An afternoon at the cricket ended in agony for a fan who took a nasty ball to the face as Australia took on the West Indies in Sydney.
The unfortunate moment occurred during the second One Day International (ODI) at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Television cameras captured the moment the ball hit a young man’s face after he tried to catch but dropped a six off Australian batsman Sean Abbott from his seat in the members’ pavilion.
The man is then seen holding his face in disbelief as dozens of concerned bystanders jump up to help him.
Fox Sports commentators Kerry O’Keefe and Adam Gilchrist were left reeling after watching a replay of the incident, which showed the ball hitting the man on the cheek.
The blow appeared to have caused a nasty cut, which bled blood.
“That’s big, that’s very big, it’s in the members,” O’Keeffe said during commentary.
Footage captured the moment the ball hit a young man’s face on Sunday
The man tried but failed to catch the ball, which hit one side of his face
‘Sean Abbott, the power of the man. Did it cost a head? I think that might be the case.’
Gilchrist added: ‘You have to watch out when the white balls are flying around the SCG.’
“That’s disgusting.”
‘The hands were in position. There’s a bit of burgundy in it. Hopefully that guy’s okay!’
“He’s going to need a little treatment.”
Cricket Australia later confirmed the man’s cut had been stitched up and he is OK.
Cricket balls are extremely hard and can break bones on direct contact.
This is not the first time a fan has been injured by a ball during a top-level cricket match.
A 10-year-old girl was hospitalized after being hit by a ball during a New Zealand Black Caps match against Bangladesh in 2022.
She was hit in the head by a six-hit goal from Glenn Phillips in the T20 match, who sprinted to the embankment to check on her after the match ended.
Later that year, a man took a ball to the face during a BBL match between the Sydney Thunder and the Adelaide Strikers.
He was seen looking at his face in pain before being helped out of his seat by security.
Meanwhile, Abbott’s late cameo saved Australia’s innings against the West Indies, who need 259 runs to pull off their second upset in a week.
Australia were in deep trouble at 4-89 in the 16th over after being sent to the SCG to bat on Sunday before Abbott came to the rescue, smashing 69 off 63 balls – his best batting score at international level.
Coming in at number eight, the fast bowler smashed four of the eight sixes of an Australian innings that had struggled for momentum, with a spin-friendly delivery playing into the Windies’ hands.
Will Sutherland celebrates with teammates during the second ODI on Sunday
West Indies’ Shai Hope fumbles off a delivery from Australia’s Josh Hazlewood
By the time Romario Shepherd bowled Abbott in the penultimate over, Australia were well on their way to their total of 9-258.
Long-awaited debutant Jake Fraser-McGurk, regarded as an international hero of the future, was not caught behind until the fifth ball of the innings, and from then on the early wickets fell thick and fast.
Alzarri Joseph (2-74), who was quickly called into the side as an extra specialist, swung the new ball early and masterminded a mini-collapse of 2-21 inside three overs.
West Indies could have dreamed of the kind of upset they pulled off in their now famous second Test win at the Gabba last week.
Gudakesh Motie (3-28) was the bowlers’ favourite, tempting Aaron Hardie (26) to skype one into middle and removing Matt Short (41) from catch-and-bow as the visitors moved through the middle order tore.
With their chances faltering, Australia scored just two boundaries between the 27th and 45th overs, before Abbott started to take charge of the game.
Australia’s Sean Abbott meets West Indies’ Alick Athanaze at the SCG on Sunday
As Australia look to close out the three-match series, Xavier Bartlett will be unable to repeat his MCG heroics after being rested following the short turnaround following his stellar debut in the opening match.
Australia will rely on the experience of Josh Hazlewood, who was brought in along with debutant Will Sutherland to replace Bartlett and express the speedy Lance Morris – also rested after the MCG win.
Cameron Green (33) looked the most comfortable batsman in the top order.
On the first drop, the West Australian reignited the innings with three back-to-back fours off Joseph, who dismissed both Josh Inglis (9) and Fraser-McGurk (10) who were falling behind.
Fraser-McGurk, replacing the resting Travis Head at the top of the order, grounded Joseph four times, six past square leg and then off an outside edge to the wicketkeeper.
Just as he steadied the ship, Green floundered to halfway and was caught, before Motie had Marnus Labuschagne (26) as the Windies next introduced spin into the attack.
