Paul Reiffel has been cleared to umpire tomorrow after undergoing scans on the head injury he suffered when struck by a throw from Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the opening day of the Fourth Test in Mumbai.
Rather than find the gloves of wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, Kumar’s lobbed throw cannoned into the back of the Australian’s head. After a lengthy delay for treatment, Reiffel was escorted off the field by England’s medical team and then taken to hospital, where CT scans cleared him of any head trauma.
Every precaution is taken with head injuries for players and officials, especially after an umpire in a club match in Swansea was killed by a throw in 2009.
Reiffel, who was at square leg at the time of the incident in the 49th over of England’s innings, was replaced by Marais Erasmus, the third umpire. Reserve umpire Chettithody Shamshuddin then moved into the TV umpire’s box.
Reiffel returned to the ground after his scans came back clear, but was advised to rest for the remainder of the day.
