Cricket star ‘poleaxed’ by Spidercam as it smacks him in the back during Test
Fox Sports' spidercam took the Boxing Day cricket a little too literally after 'poleaxing' South African Test player Anrich Nortje during Monday's matchup against Australia.
Nortje was minding his own business fielding on day two of the second Test between the two rivals when the 315-kilogram piece of experiment crashed into his back. The 29-year-old did well to shrug off the blow fairly quickly considering the cable-suspended recording equipment can reach speeds of up to 21 miles per hour.
The spidercam retired for the remainder of the Boxing Day slate but was back at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday. Nortje will be keeping his wits about him in future, however, after the camera clattered into his left elbow and shoulder from low altitude.
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"I didn't know what hit me, to be honest," he told reporters after the match. "So far so good. It just knocked the [left] shoulder and the [left] elbow. The elbow is a bit sore but otherwise seems to be okay. I'll just monitor it and see how it goes with the [doctor].
"I saw cables and then I turned around or moved my head and then I saw the camera, but I was a little bit too late. It was quite quick. It didn't really change my mindset or anything. I tried to stay focused.
"I think the one thing we've spoken about earlier is how low it is and it probably shouldn't be unless [it needs to be] for certain interviews or something. But I don't think it should be travelling head height. That's just my opinion. And then for [6'10" team-mate] Marco [Jansen] as well, they must take him into consideration [for his height]."
Cricket Australia has since acknowledged Fox Sports' apology for the collision, admitting it came as a result of an error by the operator. South Africa suffered double disappointment, too, taking just two wickets as hosts Australia amassed 341 runs from 79 overs.
"That should not be happening," exclaimed one commentator for Australian broadcaster Channel Seven. Others on social media agreed Nortje was 'very lucky not to have been seriously hurt' by the incident.
It's not unheard of for the spidercam to interfere by disrupting a would-be six or four when the ball appears boundary-bound. However, Monday's intervention is perhaps the clearest sign yet that the viewer experience is affecting those on the field of play.
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