Worrying scenes unfold in opening Big Bash clash as Melbourne Stars batter appears to suffer neck injury while attempting to save a boundary
Hilton Cartwright was taken to hospital on Sunday night after the Melbourne Stars batsman appeared to suffer a neck injury during the Big Bash League’s curtain raiser at the Optus Stadium.
The 32-year-old middle-order batsman had been fielding at deep point when Perth’s Cooper Connolly had struck the ball out towards him.
Cartwright appeared to dive to save the boundary as the ball careered toward the rope but fell to the ground with some force.
He initially appeared to curl up on the ground while clutching his head.
Team-mate Marcus Stoinis was the first player to arrive and quickly gestured for medical teams to come onto the pitch.
The crowd had fallen silent upon realising that Cartwright, who played twice for Australia’s Test side, had been seriously hurt.
Commentator Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7’s commentary: ‘Something’s happened here. He has his hand over his face so something is obviously wrong.
‘Let’s hope it’s not anything too serious.’
Former Australian Test great Justin Langer added: ‘It’s like he knew straight away. He is one of the toughest athletes you will ever come across.’
Worryingly Cartwright stayed on the floor as he was attended to by medics, before doctors placed him in a neck brace and transported him from the field on a stretcher.
The Stars later announced that Cartwright was immediately taken to hospital for further assessments and scans on his neck.
‘It’s hard because he’s a very well respected, loved guy all around the changerooms…’ Stoinis, the Stars’ new captain, said on Cartwright after the match.
‘Hopefully, it turns out alright.’
The Stars had stepped out into the wicket to bat first, setting their opponents a target of 147 to win. Cartwright came out to hit 18 runs off 17 balls, before being praised for his fielding, prior to suffering the injury.
Stoinis later told Channel 7 after the game that he had not sustained a concussion injury.
‘I got an update to say he doesn’t have a concussion, so that’s the first good sign, but he has headed to the hospital and he is getting scans on his neck, they’re a bit worried about his neck,’ he said.
‘Fingers crossed because he is an important part of our team and the WA squad, and he’s a well-respected guy. So hopefully he is OK.’
On his debut appearance as captain, Stoinis led his team by example, striking their joint-highest run tally, alongside Tom Curran, of 37.
But the Stars, who are looking to make finals for the first time in four years, were brushed away by the Scorchers, with Connolly going on to hit 64 runs off 51 balls before he was dismissed by Curran.
Captain Ashton Turner came in to follow that up with another 37, while their No 6, Nick Hobson wrapped up the game with 27 runs, with Perth winning with three overs to spare.
