Australian umpire hospitalised after being hit by ball

Tony de Nobrega was fortunate not to suffer broken bones, though he remains under observation.

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Tony de Nobrega, a Western Australian cricket umpire, was hospitalised after being struck in the face by a straight drive during a third-grade match in the West Australian Suburban Turf Cricket Association (WASTCA).

The incident occurred at Charles Veryard Reserve during a match between North Perth and Wembley Districts over the weekend.

The impact of the ball left Tony de Nobrega injured, but fortunately, he did not suffer any broken bones. He spent the night in hospital, and doctors have kept him under observation, though surgery remains a possibility.

The WASTCA Umpires Association expressed their support for the umpire on Facebook, saying: "Spending the night in hospital, Tony was fortunate enough not to have had any broken bones; however, the doctors are keeping him under observation as surgery is not out of the question. We wish Tony all the best for a fast recovery from this terrible incident and look forward to him being up and about shortly. The umpiring team is right behind you, mate. Rest up, Tony."

While umpire injuries from balls are rare, they have occurred in the past. In 2019, 80-year-old Welsh umpire John Williams tragically died after being hit by a ball during a local match. Similarly, Israeli umpire Hillel Oscar died in 2014 when a ball ricocheted off the stumps and struck him in the head.

Umpires, especially at the international level, have taken steps to protect themselves from such injuries. Australian umpire Gerard Abood has worn a helmet while officiating in Big Bash matches, and Bruce Oxenford, another Australian international umpire, has used a plastic forearm shield.

Bruce Oxenford, who officiated in 70 Test matches, including eight women's Tests, shared his thoughts on the safety equipment, saying: "I was lying in my hotel bed in Delhi earlier this year when I came up with this idea. My fellow umpire John Ward had just been hit on the head and badly injured. There’s been talk of helmets, but I don’t want to wear one because I think it will restrict my peripheral vision and hearing. I thought, 'What if there’s something like an extended arm guard which would act as a shield?'"

Earlier during the fourth T20 match between South Africa and India, an unfortunate incident occurred when a ball hit by Indian cricketer Sanju Samson struck a female spectator in the stands.

The incident took place in the 10th over of the first innings as Samson, playing an aggressive innings, hit a six off Tristan Stubbs' delivery. The ball sailed out of the ground and struck the woman in the face, injuring her.

Following the incident, the injured woman was immediately attended to, with ice applied to the injury. Samson, visibly distressed, offered an apology for the incident. The video of the event quickly went viral on social media, with many expressing concern for the injured fan.