RIP Phil Hughes - Australian cricketer dies, aged 25, after being struck by ball during game

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Sad news

My great grandfather died after being struck by a cricket ball. Never knew him though

 

[Dan U]

I heard the designer of the helmet he was wearing being interviewed earlier. He was saying there's a fine line between being able to move your head freely and safety. This was a freak accident.

Anyone whos ever worn a cricket helmet though will know that its not exactly the most comfortable piece of equipment. Movement and vision are severely limited. There's a reason batsmen whip them off as soon as slow bowler comes on.

some senior guy from Gunn & Moore was on Radio5 on talking about this yesterday, the balance between a batsman having a helmet which allows him to move his head to play strokes as well as avoid balls is very fine. Players want them as light as possible.

He also mentioned some new British standards coming in for the new season, using newer lightweight materials to make them stronger.

 

[twentythreedom]

Poor chap, awful news RIP

 

[JTG]

Let's deal in facts about this.

Phil was struck on the lower left side of his neck. His head was very well protected. According to the surgeon, there have only been around 100 recorded instances of this particular injury and only one previously connected with cricket. The ball burst a major artery.

Any helmet redesign would have to incorporate neck protection along the lines of hockey goalkeepers' throat protectors. The head covering element of the helmets themselves is safe and adequate so far as I am aware.

I am absolutely sure that the laws of the game should not be changed as a result of this. It was horrible, freakish and something that thousands of batsmen have endured with nothing more than an impressive bruise to show for it. Whether bowlers moderate their own tactics as a result is another matter - it's probably inevitable, at least for a while.

 

[Dan U]

Tomorrows (Australian) Telegraph back page

 

[sleaterkinney]

Terrible news, RIP.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Let's deal in facts about this.

Phil was struck on the lower left side of his neck. His head was very well protected. According to the surgeon, there have only been around 100 recorded instances of this particular injury and only one previously connected with cricket. The ball burst a major artery.

Any helmet redesign would have to incorporate neck protection along the lines of hockey goalkeepers' throat protectors. The head covering element of the helmets themselves is safe and adequate so far as I am aware.

I am absolutely sure that the laws of the game should not be changed as a result of this. It was horrible, freakish and something that thousands of batsmen have endured with nothing more than an impressive bruise to show for it. Whether bowlers moderate their own tactics as a result is another matter - it's probably inevitable, at least for a while.

I agree. It's good that world cricket was suspended today, though. Not a day to make decisions about anything.

 

[DrRingDing]

Very sad indeed.

 

[felixthecat]

Let's deal in facts about this.

Phil was struck on the lower left side of his neck. His head was very well protected. According to the surgeon, there have only been around 100 recorded instances of this particular injury and only one previously connected with cricket. The ball burst a major artery.

Any helmet redesign would have to incorporate neck protection along the lines of hockey goalkeepers' throat protectors. The head covering element of the helmets themselves is safe and adequate so far as I am aware.

I am absolutely sure that the laws of the game should not be changed as a result of this. It was horrible, freakish and something that thousands of batsmen have endured with nothing more than an impressive bruise to show for it. Whether bowlers moderate their own tactics as a result is another matter - it's probably inevitable, at least for a while.

Exactly. The ball is hard, the deliveries fast, and fast bowlers have to be aggressive if they are going to be any use. The helmets are good, the design is excellent and suited to the game - freak accidents will happen.

Still a fucking awful thing to happen to a young man. I wonder if Sean Abbot will ever get over this.

 

[The Octagon]

why the hell is the mail publishing pics of a distraught Sean Abbot leaving the hospital after bring told of Hughes death? Fucking ghouls.

Almost goes without saying, but the comments are idiotic even by their standards, people calling for manslaughter charges

 

[JTG]

I'm also sparing a thought for Sean Abbott today. A young man who has done absolutely nothing wrong but whose life and career must be in bits today. I hope that he stays strong, gets the support he needs and that he recovers from a devastating accident.

 

[butchersapron]

Almost goes without saying, but the comments are idiotic even by their standards, people calling for manslaughter charges

I think we're looking at different articles - the one i'm on about is mostly people asking them to take the pics down, expressing sorrow over Hughes death and offering support for Abbot. I genuinely can't see a single dodgy one.

 

[JTG]

Adelaide Oval scoreboard today:

 

[agricola]

Just woke up to hear this, absolutely awful news. RIP Phil.

 

[JTG]

I also hope that this winter's World Cup in Australia isn't a funeral procession but a celebration of the greatest game in the world, in one of the countries that loves it most.

 

[The Octagon]

I think we're looking at different articles - the one i'm on about is mostly people asking them to take the pics down, expressing sorrow over Hughes death and offering support for Abbot. I genuinely can't see a single dodgy one.

Judging by other comments referencing them, it appears they've been deleted. Agree that the majority are supportive and pissed off at the Mail for printing the pics.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I also hope that this winter's World Cup in Australia isn't a funeral procession but a celebration of the greatest game in the world, in one of the countries that loves it most.

I think it will be. If it were starting next week, it would be hard. But given a bit of time, and hopefully we can have a Phillip Hughes tribute and a great tournament.

 

[JTG]

He was a bit good:

 

[Wilf]

Very sad and in a way, a shock. With the state of modern medicine you kind of expect people to emerge from these situations, even if with a significant disability. RIP.

 

[weltweit]

Very sad and in a way, a shock. With the state of modern medicine you kind of expect people to emerge from these situations, even if with a significant disability. RIP.

I don't know about that actually, he might have had as much of an impact to the head as Michael Schumacher had when he clattered his head on a rock - and heads can be pretty flimsy when hit.

 

[butchersapron]

I don't know about that actually, he might have had as much of an impact to the head as Michael Schumacher had when he clattered his head on a rock - and heads can be pretty flimsy when hit.

He wasn't hit on the head though - he was hit under an ear right on the neck - compressing and then bursting an artery which then flooded his brain with blood.

And anyway, didn't you just agree with what Wilf said?

 

[rover07]

Did he miss the ball completely. Hard to tell from the video?

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Fuck, I don't want to watch that.

 

[weltweit]

.. And anyway, didn't you just agree with what Wilf said?

I don't think I did, I don't expect miraculous recoveries from "head injuries".. I used to be a biker, we wore decent helmets but it still didn't save many of us.

 

[butchersapron]

I don't think I did, I don't expect miraculous recoveries from "head injuries".. I used to be a biker, we wore decent helmets but it still didn't save many of us.

This is what Wilf said - look at the bit at the end:

With the state of modern medicine you kind of expect people to emerge from these situations, even if with a significant disability.

 

[8ball]

jesus christ, the mail really is going to town on it. what a bunch of fuckwits. the poor dude who bowled the ball. leave him alone. for the rest of his career this is what he is going to be known for. he must be shattered.

Oh, for fuck's sake.

 

[rover07]

The problem with helmets is they restrict the batsman's peripheral vision. With this pull shot he actually loses sight of the ball at the critical moment.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

The problem with helmets is they restrict the batsman's peripheral vision. With this pull shot he actually loses sight of the ball at the critical moment.

Batsmen turn their heads away from the short ball more nowadays. And more batsmen will attempt the hook/pull rather than ducking or swaying out of the way. Helmets have led to batsmen generally not playing the short stuff as well as they did, and also to their being more aggressive against it - see Stuart Broad this summer.

Having said all that, this really was a freak accident. I'm not going to watch the vid, but it sounds like it was there to be hit. And batting does take a bit of bravery, whatever kit you've got on.

 

[butchersapron]

Batsmen turn their heads away from the short ball more nowadays. And more batsmen will attempt the hook/pull rather than ducking or swaying out of the way. Helmets have led to batsmen generally not playing the short stuff as well as they did, and also to their being more aggressive against it - see Stuart Broad this summer.

Having said all that, this really was a freak accident. I'm not going to watch the vid, but it sounds like it was there to be hit. And batting does take a bit of bravery, whatever kit you've got on.

I'm not going to watch it either - but Nick Compton (Hughes was one of his best mates from when he played with him in aus domestic) said he was simply through it too early and his body has twisted round exposing the neck.

 

[butchersapron]

From reading the aussie press today, well done Michael Clarke.