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 evening after the Melbourne Stars batsman appeared to suffer a neck injury during the Big Bash League match at Optus Stadium.

The 32-year-old middle-order batsman was fielding at deep point when Perth’s Cooper Connolly had hit the ball to him.

Cartwright looked to dive to save the boundary as the ball shot towards the rope but fell to the ground with some force.

At first he appeared to be lying on the ground holding his head.

Teammate Marcus Stoinis was the first player to arrive and quickly gestured for the medical teams to come onto the pitch.

The crowd had fallen silent when they realized Cartwright, who played twice for the Australian Test side, had been seriously injured.

Commentator Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7’s commentary: ‘Something has happened here. He has his hand in front of his face, so something is clearly wrong.

“Let’s hope it’s nothing serious.”

Former Australian Test star Justin Langer added: “It’s like he knew straight away. He is one of the toughest athletes you will ever meet.”

Worryingly, Cartwright remained on the ground 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 had been immediately taken to hospital for further tests and scans of his neck.

“It’s difficult because he’s a very well-respected, well-liked man in the dressing rooms…” Stoinis, the Stars’ new captain, told Cartwright after the match.

“Hopefully it will work out.”

The Stars had stepped onto the wicket to bat first, setting their opponents a target of 147 to win. Cartwright came out and hit 18 runs off 17 balls, before being praised for his fielding, before sustaining the injury.

Stoinis later told Channel 7 after the match that he had not suffered a concussion.

“I got an update to say he doesn’t have a concussion so that’s the first good sign, but he’s gone to hospital and he’s getting scans on his neck, they’re a bit concerned about his neck,” he said. said.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed because he’s an important part of our team and the WA squad, and he’s a well-respected man. So hopefully he’s all right.”

On his debut as captain, Stoinis led his team by example and tied with Tom Curran for the highest number of runs of 37.

But the Stars, looking to reach the final for the first time in four years, were swept away by the Scorchers, with Connolly hitting 64 runs off 51 balls before being dismissed by Curran.

Captain Ashton Turner came in to follow that up with another 37, while their number 6, Nick Hobson, finished the game with 27 runs, with Perth winning with three overs to spare.