The cricketing world were left in a huge shock when the Sri Lankan opener Dimuth Karunaratne was hit in the back of the neck by a bouncer from Aussie pacer Pat Cummins. Cummins’ delivery caught the batsman off guard and saw him attempt to get out of the way of the rising ball. But his attempts were in vain as the ball slammed in between his shoulder and neck guard at a thunderous pace of 142.5 km/h.
Karunaratne immediately fell on the field and soon all the layers rushed in before trainers ran out to the pitch. After spending a few minutes checking over him, the trainers called for the stretcher as concerns around the ground began to grow.
Karunaratna has been struck on what appears to be the shoulder/neck region by a short ball and is receiving treatment on the ground. He went straight to ground upon being struck. The stretcher has come onto the field.
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) February 2, 2019
However, according to the recent reports of Fox Cricket it has been informed that the batsman didn’t lose his consciousness after being struck by the bouncer. One of their reporters tweeted, “He has been taken to the hospital. It was quite distressing at the time. His dad came around and was visibly upset, his sister came as well. They’ve gone to the hospital in a separate car to support Karunaratne. The manager from Sri Lanka was also with him.”
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Karunaratne was taken to the Canberra Hospital as a precautionary measure.
Dimuth Karunaratne has been taken to hospital after he was hit in the neck. He was taken off on a stretcher but didn’t lose consciousness. The team manager went with him in the ambulance. His father, who was understandably distressed & his sister have gone in a separate car.
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_Meadows) February 2, 2019
She added Karunaratne “complained off pain in the neck and tingling to his hands”.
Update:
Dimuth complained of pain in neck and tingling to his hands following being struck in the back of the neck, decision then made to transport him to hospital where he is currently being assessed. Updates will be provided when more is known.@FoxCricket
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_Meadows) February 2, 2019
After roughly 10 minutes of laying on the pitch, Karunaratne was lifted onto the stretcher with a neck brace on. As he was loaded onto the stretcher Cummins was quick to check in on his opponent. He was driven straight from the field and loaded into an awaiting ambulance where he’ll go have further medical attention.
That's an awful picture: Pat Cummins walking alone over to the medicab to check on Karunaratne as the batsman leaves the field. #AusvSL
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) February 2, 2019
A scary sight as Karunaratne is stretchered off the ground. Pat Cummins checks up on him, and our thoughts with the Sri Lankan opener 🙏 #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/khbjZLYiyo
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 2, 2019
Dimuth Karunaratne stretchered off from the ground for medical treatment after he was struck around the back of his neck by a bouncer bowled by Pat Cummins #Cricket #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/AmmJ6dXffW
— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) February 2, 2019
Here is the video of the incident:
https://twitter.com/videos_shots/status/1091600175728979968
The Sri Lankan opener was reaching towards his well-deserved half-century at Manuka Oval. Cummins was coming around the wicket to the left-handed Karunaratne and was fell straight to the ground.
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Taking to Twitter, cricket.com.au., wrote: “Dimuth complained of pain in the neck and tingling to his hands following being struck in the back of the neck, the decision then made to transport him to the hospital where he is currently being assessed. Updates will be provided when more is known.”
Update from Canberra: "Dimuth complained of pain in neck and tingling to his hands following being struck in the back of the neck, decision then made to transport him to hospital where he is currently being assessed. Updates will be provided when more is known."
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 2, 2019
