West Indies were dealt with a huge blow on Sunday as debutant Jeremy Solozano got hit on the helmet while fielding at short leg on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
The incident occurred in the 24th over of Sri Lanka's first innings bowled by Roston Chase. Jeremy Solozano was fielding at short leg with batsman Dimuth Karunaratne played a pull shot off the fourth delivery which strike the fielder flush on the helmet grill.
Solozano went down on the ground immediately as his Windies teammates called out for the stretcher. Medical staff examined the player before taking him off the field on the stretcher into a waiting ambulance which took the 26-year-old straight to a hospital.
Solozano was conscious and responsive when he was being taken off the field, according to reports. Shai Hope came in as the substitute fielder in the first match of the two-Test series.
"Debutant Jeremy Solozano was stretchered off the field after receiving a blow to his helmet while fielding," Cricket West Indies tweeted. "He has been taken to the hospital for scans. We are hoping for a speedy recovery."
Get Well soon Jeremy Solozano #SLvWI #SLvsWI #WIvSL pic.twitter.com/k5w2Zn7EFa
— CRICKET VIDEOS (@AbdullahNeaz) November 21, 2021
Jeremy Solozano received his maiden West Indies Test cap just before the toss which Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne won and opted to bat first at the Galle International Stadium.
Not surprisingly both teams have fielded several spinners on a dry, turning Galle pitch. Sri Lanka have selected two left-arm spinners with Lasith Embuldeniya joined by 23-year-old Praveen Jayawickrama. Ramesh Mendis, the offspin-bowling allrounder is also in the team.
West Indies have chosen the left-arm spin of Jomel Warrican, and the offspin of Rahkeem Cornwall to accompany its seam atack of Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder.