Concussion substitute drama at Edgbaston as Warwickshire build lead over Essex

GEORGE DOBELL AT EDGBASTON: Craig Miles was at his home near Alvechurch when Liam Norwell was struck on the head by Mark Steketee before racing to the ground and sharing a 64-run tenth-wicket stand with Michael Burgess

A dramatic dash to the ground from Craig Miles helped Warwickshire build a dominant position on the second day of their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Essex.

Miles, who had been left out of the Warwickshire side for this match, had finished a stint as BBC summariser and returned to his home near Alvechurch when the call came through from Edgbaston to alert him of a concussion injury to Liam Norwell.

Norwell had sustained a crushing blow to the side of his head as he tried to avoid a bouncer from the Australian seamer Mark Steketee. He subsequently went for a check-up in a local hospital.

But by then, Warwickshire's final available pair of batters - Michael Burgess and Oliver Hannon-Dalby - were batting together.

^{Michael Burgess, pictured playing against Essex last season, scored 170 [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]}

Knowing that the loss of another wicket would end the Warwickshire innings, they went through a period of studious defence while Miles, the concussion substitute, drove to the ground - a journey of over 20 minutes - to ensure they had the chance to allow all 11 players to bat. Hannon-Dalby also sustained what appeared to be a painful blow to the shoulder as Essex tested him with the short ball.

Ultimately, Miles helped Michael add another 64 runs for Warwickshire's final wicket, stretching their first-innings lead to 217 in the process.

Burgess was last man out for an increasingly aggressive 170 with 20 fours and five sixes; the second innings in succession he had added important runs with the tail following the 178 he made against Surrey.

It was a stand which appeared to frustrate Essex; an impression underlined when, faced with three overs to face before the close, they lost the wicket of Nick Browne without reducing the arrears.

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