY

— KFC Big Bash League (@TheLiveT20) January 16, 2017

LEHMANN, WAUGH SHRED DOUBLE STANDARDS

It’s the BBL controversy that just won’t die.

Cricket fans tuning in to watch Tuesday night’s match between the Melbourne Stars and Brisbane Heat won’t see Brendon McCullum because the former New Zealand captain will be serving a one match ban.

He copped the punishment due to the Heat’s slow over rate in its loss to the Perth Scorchers last week. The Heat took 96 minutes to complete its bowling innings — six minutes outside the 90-minute limit imposed by the tournament’s directors.

McCullum’s suspension was widely ridiculed at the time. Australian players mocked the punishment on Twitter and Brad Hodge called it “embarrassing for the league”.

And the criticism keeps coming.

Lehmann was brutally honest when the issue came up again on Monday.

“Yes,” Lehmann said when asked if he believed McCullum should be able to play on Tuesday night. “I don’t have to agree with it (the punishment), do I?

“I’ll probably get in trouble for that, but that’s alright. I think he should be playing. It’s just how much trouble I’m in.

“I actually liked the others coming up with some different solutions to the problem.”

Most believe McCullum was unfairly treated.

The lunacy of McCullum’s ban was laid bare later in the Renegades’ innings when opener Marcus Harris had to wait for the third umpire’s verdict on a possible stumping. The left-hander was safely in his crease, but the man upstairs looked at multiple replays before giving Harris the all-clear.

“It’s not out, get on with the game,” an irritated Lehmann said.

“And we’re suspending McCullum for slowing the game down,” national selector Mark Waugh added cheekily, taking a jab at the league’s double standards.

Obviously it’s essential for the umpires to get their decisions right, but in the fast-paced game that is T20, the two former Aussie batsmen were irked a simple call was taking longer than it should have.

Harris blasted 85 as the Renegades set the Strikers 172 to win in the high-stakes BBL game.

The loser of the Adelaide Oval encounter will have no chance of making the finals, while the winner keeps its slim hopes alive.

The Renegades are seventh and the Strikers last heading into the clash — both outfits must win their remaining two games and hope other results fall their way to qualify for the play-offs.

Harris’ 52-ball knock, which featured six fours and four sixes, underpinned the Renegades’ 9-171 from 20 overs.

He dominated an opening stand of 55 from just 5.4 overs. His partner Aaron Finch made 19 before being first man out when superbly caught by Ben Laughlin.

The Striker ran about 25 metres with the flight of the ball before diving at full-stretch to complete a stunning catch.

Callum Ferguson (22) was next best while Adelaide’s Laughlin was the standout bowler with 2-15 from four overs. Kieron Pollard took 3-30.

Laughlin’s catch was seriously impressive.

— with AAP