Melbourne Stars Sam Harper taken to hospital after being hit in head at BBL training

Melbourne Stars officials were initially concerned about Sam Harper’s breathing after an incident in the MCG nets on Friday, but is expected to make a full recovery.

Melbourne Stars officials were initially concerned about Sam Harper’s breathing as he recovers in hospital from being hit in the head during training on Friday afternoon.

The Stars’ wicketkeeper was facing throwdowns ahead of the side’s clash against the Sixers when a ball struck him on the neck and chin as he attempted to ramp a ball.

Due to the location of the laceration, there was concern about Harper’s breathing so an ambulance was called immediately.

However, the Stars issued a statement on Saturday morning confirming that Harper had spent the night in hospital and was recovering well.

“Scans have cleared Melbourne Stars wicketkeeper Sam Harper of an acute fracture or soft tissue injury, after he was injured whilst batting in the MCG nets last night,” the statement read.

Harper spent Friday night in a Melbourne hospital. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

“Harper suffered a laceration on his chin and neck and was immediately attended to by the Melbourne Stars medical team after being struck whilst attempting to ramp a ball.

“Harper will be monitored by doctors over the coming days.”

The 27-year-old wicketkeeper has had an extensive history of concussion, in particular, he was involved in a big collision with Nathan Ellis during a Big Bash game in 2020.

He was also on the end of a freak incident in the Sheffield Shield in 2017 when Jake Lehmann’s bat left his grip and struck Harper in the head.

While the Stars’ primary focus has been on Harper’s wellbeing, they have also had to take action ahead of their clash with the Sydney Sixers on Saturday night.

Harper was the main wicketkeeper in their squad and as a result, they have called in former Star, Peter Handscomb, as a replacement.

He played 51 games for the club between BBL01 and BBL09 and will immediately come into their squad for Saturday’s match.

BBL KEEPER HOSPITALISED AFTER HORROR TRAINING INCIDENT

- Daniel Cherny

Melbourne Stars wicketkeeper Sam Harper has been hospitalised after being hit in the head while batting in the MCG nets.

The gloveman was training with the Stars on Friday night ahead of the club’s match against the Sydney Sixers.

He was taken via ambulance following the hit in what the club said was a “stable condition.”

The Stars have asked that Harper’s privacy be respected. Harper, 27, has a long history of concussions. In 2017 he was confined to a dark room for three weeks after an accident in which he was struck in the head by South Australia’s Jake Lehmann.

Then in 2020, playing for the Melbourne Renegades, the wicketkeeper again hurt his head after landing heavily seeking to evade the Hobart Hurricanes’ Nathan Ellis while seeking a run in a match at Marvel Stadium.

Sam Harper was taken to hospital after a training accident. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Harper was traded to the Stars from the Renegades at the end of last season in a direct swap with Adam Zampa.

He opened up about the 2017 incident in an episode of The Athlete Diaries podcast.

“I’m in a hospital bed, I cannot look at a screen, it would send my headaches and dizziness nuts, can’t watch TV, can’t read a book, can’t read a paper. I was literally in a dark room for three weeks and didn’t even know when the sun has risen and when the sun was setting. It felt like night time for three weeks,” Harper said.

“I’d get woken up on the hour every hour to get my heart rate and stuff checked to make sure I was still conscious. I was having these faint attacks where I’d pretty much pass out for a minute. I wouldn’t even be present in the conversation I was having with someone else. I think that was a bit scary, Dad was there. Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria were awesome, they sent Dad (Bryan) over and he’d come sit by my bed and chat to me and make sure I was okay. I think that was quite confronting for him to see that.

Sam Harper after colliding with Nathan Ellis while playing for the Renegades.

“I wasn’t allowed to leave my hospital bed, even to go to the bathroom. I’d just have to call for emergency assistance to help me. I was in a walking frame for seven days. There was something in the back of my brain which sends signals to the legs … they help you walk two steps forward which we take for granted, but at the time these weren’t as clear as they should’ve been which was making the simple task of walking (hard). I literally had a physio walking me 10 steps down the hallway helping me walk again. My brain knew how to walk but my legs weren’t coming to terms with that. I was almost embarrassed.”

Originally published as Melbourne Stars Sam Harper taken to hospital after being hit in head at BBL training