Adam Voges retires hurt due to concussion after being hit in Sheffield Shield match at the WACA

Test batsman Adam Voges has been ruled out of Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match in Perth after being struck on the helmet at the WACA Ground, Perth. The right-hander was batting on 16 when he suffered a concussion after getting was struck by a bouncer from fast bowler Cameron Stevenson on the opening day of WA’s Shield clash against Tasmania.

Voges was quickly down to his knees and the team medical staff ran out onto the ground to assess him. He dropped to his arms and knees and lay on the ground for some time before, he got to his feet and walked out from the ground, with each arm wrapped around the shoulder of a medical staff member.

The concussion forced him to miss the rest of the match as he could not return to bat again. Voges entered the match needing a big score to save his Test career but this blow comes was a huge setback for his chances of holding his place in Australia’s Test team.

The right-hander, whose batting average once hovered around the 100 runs mark, is currently looking to retain his place after poor scores of 27, 1, 2 and 2 in the ongoing series against the Proteas so far. Despite his recent low scores, Voges still averages 61.87 from 20 Tests, with five centuries, two of which were doubles.

It’s the second time this year that Voges has been struck on the head after he was hit in the back of the head by an errant throw while fielding in the slips playing for Middlesex in county cricket in May.

Cricket Australia this year introduced concussion substitutes for all domestic one-day and T20 matches, but the new rule doesn’t apply for Shield matches as a match would lose its first-class status if substitutes were allowed.

Watch the video here: