Surrey vs Sussex abandoned after horrifying collision involving Surrey players Rory Burns and Moises Henriques

Surrey have since tweeted that both are 'conscious and sitting up'

Moises Henriques in action for Surrey last month (GETTY IMAGES)

Surrey players Moises Henriques and Rory Burns were taken to hospital by ambulance yesterday after colliding in the field during their side’s match against Sussex at Arundel. The NatWest Blast Twenty20 game was subsequently abandoned.

The pair ran into one another attempting to take a catch offered by the Sussex batsman Steffan Piolet and there were concerns for the well-being of both as they initially lay motionless on the ground after a violent clash of heads.

Burns is not thought to have been seriously hurt, but Henriques has suffered a suspected broken jaw. Both men were conscious as they left the ground and were able to acknowledge applause from spectators as they were lifted into ambulances, with Burns said to be chatting to staff.

The incident occurred in the penultimate over of the Sussex innings, with the score at 141 for 7 and with 13 runs having already been scored off the Tom Curran over. Both players were looking only at the ball, with Henriques running backwards and Burns sprinting in from the boundary.

Umpires Jeremy Lloyds and Alex Wharf immediately halted play to allow the two to be treated by medical staff and three ambulances were on the scene within minutes. Burns and Henriques received oxygen, and painkillers were administered intravenously. Treatment on the field continued for 45 minutes.

The former England player Chris Adams, who played for Sussex and coached Surrey, applauded the response of the medical teams. “They were out there very, very swiftly,” he said. “It was a sickening collision and the players got absolutely brilliant treatment.”

About 8,500 fans were watching the match, with Kevin Pietersen making his final appearance for Surrey before playing in the Caribbean Premier League.