Kirby spends night in hospital

Steve Kirby receives attention after being struck by a Luke Wright bumper © Getty Images

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Steve Kirby was hospitalised with suspected concussion after being struck by a short ball on day two of the season opener between MCC and Sussex at Lord’s.

Tail-ender Kirby was hit on the bottom of the helmet, behind the left ear, attempting to evade a delivery from Luke Wright and was unconscious for half a minute after collapsing in a heap.

He came round after Sussex captain Chris Adams and wicketkeeper Matt Prior used their first aid training and lifted him into the recovery position.

The rest of Sussex’s fielders, meanwhile, signalled frantically to the dressing rooms for medical aid and ECB physio Steve McCaig was soon on the scene.

Although Gloucestershire fast bowler Kirby, who took four wickets in the first innings, laughed and joked with his opponents while receiving treatment and wanted to carry on, he was ‘retired hurt’ by McCaig - closing the MCC innings on 205.

Minutes later he passed out for a second time, in the home dressing room, and, accompanied by ECB bowling coach Kevin Shine, was soon whisked away to undergo medical observation at The Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, where he was detained overnight.

“Typical Kirbs, he wanted to go back out and continue batting, then have a bowl,” said MCC coach David Parsons.

Chris Nash pulls on his way to 82 not out

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“We think he’s okay but sent him to hospital as a precaution.”

All the signs were that Kirby, one of English cricket’s most colourful characters, was returning to his normal self.

“He took a nasty whack and I am glad they’re keeping him in.

“But he is fine - well enough to be annoying Kevin and wanting to be coming back,” said national academy manager Guy Jackson.

By the close, county champions Sussex, taking toll of Kirby’s absence, had progressed to 174 for two in the second innings, an overall advantage of 140.

Opener Chris Nash finished unbeaten on 82, in pursuit of a maiden first-class hundred, having shared stands of 75 and 76 with Carl Hopkinson and Michael Yardy.

All three played some authoritative strokes as batting became easier on a second-day surface.

But Hopkinson perished playing around a delivery from Ravi Bopara and Yardy shouldered arms at Cornish giant Charlie Shreck late in the day and lost his off-stump.

Earlier in a morning session which preceded a lunchtime hailstorm, Owais Shah failed to add to his overnight score as ball continued to dominate in the chilly conditions.

County champions Sussex were impressive in the field on the second morning of the 2008 season, in fact, taking four wickets including England’s Shah, the only batsman to prosper thus far, for 72 when he top-edged a pull off Wright.

Arun Harinath takes evasive action during his innings of 33

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Shah’s efforts on Thursday were put into context by the fact the next highest score in the match upon his dismissal was 33.

However, his departure was rich reward for all-rounder Wright, who bustled in impressively from the pavilion end and worked up a good pace.

Having resumed on 130 for four, MCC might have been in a worse predicament, replying to Sussex’s 171, as the outside edge was passed on a number of occasions.

Wicketkeeper James Foster survived when he was caught at slip off a no-ball from Wright but did not last much longer.

Another edge, this time off Robin Martin-Jenkins, flew to third slip and was taken by Hopkinson.

It was Martin-Jenkins’ 300th first-class wicket and reward for a disciplined spell.

Just seven runs came from the bat in the first hour of play, in fact, as Sussex’s seam attack shackled their opponents.

Loughborough University batsman Arun Harinath’s two-and-a-half hour vigil came to its conclusion when leg-spinner Will Beer trapped him leg before, his maiden first-class wicket.

Australian Harris, on for a third spell after switching to the pavilion end, then accounted for Graham Onions with a full swinging delivery which earned a straightforward lbw decision.

And Kenyan medium-pacer Ragheb Aga was rewarded with the innings’ ninth dismissal when a full delivery pinned James Tredwell.