Sydney Thunder duo Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams have been involved in one of the Big Bash League’s more horrific incidents, after they collided under a high catch against the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium.
After Cooper Connolly hit a high shot over mid-wicket on the second ball of the Power Surge, Bancroft, running back from the infield, and Sams, rushing in from the boundary, both courageously went for the ball, unaware their teammate was doing likewise.
The result was a terrifying collision, with Sams appearing to be knocked out cold after his head whiplashed into the ground after contact, while Bancroft was left clutching his face.
“That is a massive collision – Daniel Sams is out, Cam Bancroft’s in all sorts of trouble,” commentator Andy Maher said on Seven.
“That is horrible… we draw our breath here.”
“You never want to see that,” co-commentator Aaron Finch added.
According to Code Sports, Sams will enter the league’s mandatory 12-day concussion protocol period, but appears to have avoided any further injury.
However, Bancroft will miss the remainder of the tournament, having sustained a broken nose and a shoulder fracture in the collision.
The incident was reminiscent of a famous outfield collision between Australian pair Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie during a Test in Sri Lanka in 199, with Waugh suffering a broken nose and Gillespie a broken leg.
Medical aid was immediately called for by concerned Thunder teammates, with play halted for several minutes as both Bancroft and Sams were attended to.
Sams needed to be stretchered from the field, while more positively, Bancroft was able to walk off under his own steam, albeit bleeding badly from the nose.
It is the second time this BBL season a stretcher has been required at Optus Stadium, with Melbourne Stars batter Hilton Cartwright sustaining an apparent neck injury while diving on the boundary on the opening night of the season.
He was, however, given the all-clear after a trip to hospital and played in the Stars’ next match.
Thunder backup quick Liam Hatcher and substitute Toby Gray were brought on as sub fielders for the remainder of the Thunder innings.
Bancroft and Sams were soon ruled out of the rest of the match, with Ollie Davies – who was originally at the team hotel and battling illness before being rushed to the ground – and youngster Hugh Weibgen named as their concussion replacements, with the latter making his T20 debut.
Weibgen is best known for captaining Australia to their U19 World Cup victory in February 2024, with one of his teammates current Australian Test opener Sam Konstas.
Despite the drama, the Thunder managed to pull off a sensational victory.
Scorchers opener Finn Allen cracked 68 off 31 balls and Cooper Connolly chipped in with an unbeaten 43 as the hosts made 4-177 in front of 46,471 fans at Optus Stadium.
In reply, David Warner (49 off 33 balls) set the foundations for the Thunder, but their victory hopes looked bleak needing 21 runs off the last seven balls.
A huge six from Weibgen (9no off six balls) gave them hope, and Sherfane Rutherford (39no off 19 balls) reduced the equation to three runs needed off the final delivery.
Rutherford just got his bat on AJ Tye’s final delivery to send the ball to the fine leg boundary and secure a famous victory.
Thunder players streamed onto the field following the miraculous victory, but the result came secondary to the horrific on-field collision between Sams and Bancroft.
“Standing at mid-wicket, I saw everything,” Rutherford said of the collision.
“I was going to see how they looked, but when I saw the blood, I turned back, because I’m not a fan of blood.
“I saw a bit of Dan Sams in the room. It looked like he was unconscious.
“It definitely was a motivation for us. Everything we did tonight, it was for our two soldiers.
“I told myself I had to do something for them.”
The Scorchers were 4-126 after 15.2 overs when play was halted while Bancroft and Sams were attended to.
Thunder spinner Chris Green (3-20 off four overs) played a crucial role in halting Perth’s momentum as the home side lost 3-8 in a mid-innings slump.
At 3-113 in their run chase, the Thunder were a real chance to pull off victory.
Warner’s dismissal in the 14th over when he was caught on the boundary was a huge blow, but some big hits from Rutherford were enough to get the Thunder over the line.
“I had two plans,” Rutherford said of the final ball.
“One was to try to hit it in the gap and get two. But then I was like, ‘that doesn’t make sense, just let me try to smack it, and anything can happen’.
“I actually had an edge down the leg (to win it). It was a good night for me, and I’m happy we got across the line for the team.”
with AAP
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