Sam Harper, the Melbourne Stars wicketkeeper, was hospitalised after a suffering a nasty blow to the head. The same has been confirmed by his Big Bash League (BBL) franchise who also say that that the cricketer is conscious and stable. Harper was batting at the nets during a net session with Stars when he got hit on the head on Friday (January 5) ahead of the team's clash against Sydney Sixers. Harper had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
It is being learnt that Harper tried to play a cross-batted shot which he missed and was hit on the chin instead with the ball smashing the grill of his helmet. The blow caused a severe cut near the batter's throat. Harper was initially attended by the medical team of the franchise to control bleeding before being rushed to the hospital. A report carried by ESPNCricinfo claims that Harper is likely to remain in the hospital overnight and undergo several scans as precautionary measures before he is released.
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Sam Harper Has A History Of Concussions
Post the Harper incident, Melbourne Stars training was immediately called off. It is pertinent to note that Harper has a history of concussions which is what will mean more caution in the treatment of the stumper. He sustained a concussion in a BBL fixture in January 2020 when he collided with Hobart Hurricanes' Nathan Ellis. On that occasion too, he had to be hospitalised. In another incident, the 27-year-old was hit by a bat while he was keeping the wickets in a Sheffield Shied match.
Harper's injury means he is sure to miss the match against Sixers. That means trouble for the Stars who do not have a back-up wicketkeeper in their ranks. Former Stars player and Victoria's white-ball captain Peter Handscomb could be drafted in at short notice as he is not contracted in the BBL as of now.