“We expect he will make a quick recovery”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Melbourne Renegades wicketkeeper Peter Nevill is likely to be sidelined for the rest of the Big Bash League (BBL) following a freak accident.

Nevill was diagnosed with a burst blood vessel in his right cheek after he was struck by the handle of Adelaide Strikers captain Brad Hodge.

It was also thought that he might have sustained a broken jaw, but scans came back inconclusive.

“Peter is doing well. Initial scans were inconclusive as to whether there is a hairline fracture or whether swelling was due to a burst blood vessel,” Renegades physio Nick Adcock said. “Peter will have further reviews with specialists and scans in Sydney this week and pending these follow-ups, we expect he will make a quick recovery.”

The incident occurred on the first ball of the 18th over in the Strikers’ chase of 172. Hodge swung too hard at a short ball bowled by Thisara Perera and it ended up hitting Nevill on the side of the face.

Nevill was watching the ball at the time and had no idea where the bat was until it was too late.

“Never seen anything like it,” Nevill’s Renegades team-mate Callum Ferguson said. “That was staggering, hopefully he’s okay.

“Normally when you’re up to the stumps you’ve got the helmet on. You don’t usually think you’re in too much trouble getting hit by the bat when you’re standing back to the quicks. That’s just a freak accident.”

Speaking about the incident after the match, which the Renegades won by six runs, Hodge said: “I tried to grab it and hang on to it, and if I had of let it go it probably would have just gone out to square leg. But I just tugged it round and it hit him right in the side of the jaw.

“Never seen anything like it at all. I’ve seen things where bats have gone flying, but never hit anyone.”

Nevill will be monitored by Cricket New South Wales’ medical staff in the coming weeks, but he is expected to be fit for the team’s Sheffield Shield game against Victoria on February 1.