The Australian middle-order batsman was hit on the back of the head after a throw by substitute fieldsman Ollie Rayner at third man missed wicketkeeper John Simpson and sconned Voges at slip during a clash against Hampshire. Voges was hospitalised briefly but said he did not recover for 10 days.

"I was standing at slip, just contemplating a fielding change, or a bowling change, I can't quite remember. I didn't really pay attention to where the ball had gone or when it was coming back," Voges said.

"It wasn't until very late that the 'keeper realised the ball was going over his head and it hit me straight in the back of the head. It was just a freak accident really. I was a bit groggy for a week, week and a half after that and missed the next game. Thankfully, I recovered pretty well after that and all is going well now."

Voges, 36, had been hit in the head before when batting but this was something quite different as it was the first time he had been forced from the field. How concussion is treated, and the greater awareness players now have for their health and safety, continues to evolve for the better.

"It was probably my first experience with it. It felt like I was waking up with a hangover. It wasn't until 10 days after it that I started to feel right again," he said.

"It was probably more frightening for my friends and family who were, obviously, back here at home and weren't sure what was going on. We were playing down in Hampshire and my wife and kids were up in London. I managed to get up to them the next day, and stay in bed.

"They were all a bit concerned and, obviously, my parents were a bit concerned, but, like I said, I was groggy for a little while. Once I came good, I felt fine."

He said the injury had meant he supported the plan for teams to have a concussion substitute in Australia in first-class matches, something the International Cricket Council has rejected.

"The fact that you get pulled out of the game immediately and you don't have any say in that, is one factor in it. I understand the argument where if you allow a sub for concussion while wouldn't you allow a sub for other injuries," he said.

"It could be a bit of a grey area. I understand that. But I am in favour of the sub rule."

Voges compiled a strong county season of 388 runs at 77 before returning home to prepare for the tour of Sri Lanka against a new-look Test side rebuilding after the retirements of batting stars Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. The tour features three Tests – in picturesque Kandy, Galle and Colombo – five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals.

Four tourists – Joe Burns, Peter Neville, Steve O'Keefe and Jackson Bird – left on Saturday for pre-tour training in India, and will link with the rest of their teammates in Sri Lanka next weekend.

The first Test, beginning July 26, falls just before the Olympics but the remaining part of the series won't enjoy the same prominence. That, though, will matter little for the players, who hope to replicate Australia's 1-0 series win under Michael Clarke in Sri Lanka of 2011. That is Australia's only victory in their past five series on the sub-continent, where they have won only one of 15 Tests against the turning ball.

A dry English summer and the new no-toss rule have meant conditions in county cricket have encouraged greater reverse swing and spin – something the tourists will encounter in Sri Lanka. Voges said he had welcomed the unexpected English conditions.

"It has been great in terms of preparation for what is coming up. It has worked out really well," he said.

It's been a remarkable year for the West Australian, who last year became the oldest man to score a ton on Test debut, in Dominica against the West Indies. He held his spot through a rugged Ashes tour, then had 285 runs at 71.25 at home against New Zealand and was not dismissed in compiling 375 runs – including an undefeated 269 in Hobart – against the West Indies. A strong tour of New Zealand followed, leaving him with an average of 95.5 after 15 Tests.

Did someone mention Bradman? "Nah, only if they are trying to wind me up," Voges quipped.

Sri Lanka was beaten 2-0 in England during their recent Test series but are expected to be a far more difficult proposition on their home spinning decks.

"I watched that England series and Jimmy Anderson had the ball on a string for a while there. I think a lot of teams would have struggled in those conditions," Voges said.

"They, obviously, have a young batting line up with the recent departures of Sangakarra and Jayawardene and they are still finding their way a little bit in international cricket. They will certainly be a different proposition over there.

"I think we have been doing a lot of good things. I felt the series away in New Zealand was a really good test for our group in their conditions. To come through that, we take a lot of confidence from that. Obviously, there will be some different conditions in Sri Lanka and not a lot of us have experienced those particular conditions.

"I think we should go over there confident that we can win the series but we are going to have to adapt to the conditions and play some good cricket because, as I said, winning away from home has become difficult."

AUSTRALIA'S TOUR OF SRI LANKA

July 26-30: First Test, Kandy

August 4-8: Second Test, Galle

August 13-17: Third Test, Colombo

August 21: First ODI, Colombo

August 24: Second ODI, Colombo

August 28: Third ODI, Dambulla

August 31: Fourth ODI, Dambulla

September 4: Fifth ODI, Kandy

September 6: First T20I, Kandy

September 9: Second T20I, Colombo