A relieved Sam Harper insists his health has turned a corner after suffering a “grim” concussion while training with the Melbourne Stars.
The wicketkeeper suffered a laceration on his chin and neck after being struck by a ball on January 5 as he attempted to play a ramp shot while preparing for a Big Bash League match.
The incident shocked onlookers and Harper was taken to hospital, where he stayed overnight.
The 27-year-old has a history of concussions and was sidelined for several weeks in 2017 after being accidentally struck in the head with a bat.
“It’s not something I wish to go through again.”
“The initial incident and the first few days after were pretty grim and pretty rough,” Harper told Fox Cricket on Monday night ahead of the Stars’ match against Hobart.
“Unfortunately I’ve had a few (concussions) now so I knew potentially what some of the symptoms would be,” Harper said.
“As people do say, they’re all very different. This one the first few days just getting over the dizziness and constant head spins.
“It was pretty bad the first few days so it was just getting through that and when I got over that it was a bit of a relief and things progressively got better from there.
“It’s always concerning and frightening, especially when you’ve has a few hits, in those initial few days.
“Distressing for me and distressing for my family.
“I’m just relieved and in a really positive headspace that things seemed to have turned a corner.”
Harper will not play again during the BBL campaign with the Stars already eliminated from the finals race.
But the Victorian keeper is hopeful of being cleared to play when the Sheffield Shield resumes in February.
Paul
Roar Rookie
So glad he's on the mend. Such a great bloke. I've taken my son to Renegades clinics at Citipower and the Super Clinics at Marvel, and seen him be so generous with his time. The kids love him. Its the people and characters like him that make the game what it is.