Philip Hughes (Australian Cricket Player) Dies After Being Hit in the Head

[Da_Chief]

RIP

Thats the original video. Routine play. He was in the hospital for couple of days but never regained consciousness.

Sad end to a promising career and a good person.

[ChuckieNZ]

Freak accident. Hit him in the wrong spot, and caused his artery to split. Just awful.

Also have to feel for the bowler in this case. Bouncers are a part of a pace bowler's arsenal, and completely routine as you say, but I can't imagine what Sean Abbott is going through right now.

RIP Phil.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by ChuckieNZ

Freak accident. Hit him in the wrong spot, and caused his artery to split. Just awful.

Also have to feel for the bowler in this case. Bouncers are a part of a pace bowler's arsenal, and completely routine as you say, but I can't imagine what Sean Abbott is going through right now.

RIP Phil.

I can't say I understand the game but what's the definition of a bouncer and how would a bouncer get a batsman out? If the ball hits his body and goes up in the air can he be caught out?

Just trying to understand their purpose. Is it to unsettle them?

Agreed. Horrible accident all round for him and the bowler. Not much you can do for a split artery in that sort of time frame.

[ChuckieNZ]

Wikipedia has a good definition of a bouncer and its use in cricket: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouncer_(cricket)

To summarize, a bouncer is a delivery that is pitched short so that it bounces up to head height or above. It's generally used tactically in today's game, but in the past it has definitely been used in a more intimidatory way. It pushes the batsman onto his back foot, and usually a batsman will get out of the way or try to play it aggressively as Phil was doing here. If you get bat to ball, it can often end up as a boundary (4 or 6 runs). But it is also risky as it's hard to keep the ball on the ground, and can end up with the batsman being caught out. To address your question, you can only be caught out if it comes off the bat.

It would never have been Sean Abbott's intent to cause any harm to Phil Hughes. That's the purpose of the helmet, to protect the head in case a batsman misses. Batsman often remove their helmet when facing slower paced bowlers. Just unfortunate all the way around. I wouldn't be surprised if they make modifications to the helmets as a result of this incident.

[Da_Chief]

Small correction to above, your glove also becomes part of of your bat so if trying to play the bouncer and ball grazes your gloves and is caught that is also an out.

It is definitely an intimidation tactic.

The sad part is Abbott's delivery wasn't even fast (135 kph), Phil just lost the sight of the ball and then this.

India's tour to Australia was to begin soon but the first test match is likely being cancelled.

Phil was an up and coming batsman for the Ausies, just sad all-around.

[GirlySports]

Yes bouncers are for intimidation, like pitching inside. You're only allowed one bouncer per over. It's more important in test matches when inning goes on and on and batsman get tired. They might chase a bouncer and deflect it for an out.

Sounds like he was a star as he was in the national team. It's huge news in Australia

I sort of equate it to baseball if Giancarlo Stanton had died from being hit in the face with a pitch earlier this year. They are the same age.

[Da_Chief]

Impressed with your cricket knowledge.

It's a huge news in all cricket nations. Rory McIlroy wore a remembrance ribbon as well. He was still trying to cement his place on Aussie side but was a sure bet to play vs India in the upcoming matches.

Aussie team still in shock

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australi...ry/805111.html

[GirlySports]

I used to watch more in the 90s/00s then now. Had more time back then.

I think they have to go ahead with the next test as a tribute. Call it the Philip Hughes test match. The Indians might actually care about a test match cause lately they're all 20/20d out.

[Imported_Aussie]

RIP Phil - a good guy, well loved by all his teammates. Sad loss for Australian Cricket - he was just coming back into form and looking like a recall to the national team was close.
A total freak injury though, so you have to feel for the bowler.

When I used to play back home, I was a fast (for a teenager) bowler, and I used bouncers a decent amount. Sometimes when a player was getting forward a lot, to push them back, sometimes when a player was leaving a lot of balls in the area just outside their wicket (where you deliver the ball to tempt a false shot to get a catch behind) - in that case it was to rattle them a little, try to get inside their head in a figurative sense. Only hit batters in the head twice, and once was a ball I was not even trying to bounce that high, it just reared up sharply.

[Da_Chief]

More terrible news from the world of cricket as this time an umpire has died after being hit by a ball.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/other/co...ry/805703.html

RIP