Mind Your Head

First concussion substitute for BBL.

Australian Associated Press.

Wednesday, 22 January 2020.

PTG 3005-14890.

Melbourne Renegades wicketkeeper Sam Harper has undergone tests in hospital after suffering a concussion during a collision in Tuesday night’s Big Bash League (BBL) game against the Hobart Hurricanes.  Whilst batting, the 23-year-old collided heavily with Hurricane bowler Nathan Ellis when attempting to complete a run and became the first player substituted out of a BBL match, being replaced by Tom Cooper.

Renegades coach Michael Klinger said: “I’ve never seen a concussion in a cricket game like that, where it’s more football or rugby when someone gets taken out from underneath.  It’s no one’s fault, but you don’t like to see anyone getting hurt. He didn’t look that bad when he came off the field so hopefully he’ll be OK.  I think the medical guys made the right call, with him not passing the initial test”.

Ellis said it was strange how the incident unfolded.  “I hope he’s OK, you never want to see that on the field”, Ellis said. “At first he stayed down and clutched his head and he was a bit wobbly legs, but after the doctor and umpire spoke to him he seemed OK".

Harper suffered a serious concussion during a Sheffield Shield game in 2017 when he was keeping up to the stumps and the bat of South Australia’s Jake Lehmann smashed into the side of his head (PTG 2046-10367, 12 February 2017).  The incident left him in serious pain for an extended period, but he returned the following season.

Substitute used after Zim fielder suffers delayed concussion.

Cricinfo.

Thursday, 23 January 2020.

PTG 3005-14891.

Zimbabwe's debutant opener Kevin Kasuza has suffered a delayed concussion after sustaining a blow to the helmet at short leg on day three of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Harare on Tuesday. Although Kasuza was cleared of concussion via scans that day, Zimbabwe's team doctor confirmed on Wednesday that concussion had set in.  The hosts have now named a like-for-like concussion substitute, bringing in 24-year old opener Brian Mudzinganyama into the XI for what is his Test debut.

Kasuza, who made 63 in the first innings, had not immediately felt the effects of the blow, when a full-blooded Kusal Mendis pull caught him flush on the helmet during Tuesday’s first session. After a few seconds, however, he took his helmet off, and suddenly appeared groggy. He was able to continue standing, partly with the support of his teammates, and after the Zimbabwe team doctor came out to assess him, he left the field before another ball was bowled. Despite being cleared of an immediate concussion by scans, he did not return to the field of play .

The recently introduced concussion substitution protocols dictate that the team's medical representative must run standardised tests and submit a report to the match referee. On this occasion, match referee Javagal Srinath has accepted that Kasuza is suffering from concussion. It seems likely the opener will be unavailable for the second Test of the Sri Lanka series as well, which starts next Monday.