Opinion 2014-15 Cricket Thread

[Event Horizon]

Why the hell wasn't there an ambulance at the ground? Should be one at every first class match.

 

[Tas]

Why the hell wasn't there an ambulance at the ground? Should be one at every first class match.

There used to be, it is expensive though.

 

[shintemaster]

There used to be, it is expensive though.

Very.

It’s tough in some ways though… Easier to justify at a 50,000+ spectator game as they are serving the players and the crowd.

I’ve surfed beaches with more people in the water and arguably at just as great or greater risk of serious injury and there wasn’t an ambulance on standby. Very easy after an issue to complain however there are often chronic shortages of ambulances in emergencies and parking one for 20 people on the incredibly low chance of injury is arguably not feasible. I’m not saying it shouldn’t happen, just that it’s always easier in retrospect.

 

[Harvey Manfrenjensenden]

Now KB wants to ban the bouncer, if CA have a rules committee I hope they have a "No Kevin" policy

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Now KB wants to ban the bouncer, if CA have a rules committee I hope they have a "No Kevin" policy

We have had over 200 deaths on the roads this year.

Let's ban cars.

 

[tazaa]

I just abused him on text. classless flog

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

I just abused him on text. classless flog

Sadly there's a vocal minority supporting him, flogs.

 

[GarnerSmash]

And kudos to Dave Warner on how he handled the situation and himself on the day.

Fair play fella.

 

[kangaspurs]

A bit of chatter around that the first Test may be postponed or even cancelled outright. I'm not sure if that would be a good idea though. I think that players that don't feel up to playing should be able to pull out of the squad though and not play.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Manufacturer saying even if Hughes had been wearing the new helmet he still would of been in a lot of trouble.

It was just a freak ball that you can't protect against

 

[Saintly31]

Ball travelled at 135kph which means as soon as it hits the ground it will cover the length of the pitch within a second so when the ball lands short of a length the batsman has to commit to a defensive position pretty quickly. Turning your head away from the line of sight of the ball means you do not know where it is going and you hope it either misses you or hits you in the back.

We are not talking about 160+km Shoaib Akhtar rockets. University of WA timed Lillee bowling in 1975 at 155kph and Thompson was estimated at 160kph and I doubt the west indian bowlers were slower. Batsmen used to bat with a cap on back then. I think players are relying too much on protection and conceding they are going to get hit and less on keeping your eye on the ball and avoid getting hit.

I am very aware of the game and batsmanship, I played it (only) at a very high level.

There is much more than how fast a ball is travelling as to how dangerous a delivery may be. Could be the angle, the pitch, the time of day, the type of action, tiredness etc etc.

Players in the past used to be poor with the short ball bar a select few. Swaying out of the way was much more important than scoring usually and even then they nearly got hit regularly.

It has nothing at all to do with how current players are trained, it is in fact due to overconfidence playing against short balls, after practicing so often and with superior safety equipment that players get hit (occasionally). They take the game on far more than old players ever did and it puts the head at more risk.

I also don't buy the old bowlers were as fast as people remember them. Watching videos suggest that current bowlers, especially those such as Johnson, are every bit as fast or faster than greats of yesteryear.

 

[Tas]

I am very aware of the game and batsmanship, I played it at a very high level.

There is much more than how fast a ball is travelling as to how dangerous a delivery may be. Could be the angle, the pitch, the time of day, the type of action, tiredness etc etc.

Players in the past used to be poor with the short ball bar a select few. Swaying out of the way was much more important than scoring usually and even then they nearly got hit regularly.

It has nothing at all to do with how current players are trained, it is in fact due to overconfidence playing against short balls, after practicing so often and with superior safety equipment that players get hit (occasionally). They take the game on far more than old players ever did and it puts the head at more risk.

I also don't buy the old bowlers were as fast as people remember them. Watching videos suggest that current bowlers, especially those such as Johnson, are every bit as fast or faster than greats of yesteryear.

I am just saying the style is very different to how batsmen played with no protection, it doesn't really matter how fast someone is, you have to commit to a defensive or offensive posture in a split second, if you can see the ball coming you have more of an opportunity to adjust your body/head to how the ball comes off the ground, if your turn your head you have given up fractions of a second to respond.

The way he turned put himself directly over the stumps with his head at a vulnerable height for a short pitched delivery, that isn't good form for a high order batsmen. Even if he had the best available helmet, taking a blow to the head is dangerous, players should focus on not getting hit. Too many players use their bodies to protect the wicket, it is not worth it for a game.

If you are looking at the ball and it is coming right at your head, you can move your head or you have a piece of wood in your hands that you can stick in front of your face.

 

[Event Horizon]

I haven't played cricket at a high level, but it would seem that with the short ball (or any fast ball for that matter) you need to make a split second decision on how you are going to play it. Getting it wrong can result in poor defense, poor shot, or on rare occasions getting hit. And given how many balls you face in an innings, no matter how trained you are you will get it wrong on occasions. There is no doubt about that.

In this particular case, with the benefit of the hindsight, he should have just ducked down and let it through to the keeper. But this was simply a freak accident. Not just him missing the ball, but also the way it hit him.

I am hoping for the best, but after just reading the Alan Jones article in the Age, it seems more serious than most people thought.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Banning the short ball is a terrible idea.

What's next then? Banning cross bat shots because the danger of top edging into the noggin? Nothing above the waist unless a foot outside off or leg?

It was a terrible accident, nothing more. No need to change the game as a result.

 

[Twinkletoes]

Banning the short ball is a terrible idea.

What's next then? Banning cross bat shots because the danger of top edging into the noggin? Nothing above the waist unless a foot outside off or leg?

It was a terrible accident, nothing more. No need to change the game as a result.

Amen!

 

[Saintly31]

I am just saying the style is very different to how batsmen played with no protection, it doesn't really matter how fast someone is, you have to commit to a defensive or offensive posture in a split second, if you can see the ball coming you have more of an opportunity to adjust your body/head to how the ball comes off the ground, if your turn your head you have given up fractions of a second to respond.

The way he turned put himself directly over the stumps with his head at a vulnerable height for a short pitched delivery, that isn't good form for a high order batsmen. Even if he had the best available helmet, taking a blow to the head is dangerous, players should focus on not getting hit. Too many players use their bodies to protect the wicket, it is not worth it for a game.

If you are looking at the ball and it is coming right at your head, you can move your head or you have a piece of wood in your hands that you can stick in front of your face.

You are right that Hughes played this ball less than perfectly in this instance. That does not mena he hasn't been trained properly, that is the point I was making.

I agree with your rationale of keeping the ball in your sights at all times, but like any game that doesn't always happen. Unfortunately in cricket you don't cop a footy or elbow in the face, you cop close to a bullet which is why it is such a courageous game.

I faced Brett Lee once in under 19s rep cricket. Terrifying.

And if he crunched me I assure you it had nothing to do with lack of training. More lack of ability on a difficult pitch and that is cricket.

 

[Harvey Manfrenjensenden]

Sad day for cricket.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Phil Hughes has passed away.

RIP.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Devastating news.

RIP Phil Hughes and condolences to his family and friends.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

I also hope Sean Abbott gets all the support he needs.

Guy must feel like absolute shit.

 

[GarnerSmash]

I also hope Sean Abbott gets all the support he needs.

Guy must feel like absolute shit.

Yeah, completely agree.

It's not his fault, I'm sure he knows that, but he will forever carry this burden.

 

[ShinbonerBaz]

Just sad....

Vale Phillip Hughes.

 

[Dan]

Terrible news.

Feel for Sean Abbott too.

 

[giantroo]

Shocked and stunned with the news. Vale Phil!

 

[muttley45]

Very sad news, RIP Phil Hughes, thanks for some great memories of you representing your country