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Recovering net bowler welcomed back by Aussies

Local net fast bowler Jay Plaha gifted a signed team shirt as he continues recovery from a blow to the head during an Aussie training session

The local net bowler who was struck in the head by a David Warner straight drive during a practice session has returned to meet with the Australian World Cup team.

Jaykishan Plaha spent four nights in a London hospital after being hit last Saturday at The Oval as Australia practiced before their match against India.

The Australian team's medical staff and paramedics attended to the 22-year-old bowler as he lay on the pitch before he was put on a stretcher and taken from The Oval in a medicab to the nearby St Thomas' Hospital.

Image Id: 2564EC21EFE840C6A9EFD8944FC55463 Image Caption: Warner and net bowler Jay Plaha // Cricket Network

He later had CT scans that cleared him of any serious injury, but it was two days before he was cleared to walk again, and four days before he left hospital.

He met with Warner at The Oval before the Australians' match against Sri Lanka and they embraced at the steps of the dressing room before Warner presented him with a playing shirt signed by the entire squad.

"It was just an unfortunate accident," Warner told the host broadcaster after their meeting. "We're extremely grateful for the guys coming in and bowling to us – workloads can stop us facing our own bowlers sometimes.

"To come in and roll the arm over and unfortunately get hit was sad, it was a real shock to us.

"Now he's recovering, back on his feet and said he'll be bowling again in about six weeks.

"We're going to get him around the group and I think he's coming to the Lord's game (against England on June 25) as well."

Plaha had taken to social media to thank the Australian officials for their prompt attention. 

"Just want to thank god that I’m still here breathing, big thank you to family and friends, thank you to all the people around the world for the prays and wishes, thanks to all the staff at surrey, icc, cricket aus, and st thomas hospital for making me feel like a special person," Plaha wrote on his instagram account.

Warner had been shaken up by the incident in the lead up to Australia's loss to India and was visibly distressed in the immediate aftermath.

Australia captain Aaron Finch, who had been batting in an adjoining net at the time of the incident, admitted his opening partner had been rattled.

Image Id: 6E1F08840E2646BE87DB5741C94FC386 Image Caption: A concerned Warner watches as Plaha is treated // Getty

"Dave was pretty shaken up," said Finch. "The young guy seems to be in pretty good spirits at the moment, he's obviously been taken to hospital and will continue to be assessed just to make sure everything is okay.

"It was a decent hit to the head. Hopefully everything keeps going well for the youngster and is back up and running shortly.

"It was tough to watch."

Plaha had earlier been a net bowler for a host of international teams at The Oval including South Africa, England, India and Afghanistan, collecting selfies with Dale Steyn and Rashid Khan among others.

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE