Cameron Bancroft’s BBL season is over after the Sydney Thunder opener suffered a fractured nose and a fractured right scapula in his horror collision with teammate Daniel Sams.
Bancroft and Sams were both still in a Perth hospital on Saturday morning, the club said in a statement, following their sickening clash in the field during the Thunder’s last-ball win over the Scorchers, but have since been released.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft crash into each other.
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Sams will be sidelined for at least 12 days after he and Bancroft were diagnosed with concussions.
Both players will also spend at least another night in Western Australia, unable to fly to Brisbane with the rest of their teammates.
Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams were injured in a collision while fielding in the BBL. Credit: AAP Thunder GM and Channel 7 commentator Trent Copeland said during Day 2 of Australia’s fifth Test against India that the club was flying Sams’s wife Danii over to Western Australia to be with him at the hospital.
Bancroft has also been left to nurse a broken nose out of the incident, with a shadow now hanging over the rest of his domestic summer.
Later on Saturday, the Thunder released a second statement which delivered the good news that both players had been discharged from hospital.
“Sydney Thunder players Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft will both be released from hospital this afternoon, following injuries sustained in last night’s exciting victory over the Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium,” the club wrote.
“In addition to sustaining a concussion, Bancroft has a fractured nose and a fractured right scapula. He will undergo further specialist assessment over the next few days that will determine a return to play date.
“Daniel Sams has sustained a concussion, and will big managed in a return to play process as per Cricket Australia protocols.
“Sydney Thunder would like to thank medical and other staff on hand following the accident, including those from the Perth Scorchers, Cricket Australia and our own staff.
“Cameron and Daniel have received the best care possible and we will support them and their families as they recover from their injuries.”
The horrors of the clash came as another remarkable story emerged, with Oliver Davies rushing from the hotel to act as a concussion sub.
Still feeling unwell, Davies scored three off eight balls but the Thunder went on to chase down Perth’s 4-177 from the final ball of the match.
The win lifted the Thunder to second on the BBL ladder with a game in hand, after winning only one game all of last season.
But the club are likely to count the costs of Friday night for some time.
Bancroft’s injury caps a horror summer for the West Australian, who began it in contention for a Test spot before his form dropped at the worst possible moment.
Cameron Bancroft suffered a broken nose and shoulder after his collision with teammate Daniel Sams. Credit: AAP The Thunder will briefly get Sam Konstas back after the Sydney Test, but will likely enter the finals without he or Bancroft if Konstas is picked for the Sri Lanka tour.
Sams is also one of the Thunder’s most important players given his strike with the ball and ability to hit hard late.
The allrounder will miss at least the next four games for the Thunder, with any return date to depend on how he recovers from his concussion.
For now the Thunder are at least confident he suffered no further serious injuries, after laying prone on the Optus Stadium turf and needing to be taken off in a medicab.
Play was stopped for five minutes following the collision, with Sams treated by medical staff and an ambulance crew on the field.
Daniels Sams was knocked out and stretchered off.
Daniels Sams was knocked out and stretchered off.
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