David Warner was involved in bizarre scenes and Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft were taken to hospital after a horror collision as the Sydney Thunder pulled off a remarkable win in the BBL on Friday night. Sams and Bancroft collided head-first while both were chasing a ball in the outfield off the bat of Perth Scorchers batter Cooper Connolly.
Bancroft was running back while Sams was coming in, and the Thunder teammates clashed heads in sickening scenes. Bancroft was eventually able to walk off the field under assistance from trainers, but had blood streaming from his nose.
Sams was taken from the field on a stretcher and appeared to be heavily concussed as he lay prone on the ground. The Thunder later confirmed that both players had been concussed and were taken to hospital for further assessment, with concerns about possible fractures. The team said the players were conscious and talking.
“That is a horrendous collision,” said Mel Jones in commentary for Fox Cricket. “There’s concern here. Both players fully committed to the ball, eyes on it. Didn’t see each other coming. This is what you don’t want to see.”
Sydney Thunder pull off emotional win after collision
Ollie Davies and Hugh Weibgen were approved as concussion replacements by the match referee, with Weibgen playing a huge part in the Thunder’s victory. The Sydney team’s hopes looked bleak when they needed 21 runs off the last seven balls, but a huge six from Weibgen gave them hope, and Sherfane Rutherford (39 not out 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 for the Thunder, with players streaming onto the field in emotional celebrations. Rutherford later said of the Sams-Bancroft incident: “Standing at mid-wicket, I saw everything.
“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.”
Brutal fielding collision in the BBL between Daniel Sams & Cam Bancroft.
Clear concussion for Sams – fencing response (stiff arms) is a neurological response to brain injury. Stretchered off but hopefully precautionary. Concussion concern also for Bancroft + likely broken nose. pic.twitter.com/K5QxmvOpz0
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) January 3, 2025
I’ve seen a few bad collisions in the field but the one between Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams in today’s BBL is one of the worst. Let’s hope they are both not too badly hurt (Picture by Will Russell) pic.twitter.com/QGbTK6V1X0
— Martin Williamson (@mogodonman) January 3, 2025
That was an awful collision in the BBL. Hope Sams and Bancroft are okay
— Lachlan Drummond (@ljdrummond24) January 3, 2025
David Warner walks off field in bizarre scenes
Warner was also instrumental in the victory, making 49 off 33 balls at the top of the order. But there were bizarre scenes when he walked off the ground convinced he was out, only to be given a massive reprieve.
Warner thought he was out lbw on 39 when the Scorchers opted for a review. Upon seeing the replays, Warner walked the majority of the way off the field, only for ‘umpire’s call’ to save him because not enough of the ball was hitting the top of the stumps.
The former Test opener had to make an embarrassing walk back to the middle looking rather red-faced. And cricket fans were left fuming that the on-field umpire hadn’t given it out in the first place, labelling it a “farce” and “disgrace”.
It was out thats why he was walking. Umpire must be blind not to see that. Absolute disgrace.
— PowerBall (@PortPowerBall) January 3, 2025
This is frustrating… That should be out everyday of the week. If it hits the wickets normally and the bails fall, it’s out. But in review if it hits the bails it’s not out?! Make it make sense…
— Brad Simo (@BradSimo1) January 3, 2025
Warner’s dismissal in the 14th over was a huge blow, but some big hitting from Rutherford got the Thunder home. “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.”
