Beuran Hendricks clears concussion test after taking blow to head

Beuran Hendricks has cleared a concussion test after getting hit in the head during a training camp before leaving for Sri Lanka.* Hendricks was delivering throwdowns at that session when a straight hit from the allrounder Dwaine Pretorius hit him near the eye. Though he avoided a concussion, the left-arm seamer had to get eight stitches to close his wound.

South Africa are in Sri Lanka to play three ODIs - the first of which is set to take place on Thursday - and three T20Is, all at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

"Day one of the camp, everyone's excited to be there, everybody is busy doing their skills," Hendricks later said. "I finished my bowling stint in the middle, and had a bit of extra time to sort of help out, so I went to the nets and threw a little bit to Dwaine Pretorius and a couple of other guys. While I was throwing, some guys wanted spin to prepare for the conditions that we're going to be in, and obviously Dwaine was also very excited to be there.

"We know he hits the ball quite hard, and I just threw one a little bit too full and a little bit too wide, and it got popped straight back at me at some speed. Tried to get my hands in the way, and it just clipped the fingers and went straight above the eye.

"I went down, obviously everybody had a little bit of a shock. I felt okay, didn't have much dizziness or anything like that. Got tested by the doctor for concussion, and luckily the ball didn't hit me too hard, and I was cleared. But I had to get eight stitches, and that was a little bit of a bummer on the first day of the tour. Luckily it happened on the first day and not in the middle, though, so quite happy to come unscathed out of the situation, but a memory to remember this tour [by]. I'll never forget it."

Hendricks will face stiff competition to be part of South Africa's attack for the ODIs, from fellow fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Junior Dala and Lizaad Williams as well as the seam-bowling allrounders Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo and Wiaan Mulder.

This sort of competition has been the story of Hendricks' career. Since making his international debut in 2014, he's only got to play one Test, eight ODIs and 19 T20Is.

"It's a dream to play for my country, I'm very proud to play for my country, and that's the patience for me," Hendricks said about all the waiting he's had to do between opportunities. "I don't take anything for granted when I'm at this level. I make sure that I'm fully focused and fully energised when I'm at this level.

"What goes on behind the scenes is out of my control. I've just got to make sure that I've prepared well, when I come on tour I'm fully fit, I need to be ahead of certain guys. Those are the things that run through my mind when I'm in this set-up. Try to make sure that I stay patient.

"It's obviously a big privilege to be here, and just moving through the years, it has been disappointing. It does take an effect on your mind, but if you have the right people in your corner, you stay positive and you stay focused at this level.

"That's why I appreciate the coaches when it comes to it. They are communicative, they do tell you where you stand, they do tell you what's going on in your own specific career, and it's not a situation where they've thrown me away. I appreciate that, and I just want to make sure that I'm enhancing my skills, and making sure I'm ready for whatever comes, and give my everything for the Proteas."