Fletcher hospitalised after head blow

Nottinghamshire fast bowler Luke Fletcher was struck on the head while bowling and taken to hospital during a county T20 match against Birmingham Bears on Saturday.

Fletcher had little time to react as a powerful drive was smashed back at him during the fourth over of Birmingham's run-chase at Edgbaston.

Medical assistance was immediately called for with Fletcher bleeding from the blow, but the 28-year-old was able to walk off the ground with the assistance of the physio. 

Fellow Nottinghamshire quick Jake Ball tweeted a photo of Fletcher giving the thumbs up in the back of an ambulance.

Nottinghamshire later issued a statement confirming Fletcher had been taken to hospital to determine the extent of the injury.

"Luke Fletcher has been taken to hospital to assess the extent of the head injury sustained in the NatWest T20 Blast between the Birmingham Bears and the Notts Outlaws and an update on his condition will be communicated in due course," Nottinghamshire chief executive Lisa Pursehouse said.

"He was able to walk off the field of play and, after receiving treatment from the medical staff, it was recommended he go to hospital for a thorough check-up.

"Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club would like to thank Sky, the ECB, the Birmingham Bears staff and the Edgbaston crowd for the sympathy and understanding they showed in an extremely difficult situation.

"The heartfelt round of applause given to the team as they left the field before returning was very much appreciated by the players and management."

Players were visibly shaken by the incident, with some in tears, according to the BBC. 

"It rattled most of us out there on the field," Nottinghamshire captain and former Australia allrounder Dan Christian said after play.

"But we spoke to the doctor in the rooms and he assured us that Luke was in pretty good nick, he just had a bit of a flesh wound. 

"Everything else seemed to be okay, so once we knew that we got back on it."

After a half-hour delay, Birmingham chased down their target of 159 on the final ball of the match with six wickets in hand.

"The win isn't really important," Birmingham captain Ian Bell said. "We just hope Fletcher is alright, it's just a game at the end of the day and we don't want to see things like that."

Nottinghamshire coach Peter Moores praised the swift response by on-field umpires and medical staff after the incident.