Daniel Sams under concussion protocol while Bancroft out of BBL after their sickening on-field collision while fielding.
Daniel Sams is under concussion protocols after horrific on-field collision.
Following the terrifying on-field incident at Optus Stadium on Friday night, Daniel Sams will be sidelined for at least 12 days due to concussion procedures, while Cameron Bancroft will be sidelined for the remainder of the BBL due to a broken nose and fractured shoulder.
After CT scans revealed no additional serious injuries, both players were scheduled to be discharged from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. While the rest of the team heads to Brisbane, they will stay in Perth with the help of Thunder’s backroom crew.
Thunder has sent Sam’s wife across to be with him while he heals, while Bancroft, who is from Western Australia, has family in Perth. Based on medical advice, a decision will be taken regarding Sam’s return date to Sydney. It’s possible that he won’t play in the competition again.
“Largely, the players are in good spirits,” Thunder general manager Trent Copeland told reporters at the SCG. “In the last hour, we’ve had confirmation that CT scans have come back largely pretty clear. Obviously both players sustained a concussion and that requires a 12-day stand-down period under the Cricket Australia protocols.
“Cameron in particular is with family in Perth, he had family with him at the hospital along with team staff. The likelihood is that he’s going to be out for the remainder of the BBL. Thankfully he is with family.
“Dan Sams doesn’t have that luxury, away from home, so we’ve flown his wife Dani over there today and we’ve had some team staff not go on the team flight to Brisbane for the Heat match tomorrow night. They’ll stay with Samsy in Perth. It’s a monitoring process from here. Hopefully through the next couple of days, we get some good news.
“Sydney Thunder would like to thank medical and other staff on hand following the accident, including those from the Scorchers, Cricket Australia and our own staff,” a club statement added. “Cameron and Daniel have received the best care possible and we will support them and their families as they recover from their injuries.”
In the sixteenth over of the Scorchers’ innings, Cooper Connolly struck Lockie Ferguson with an aerial blow to the leg side. With his sights set on the ball, Sams ran out of the infield. Bancroft also came in from the outfield at full speed at the same moment. Their heads knocked against one other when they collided.
The Thunder players hurried to the two people who were lying still on the ground and hurriedly called for help, which was delivered right away.
With blood streaming from his nose, Bancroft was able to walk off the ground with the assistance of a physiotherapist, while Sams was carried away in a mini-ambulance.