Melbourne Stars and WA batter Hilton Cartwright was taken to hospital for a possible neck injury after being removed from Optus Stadium on a stretcher due to a horror incident in the field in Sunday’s BBL opener.

Cartwright was fielding at deep point when he tried to save a boundary off the bat of Perth’s Cooper Connolly.

Diving forwards toward the rope at the city end of the venue, he hit the ground at force.

The WA product was instantly in pain as he appeared to injure his neck or head in the incident. He held his his head after diving forwards, with teammate Marcus Stoinis gesturing to medical staff of a concern to the head or neck area.

Cartwright did not get up at all and was instantly attended to by Stars’ medical staff, who turned the batter over but didn’t get him off the ground.

A stretcher and medi-cart took the 32-year-old from the ground, with a neck brace required. Play was halted for around 10 minutes while he was attended to.

Cartwright was immediately taken to hospital to be assessed.

Melbourne captain Marcus Stoinis said Carwright was the “heartbeat” of their team.

“We just got a quick update. They’ve ruled out concussion and that sort of things but he’s gone to hospital for scans on his neck,” Stoinis said.

“Fingers crossed he’s alright. He’s the heartbeat of our team, but not only us but Western Australia and the Scorchers as well. He’s a well-respected guy.”

Stoinis admitted it was tough to finish the game after the injury.

“It definitely put a dampener on the mood of the night. It’s hard to switch that off, you hope that he’s alright,” he said.

“We ran over there pretty quickly to see him but there’s nothing you can do really.”

Perth Scorchers coach Adam Voges was also worried for his West Australian all-rounder.

“We’ve all got genuine concern for Hilts and hope that he’s OK,” Voges said.

“He’s a West Australian and much loved. We wish him the best and certainly hope that it’s positive news.”

The former Australian Test allrounder had been praised throughout Melbourne’s bowling innings for his incredible fielding, having earlier scored 18 runs off 17 balls earlier in the night batting at No.5.

Earlier in the night the Stars had set the Scorchers 147 for victory, with newly-appointed skipper Marcus Stoinis and recruit Sam Curran both top scoring with 37.