Redbacks batsman Head hit by a car

Travis Head, the South Australia batsman, has suffered head and back injuries as a result of being hit by a car outside an Adelaide hotel on Sunday night. Head, 19, spent the night in hospital but was released on Monday morning and was at home with his family, and was expected to make a full recovery.

Head had been out with team-mates celebrating South Australia's Sheffield Shield victory over Victoria, a match in which he made a valuable contribution of 35 in their chase of 189, when he was struck by a car. The South Australian Cricket Association chief executive Keith Bradshaw said Head was fortunate not to have been more badly hurt.

"Ambulance officers were called to the scene and Travis was taken to hospital for treatment," Bradshaw told reporters in Adelaide on Monday. "He has stitches in his head and back but was released from hospital this morning and is expected to make a full recovery.

"I have spoken to Travis this morning. Ambulance officers attending the scene told him that the fact he was under the legal [alcohol] limit may well have saved his life. We are extremely relieved that he did not sustain further injuries and is now at home with his family."

Head, a left-hand batsman who has played 11 first-class games, is considered one of South Australia's brightest young prospects. As well as being named player of the Under-19 national championships for the second consecutive year, he sits third on South Australia's Sheffield Shield run tally this summer with 356 runs, behind only Phillip Hughes and Callum Ferguson.