Australian internationals Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams were hospitalised after the pair collided while fielding in the Big Bash League on Friday (January 3).
The incident occurred in the first innings of Friday's BBL game between Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers in Perth. The home side had made their way to 124-4 in 15 overs before taking the Power Surge looking to finish the innings strongly.
Off the second ball of the 16th over, Cooper Connolly attempted a leg side heave off Lockie Ferguson. The ball travelled high rather than far, presenting a catching opportunity.
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Bancroft ran after the ball, away from the pitch as Sams ran in from the boundary – each one watching the ball. Bancroft reached it first and got both hands on it, but a split second later crashed head-on into Sams in sickening fashion. The ball dropped out as the batters ran two runs.
Sams lay prone on the ground for a few seconds, as Bancroft was hunched over, clutching his face. Both players were helped off the field, with Bancroft nursing a bloody nose while Sams was taken off on a medicab.
Shortly afterwards, the Thunder provided an update on both players' conditions, saying both had suffered "possible fractures", and that they were in hospital for further examination.
Thunder forced to use two concussion substitutes
In addition, both players were replaced by concussion substitutes – Bancroft by Ollie Davies and Sams by Hugh Weibgen for the youngster's BBL debut. Using multiple concussion substitutes is rare, but allowed by the 2024/25 BBL playing conditions. As outlined by Appendix C.2.10., "There is no maximum number of Concussion Substitutes available in a particular match."
Bangladesh were also forced to use two concussion substitutes in a Test match against India in 2019, after batters Litton Das and Nayeem Hasan were both hit on the helmet by Mohammed Shami. On that occasion, Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz were the replacements.
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A potential point of contention may have arisen with the replacement of Sams (an all-rounder) with Weibgen (a batter), as concussion substitute regulations say that they must be a "like-for-like replacement".
However, by the time the substitution had been made, the first innings had ended, meaning Sams' only potential further role in the match would have been as a batter, making Weibgen a like-for-like swap.
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