WACA curator goes to hospital after being floored by covers

Matthew Page was flattened during strong winds on day five of the third Ashes Test

WACA pitch curator Matthew Page spent several hours in hospital on Monday after being knocked over by his own covers amid fierce winds in Perth.

Page and his groundstaff had a difficult morning on day five of the third Ashes Test, with heavy rain causing damp patches to appear in the wicket overnight and rolling showers complicating the drying process.

For Page, it was quite literally a headache.

He was standing next to the square when a strong gust of wind picked up the heavy covers and blew them away. Page tried to pin them down but the tarpaulin was too much and knocked him off his feet.

The entire incident was capture on camera, and the video has gone viral on social media in the hours since.

BLOWN AWAY: A WACA groundsman copped the brunt of the wild weather that lashed Perth this morning. Play on Day 5 of the #Ashes Third Test has been delayed as a ‘leakage’ has caused the pitch to become damp overnight. #TenNews pic.twitter.com/ItGADjM6wz

— TEN Eyewitness News (@channeltennews) December 18, 2017

For Page, it wasn't so funny. He suffered a concussion and was assessed in hospital before being released later on Monday.

"He's home now, but he suffered concussion. So that gives you an indication of how ferocious the winds were," WACA chief executive Christina Matthews told ABC radio.

"He's OK. He was in hospital for a few hours yesterday afternoon.

"It was a bit of a shock for us all."

Play was delayed for three hours at the WACA on Monday as Page's team used leaf blowers to dry the several damp spots on the wicket.

Once the strip was fit for purpose, Australia ripped through the England order to secure an innings victory and regain the Ashes with two Tests to spare.

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