Phillip Hughes, RIP

[FG-administator]

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott paid tribute to Hughes, describing him as "a young man living out his dreams".

"His death is a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family. What happened has touched millions of Australians," he said.

"For a young life to be cut short playing our national game seems a shocking aberration. He was loved, admired and respected by his team-mates and by legions of cricket fans."

BBC Sport - Phillip Hughes: Australian batsman dies, aged 25





What a terrible accident, thank goodness deaths on the field of cricket are so rare but nobody goes out to play expecting to end like this.

The reaction has been properly international... Cricket Australia had already decided to abandon the latest round of Sheffield Shield matches following the injury to Hughes. After his death was announced, cricket officials from Pakistan and New Zealand chose to postpone the second day's play in the third and final Test between the two countries. "It's a sad day for cricket," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said in a statement.

[Fuzzy]

Of course it is sad that he had to die like that. But what is even more sad is that people in authority can't anticipate accidents like this and make sure correct protection is designed and used to prevent things like this. There always has to be a death before they start thinking about how to go about it. Not good enough.

[FG-administator]

Fuzzy;1468350 wrote: Of course it is sad that he had to die like that. But what is even more sad is that people in authority can't anticipate accidents like this and make sure correct protection is designed and used to prevent things like this. There always has to be a death before they start thinking about how to go about it. Not good enough.


Levels of protection are available, there are various designs of headgear all of which are optional and the choice of which to use, if any, is up to the individual player.

I'd have thought the fact there has only ever been two fatalities from this type of injury in the history of cricket is a fair indication that the protection of players has been rigorously analyzed and catered for. Helmets were, after all, unknown in cricket until they were recommended for safety reasons - prior to that the batsmen wore caps.

If you compare the serious injury rate in cricket with, say, rugby or horse riding, I think you'll find it far lower. Short of reverting to underarm bowling I'm not sure how a batsman can be more adequately kept from harm, and even then the fielders would be as much at risk as they are now.

[Oscar Namechange]

In this case the head gear was Irrelevant. He was hit In the neck. A freak accident.

[FG-administator]

Oscar Namechange;1468355 wrote: In this case the head gear was Irrelevant.I expect Lewis Hamilton's helmet would have protected against that ball. It's all down to the design of head gear the player will accept.

[Oscar Namechange]

FG;1468356 wrote: I expect Lewis Hamilton's helmet would have protected against that ball. It's all down to the design of head gear the player will accept. True but would the player have the same mobility? Sitting In a car Is less physical that cricketing. I would Image It would Impeded the player, however, I hope there's some changes. Awful waste of a young life.

[Bruv]

It was a tragic freak accident, I doubt it could be replicated in another 100 years even without helmets.

[Snowfire]

Bruv;1468362 wrote: It was a tragic freak accident, I doubt it could be replicated in another 100 years even without helmets.


Agreed. Freak accidents, by nature, can hardly be prevented

I read today that this type of tragic incident has only ever happened once before in the long history of cricket. Philip Hughes was a fine cricketer and he surely wouldnt have wanted any knee jerk reactions calling for full body armour and such rubbish.

[Fuzzy]

Oscar Namechange;1468355 wrote: In this case the head gear was Irrelevant. He was hit In the neck. A freak accident.


An accident waiting to happen IMO

It wouldn't be difficult to design something which will provide more protection.

[LarsMac]

You simply cannot prepare for every possibility just in case it might happen. Life is about probabilities and sometimes, chit just happens.

[gmc]

I remember the days when you stood without protection and people chucked wooden balls at you - even worse was when the batsman clobbered it straight at you. helmets are failrly recent. There are actually more injuries in rugby and foorball

[Fuzzy]

LarsMac;1468409 wrote: You simply cannot prepare for every possibility just in case it might happen. Life is about probabilities and sometimes, chit just happens.


There is a reason why 5hit happens. Crappy head gear is one reason.

We are talking cricket,gmc. Not rugby or football, two totally different "sports".

Did I say sports? :-3

[FourPart]

There is always the example of the evolution of the real man's Rugby (which used to have no more protection than a box), to the softy, bubble wrapped version the Americans call 'football'.

Also, as mentioned on QI once (and numerous subsequent repeats on Dave), protective clothing in sport can sometimes have the opposite effect - such as with boxing. In the days before the introduction of gloves, the power of a punch would be restricted by the potential pain & injury to the person landing the punch. Consequentially must punches would be targeted to the body. Now, with gloves, most shots are directed to the head, thus resulting in numerous long term brain injuries, and even death.

There are certain sports, of course, where protective clothing is essential, but with hte little additions here & there, where does it stop? Jockeys looking like Bubendum (the Michelin Man)?