Keep your eye on ball, crowd warned

Brendon McCullum is concerned for a woman hit by one of his shots last week. Photo / Getty Images

Warnings will be broadcast over the public address system at cricket grounds during the upcoming Australian series after a woman was seriously hurt during Thursday night's one-day international against Bangladesh.

The Christchurch woman was seated in the stands when Brendon McCullum muscled a flat six into the stands in the fourth over of New Zealand's run chase. The white leather missile struck her in the neck.

The woman, who asked not to be named, was treated by St John Ambulance staff but when her condition deteriorated she was taken to hospital.

It was initially feared she had suffered a stroke but it now seems more likely it was a shock-induced reaction. The woman was yesterday having tests but was in a comfortable condition.

The incident happens a week after New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan revealed that concerns had been raised at board level about the danger to spectators at Twenty20 matches.

Yesterday Vaughan said in the wake of those concerns and Thursday's incident, NZC would almost certainly push the safety message during the series against Australia, which starts with a Twenty20 international at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on February 26.

"We're probably going to introduce announcements over the public address systems at the grounds," Vaughan said. The messages would highlight the need for spectators to keep their eyes on the cricket when the ball is delivered.

"It's hard to know where you draw the line. I didn't think it would be an issue at big stadiums like AMI Stadium. I thought it would really only be an issue at provincial grounds where spectators were right up to the rope."

NZC would look at introducing announcements and warning signs for the HRV Cup - the domestic Twenty20 competition - but Vaughan said the fact the injury occurred during a one-dayer meant they would probably keep them in place for all forms of the game.

"There's no rules against hitting sixes in tests either," he said.

An NZC spokesperson said McCullum, in Hamilton preparing for the test which starts on Monday, was concerned for the woman's welfare.