Umpire Ward stable after blow to head during Ranji match

Australian umpire John Ward is stable after sustaining a blow to the head while officiating in India's Ranji Trophy on Tuesday.

Ward was struck in the head in the 48th over from a full-blooded shot by Punjab batsman Brainder Sran off Tamil Nadu bowler DT Chandrasekar.

The umpire, who is in India as part of an umpire exchange program between Australia, India and South Africa, was taken to Apollo Hospital via Ambulance.

"He is completely normal," Dindigul District Cricket Association secretary N Venkataraman told ESPNCricinfo.

"He has a tiny bulge behind the right ear which was identified in the scan. The medical observation, as per BCCI norms, has to be done in a big hospital, so we have shifted him to Apollo Hospitals in Madurai.

"There also we took scans. He is completely alright.

"Normally, in the event of a head injury, a patient is advised to be under observation for a day or two. He has been advised rest for a minimum of one day," Venkataraman added.  

IMAGE: Umpire John Ward signals a four during a match. Photograph: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images