Marty Jeffrey should have been playing for the title of national champion on Thursday.
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Instead he was back at home in Dubbo, resting and recovering after a shock injury which has left him feeling like “a baby learning to walk”.
Jeffrey was part of the NSW Country/ACT team that eventually won the Cricket Australia Under-19 National Championship in Adelaide, however he was forced home early after being struck in the head by a short ball last Tuesday.
Jeffrey was caught in an awkward position while batting in the game against South Australia and after turning his head to avoid a short delivery from quick Aaron Judd the ball got under his helmet and he was struck in the jaw.
He dropped his bat onto his stumps and was dismissed hit wicket in the process but it soon became clear that was the least of his problems.
“I went downhill that night,” Jeffrey said.
“I was feeling nauseous and light-headed so I did some brain testing that night and my reactions were six times slower than what they should have been.”
The next day his reactions were still four times slower and after being told it would be at least a week before they were back to a baseline mark, the decision was made to send Jeffrey home to recover.
Jeffrey stated the flight home “knocked me around” and left in him in a bad way when he was back in Dubbo late last week, but plenty of rest and cooler weather has seen things start to improve in recent days.
“It was a little bit of a reality check,” Jeffrey said.
“People don’t think about injuries and this kind of thing when you’re going to play at a national carnival.
“But it’s just a check and shows how much things can change and just to be grateful in every moment.
“It hurts sitting here and not being in Adelaide but I guess if you want to enjoy the highs you’ve got to take the lows.”
Jeffrey started some rehabilitation work on Wednesday, with a focus on fine motor skills and repeated activities in order to get his brain and movement back to where it was.
If he get through a week of that without any setbacks he will be allowed to return to some light training and the RSL-Colts all-rounder is currently targeting a return in the RSL-Whitney Cup’s first round back after the Christmas and New Year break on January 14.
“I didn’t realise how serious concussion was and I didn’t really know the repercussions,” he said.
“I knew it was bad and could cause damage but didn’t realise how much of an impact it could have on fine motor skills.
“It really is like teaching a baby how to walk.”
The RSL-Colts man was following the match online on Thursday, with fellow Dubbo star Henry Railz helping the side to its first title since NSW split into two teams a couple of summers ago.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
