Bowler struck on head remarkably walks off field

Nottinghamshire bowler Luke Fletcher has remarkably walked off the field after being felled by a straight drive to the top of his head in a T20 Blast match overnight.

Fletcher's first ball of the night was sent down to Birmingham Bears batsman Sam Hain, who loaded up to continue their chase of Nottinghamshire's target of 159.

The 28-year-old dropped to the pitch holding his head, with all involved immediately calling for medical attention.

But before a second physio could reach the pitch Fletcher was already walking off with a towel over his bleeding head.

The match was delayed for half an hour, with Fletcher's Australian captain Dan Christian saying the incident shook the players.

"It rattled most of us out there on the field," Christian said.

"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."

Teammate Jake Ball tweeted a picture of Fletcher with two thumbs up, saying he "looks like he's doing well" but was off to hospital.

Nottinghamshire confirmed he would undergo scans.

"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 in a statement.

"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."