achris
More fish than mountain goat
- Joined
- May 19, 2004
- Messages
- 27,468
Some of you may already be aware that during a match of cricket one of the batsmen (we don't call them 'batters') was struck by the ball and subsequently died from injuries received. His name is Phillip Hughes, and he was an up and coming star of the game, and only 25 years old. Australia, and most of the cricket world, is still in shock.
This is an extremely rare event, and not something that we see often. So rare in fact, that this is only the second instance I have heard about in my life (54 years). There are many things that make this accident even more tragic.The man who bowled the ball was a former teammate and friend of Phillip. He was also the first person to give assistance to Phillip when he fell after being hit.
Cricketers are a 'strange' group. For all the on-field rivalry, after the game or between each days' play, you will see them socialising together, laughing and telling jokes. The rivalry on-field stays there, on the field.
It was with great sadness that I heard of Phillips' passing. I had watched him during his time in and out of the national team, in both short ('one-day') and long (5 day) forms of the game. I always saw the potential in him as a great player, and could easily see him being Australia's next Captain, such was his potential.
The cricketing world is mourning the loss of a player. But what is touching is that nations who are only barely aware of the game are also feeling the loss, if not for the game, for the loss of a person in a sport.
We also need to be aware, at this event/accident is extremely rare in this sport, and is something very few people will have, or ever will again, experience. So before calls are made to change the way the game is played (with regard to the bowling, or adding more protective equipment to batsmen) just think about other sports (horse racing and boxing are the 2 that spring immediately to mind), that lose more players/participants in one year than cricket has in 40 years. In fact injuries are not common in cricket at all, not like games like rubgy or football. Even the humble sport of netball has more injuries, particularly knees.
Of course the other person in this is the bowler, Sean Abbott. My thoughts, and I know the rest of the cricket world's thoughts are certainly with him. He will live with the knowledge that he was part of what killed his friend. There is absolutely no question of him being responsible, it was an accident. But that moment will shape the rest of his life. I for one, hope he uses this as a springboard to be the very best he can be as a future Australian fast bowler.
Vale Phillip Hughes (1988-2014).
This is an extremely rare event, and not something that we see often. So rare in fact, that this is only the second instance I have heard about in my life (54 years). There are many things that make this accident even more tragic.The man who bowled the ball was a former teammate and friend of Phillip. He was also the first person to give assistance to Phillip when he fell after being hit.
Cricketers are a 'strange' group. For all the on-field rivalry, after the game or between each days' play, you will see them socialising together, laughing and telling jokes. The rivalry on-field stays there, on the field.
It was with great sadness that I heard of Phillips' passing. I had watched him during his time in and out of the national team, in both short ('one-day') and long (5 day) forms of the game. I always saw the potential in him as a great player, and could easily see him being Australia's next Captain, such was his potential.
The cricketing world is mourning the loss of a player. But what is touching is that nations who are only barely aware of the game are also feeling the loss, if not for the game, for the loss of a person in a sport.
We also need to be aware, at this event/accident is extremely rare in this sport, and is something very few people will have, or ever will again, experience. So before calls are made to change the way the game is played (with regard to the bowling, or adding more protective equipment to batsmen) just think about other sports (horse racing and boxing are the 2 that spring immediately to mind), that lose more players/participants in one year than cricket has in 40 years. In fact injuries are not common in cricket at all, not like games like rubgy or football. Even the humble sport of netball has more injuries, particularly knees.
Of course the other person in this is the bowler, Sean Abbott. My thoughts, and I know the rest of the cricket world's thoughts are certainly with him. He will live with the knowledge that he was part of what killed his friend. There is absolutely no question of him being responsible, it was an accident. But that moment will shape the rest of his life. I for one, hope he uses this as a springboard to be the very best he can be as a future Australian fast bowler.
Vale Phillip Hughes (1988-2014).
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