Solozano will remain in hospital overnight after blow to the head

West Indies newcomer Jeremy Solozano will spend the night in hospital for observation after he was struck on the helmet while fielding close to the bat during the first Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

The incident occurred a little before lunch on the first day of the match at the Galle International Stadium, and Solozano, 26, was taken off the field on a stretcher before he was immediately whisked away in an ambulance to a hospital more than an hour away in the Sri Lanka capital, Colombo for medical scans.

“Jeremy Solozano’s scans show no structural damage,” Cricket West Indies stated on Twitter later in the day.

“He will be kept at the hospital overnight for observation. We will continue to keep you posted on any further updates from our medical team.”

Solozano was struck on the front of the helmet near the forehead after Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne pulled a short delivery from part-time off-spinner Roston Chase in the 24th over.

Solozano removed the helmet and spent several minutes lying on the ground, but he appeared conscious as he got medical treatment on the field, while surrounded by worried players from both sides.

It was a bitter-sweet day for Solozano after he was handed his debut cap before the start by head coach Phil Simmons.

Solozono, the left-handed Trinidad & Tobago Red Force opening batsman, became the 327th player to play in Tests for the Windies.

Karunaratne was undefeated on 132 at the close and Sri Lanka reached 267 for three in the first innings, after they decided to bat.