Phil Hughes

[GM-MarkB]

Such a sad loss at only 25. I suppose he died doing what he loved, but that's scant consolation

RIP

[idler]

I agree, it's such a shame. He was looking at his best years and suddenly it's gone.

[Filo]

A freak accident, with terrible consiquences RIP Phil Hughes, that last wicket stand last summer nearly saved the Test match for Australia and would heave been an amazing feat had they lasted 2 more balls.


Thoughts also go out to the bowler, what must he be going through right now?

[GazLaz]

Tragic. Shows you what the risks were pre helmets.

[IDM]

Such a shock to hear this morning that Phil Hughes had died.  I don't know too much about him but I was actually quite upset.

Condolencies to his family and friends.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I played cricket at a moderately decent level (South Riding League) in the 80s. Looking back, it was crazy the risks we took without helmets because there were some fairly quick bowlers and some god-awful wickets.

I was lucky. Worst I ever got was a ball that reared up off a length, hit the shoulder of the bat and put my nose over my face.

Worst one that ever happened in a match I played in was a fielder who got hurt in a Donny League game at Cusworth I think. Fielding at silly point to a useless leg-break bowler. Bowler dropped one short, batsman leant back and put everything into an almighty square cut. Fielder got both hands to the ball in front of his face and we heard this huge "SMACK". We all thought he'd held the best catch you'd ever see. Then he collapsed with blood pouring down his face. Ball had gone straight through his hands, hit him square in the middle of the forehead and fractured his skull. Ambulance came into the pitch to take him to hospital still unconscious. Never did hear what happened to him.

Bloody stupid game.

[Donnywolf]

There was a similar fatality at Hatfield Towns Ground (may not have been them in action) where a lad I got to know after the event bowled a ball which I think was top edged by the Batsman into his head - and unfortunately killed him

They were I believe good mates so I feel for all involved in Aus but it must still be a terrible reminder for the lad from the Hatfield incident even though that must be 35+ years ago

[BillyStubbsTears]

DW

I hadn't heard of that one. A bit before my time but I can see how it happens.

I played in the Sheffield Works League 20 years ago. We had a lad playing for us who was a handy fast bowler in the South Riding League. Had one match which had got a bit tasty on a shite of a pitch at Parsons Cross. We'd batted first and had a bit of a working over with players being hit left right and centre. Our fast bowler was cursing like a trooper that he was going to give them some back. First ball, he came steaming in and chucked a bullet down just short of a length. Opening batsman stepped into it and tried to cross-bat it over cow-corner. Got a top edge straight into his face and collapsed having a fit, mouth frothing, eyes rolled right up into the top of his head. He came round with nothing more than a broken nose and a headache but it could have been far worse. And we ended up having to fight our way out of Parsons Cross.

[GM-MarkB]

A freak accident, with terrible consiquences RIP Phil Hughes, that last wicket stand last summer nearly saved the Test match for Australia and would heave been an amazing feat had they lasted 2 more balls.


Thoughts also go out to the bowler, what must he be going through right now?

Yeah...young Abbott must be in pieces right now, it wouldn't surprise me if he never bowled another ball again.

[GM-MarkB]

https://soundcloud.com/abc_grandstand/702-richard-glover-with-jim-maxwell

I listen to TMS a lot at work and I like Jim Maxwell when he commentates....he is absolutely heartbroken

[GazLaz]

Imagine facing the WI quicks from the 60s 70s and 80s without a helmet.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Gaz

Thing is, they weren't that quick.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bPDW7hj1yfs

Roberts and Holding in their prime, in a competition to find the fastest bowler in the world were dobbing the ball down in the low 80s mph. That is the stock speed of a second-change Test bowler these days.

The game is unrecognisable from what it was 30-40 years ago. Every single top Test team has a bowler who can regularly chuck the thing down at 90mph. Back in the 70s, that sort of speed was exceptional and only Thomson managed to hit that pace in that competition.

[SoundbiteBarmyArmy]

RIP Phillip, 25 (26 on Sunday) is nothing :'(

Thoughts go out to his family & friends and also Sean Abbott whose delivery struck him.

[turnbull for england]

DW My Dad mentioned that very incident last night, the player that passed away was a friend of his
 

[GazLaz]

An 80 odd mph short ball is still quick enough without a lid. Especially in the days of uncovered pitches.

[Dagenham Rover]

http://www.itv.com/news/2014-11-30/cricket-umpire-dies-after-being-hit-by-cricket-ball-minutes-after-silence-in-honour-of-phillip-hughes/

[GM-MarkB]

I see Sean Abbott is set to play again on Tuesday....good luck to the Lad, I hope he takes a wicket for Hughesy

[ctay]

Good to see him play, but also take a couple of wickets and a bowl a bouncer in his first over. Must have took some doing.

I edged a ball in to my face, if it wasnt for a helmet it would have shattered my eye socket. Being young and foolish my first thought was that the swelling might stop me getting in the nightclub that night!

What's happened does make you think, stuck a cord with everyone who has played the game.