The Australian umpire Paul Reiffel was hit on his head by a throw from India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Bhuvneshwar, fielding at deep square-leg, gently threw the ball towards another Indian player in Cheteshwar Pujara. Reiffel was in between the two fielders and his back was turned towards Bhuvneshwar.
The 50-year-old was clearly hurt by the blow and was on the ground for a few seconds before England’s physio came out to assist him. He was then taken off the field and to the hospital for a scan.
Umpire Paul Reiffel has been replaced out in the middle after being hit by a throw from the deep. Wishing him a quick recovery! #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/P8O5HiX7WD
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 8, 2016
Luckily, the scan did not show any injury and Reiffel is likely to continue his umpiring duties from Friday.
In Reffiel’s absence, it was South Africa’s Marais Erasmus who moved from being the TV umpire to being the on-field umpire. India’s Chettithody Shamshuddin happened to be in stadium and moved in to become the third umpire.
