5 horrific on-field collisions between fielders while attempting a catch 

Cricket is a sport filled with exciting moments and impressive feats of athleticism, especially when fielders make incredible catches that have fans on the edge of their seats. However, the intense nature of fielding, particularly when players are rushing to catch a fast-moving ball, can sometimes lead to dangerous collisions that result in serious injuries.

One such incident occurred on Friday, January 3, during a Big Bash League (BBL) match between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder. On the second ball of the 16th over of the Scorchers' innings, Cooper Connolly attempted to hit the ball over square leg, sending it high into the air.

At the same time, fielders Cameron Bancroft and Daniel Sams were both tracking the ball. Unfortunately, both players were too focused on the ball and collided violently with each other.

Bancroft suffered a bloody nose and was seen leaving the field with the physio, while Sams had to be stretchered off. Both players were later taken to the hospital.

Here’s a video of the collision:

Meanwhile, on January 4, Cricket Australia provided the following update:

"Cameron Bancroft's BBL season is over after the Sydney Thunder opener suffered a broken shoulder in his horror collision with teammate Daniel Sams."

On the other hand, Sams is expected to be out of action for two weeks.

While we witnessed such horrific collisions in the BBL, this article takes a look at five more instances where fielders collided while attempting a catch.

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#1 JJ Smuts and Kieran Powell during CPL in 2016

In a 2016 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) match between the Barbados Tridents and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, a dramatic collision occurred between JJ Smuts and Kieran Powell.

During the third ball of the 19th over of the Tridents' innings, AB de Villiers attempted a big hit towards long-on. Both Smuts and Powell sprinted to catch the ball but collided due to a lack of communication. Powell was stretchered off the field and later transported to the hospital in a wheelchair for medical attention.

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#2 Kyle Mills and Brendon McCullum against India in 2012

In the second T20I of the 2012 series between India and New Zealand in Chennai, the Black Caps posted 167 while batting first. During the last ball of the 12th over in India's chase, a collision occurred between New Zealand’s wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum and pacer Kyle Mills.

Yuvraj Singh played a pull shot but got a thick top edge, sending the ball toward fine leg. Both McCullum and Mills rushed toward it, but they collided as the keeper dived for the catch.

The ball rolled toward the boundary for four runs, while Mills was struck in the face by McCullum's arm. Mills was unable to continue and was sidelined for the rest of the match.

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#3 Sabbir Hossain and Shaiful Islam, BPL 2025

On January 3, during the seventh match of the 2024-25 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) between Chittagong Kings and Durbar Rajshahi, a collision occurred in the field. Usman Khan pulled a delivery toward square leg, and fielders Sabbir Hossain and Shaiful Islam both went for the catch.

Unfortunately, due to poor communication, the two players collided, with Sabbir hitting the ground and remaining still. He was stretchered off the field, but to everyone's relief, he later returned to bat for Rajshahi. However, he was dismissed for just eight runs.

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#4 Moises Henriques and Rory Burns, Natwest T20 Blast 2015

In 2015, a collision between Surrey's Rory Burns and Moises Henriques forced their NatWest T20 Blast match against Sussex to be abandoned after 18.4 overs.

Steffan Piolet top-edged a delivery from Tom Curran into the offside, and as Burns charged in from deep cover and Henriques backpedaled from the point, the two collided at full speed, both focused on the ball and unaware of each other's position.

The crash knocked both players unconscious, and they were immediately given oxygen and placed in neck braces on spinal boards. Both were stretchered off the field and taken to the hospital. Henriques suffered a broken jaw in three places, while Burns sustained injuries to his face and head.

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#5 Jason Gillespie and Steve Waugh, 1999

Australia's Jason Gillespie and Steve Waugh were part of a serious collision during the first Test of the three-match series against Sri Lanka in Kandy in 1999. During Sri Lanka's first innings, Mahela Jayawardene hit a high shot off Colin Miller towards square-leg.

Waugh sprinted from square leg while Gillespie raced in from the boundary, both keeping their eyes on the ball. The collision was intense, with Waugh suffering a nosebleed and walking to an ambulance. Gillespie, however, had to be carried off the field by his teammates. Subsequent tests revealed that Gillespie had broken his leg, while Waugh had fractured his nose.