Phillip Hughes Death

[joeluke]

Time cricketing authorities banned bowlers bowling any balls above shoulder height?

[RATTER15]

Why? Should we ban all dangerous events in sports, cricket players know the risks, nobody makes them play, many sports are dangerous!

[Mick-the-Miller]

We've been here before this week - it was just a tragic accident.

The game is played with a hard ball that hurts and can do you damage if it hits you - it's a risk you take - banning short pitched bowling would change the game completely - you have to accept the risk or don't play the game!

[sunny-dave]

People get killed heading a football - do you want that banned too?

[agchristie]

No, we could just as easily be talking about a fatality to someone fielding at Silly Point from a spin bowler....

Freak incidents happen in any sport tragic though they are. It doesn't necessarily mean that the rule book should be pulled out....

[Buenchico]

To the best of my knowledge, not a single professional cricketer (or cricket commentator) has called for bouncers to be banned from the game following the death of Phil Hughes. Inviting the batsman to hook a high ball, at the risk of mis-timing the shot and giving a catch, is an integral part of the game.

Cricket has always had its dangers. (I've been knocked unconscious twice while batting - and that was just playing with my mates in the park when I was a kid!). A few people die every year as a result of playing cricket. (Most of those deaths are among amateur players, and so don't get the worldwide coverage that Phil Hughes' death did). However there are still far fewer deaths and serious injuries than in many other sports, such as rugby, yachting, power-boating, skiing and equestrian sports.

[paulllambert]

Rubbish. It was a tragic accident. Accidents happen. I hear an umpire got killed over the weekend after being hit in the head by a ball clobbered at him by a batsman. Tragic accident.

[ChillDoubt]

Already discussed at length on other threads:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1382279.html

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1382469.html

And the authorities have no plans to outlaw it either:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/30267439

[MargoTester]

According to my son only 100 people have ever died of vertebral artery dissection, which was what killed Phillip Hughes, so it was indeed a tragic accident. Most sports carry a degree of danger.

[ChillDoubt]

From elsewhere on the web:

Phil Hughes injury was so rare, that doctors at St Vincent's Hospital had never seen this injury. One of them is quoted as saying there have only been 100 deaths from blows delivered to this region of the body in the knowledge of recorded medical history. Now, I don't know where that information is kept on record or how accurate it is, but it at least points to the fact that this was a bizarre and freakish accident.

[joeluke]

Beamers incur a no ball and warning for the bowler so what's the difference?

Both beamers and bouncers end up aimed at the batsman's head, bouncers just take a split second longer to reach their target

[ChillDoubt]

Beamers are purely accidental, short-pitched deliveries are part of a specific strategy, as pointed out in those other threads.

[ToraToraTora]

That would be a silly overreaction.

[New Judge]

Leaving aside all the above (with which I fully agree - short length balls are an integral part of the game) just how do you expect the authorities to ban balls being bowled above shoulder height? Will the bowler be sent off? Will he be banned? Who will decide whether he delivered such a ball deliberately or accidentally (most "beamers" are accidental)?

Sorry, joe, your proposal is a non starter. Cricket has dangers. It involves a hard ball being projected at high speed towards a largely unprotected human body. Players know the risks; serious injuries are rare, fatalities are extremely rare. If you don't want to take the risks, don't play - simples !!!

[kylesmum]

Discussions like this just makes it more painful for the family.They will look on the net...it's human nature.

Support the family.

[kylesmum]

No I don't think that balls should be banned from above shoulder height...nor should bouncers.

My sisters b-i-l slipped on the last step..on the way out for some fun with mates...he was a journalist..banged the back of his head and was dead before he reached the hospital.(prob before)

*** happens.....it's called living your life and taking a chance !

[piggynose]

better helmet design comes to mind.