Phil Hughes Passes Away

[Joemo]

Couldn't believe this when I saw it earlier, for some reason I just assumed he'd pull through

RIP Phillip Hughes, 63 not out forever. Thoughts go out to Abbott as well, I hope he's got the support of Cricket Australia, the poor bloke must be a wreck.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Just saw on the news that he was wearing a 2013 model of the helmet and the 2014 version of the same manufacturer had a slightly extended protection zone near where he got struck. Obviously conjecture whether it would have actually made any difference

It's obviously a bit of a freak occurrence but I've often thought that cricket helmets could do with more protection for the neck and throat areas.

I wonder if they'll end up looking a bit more like something that riot police wear?

 

[MDFC Manager]

It's obviously a bit of a freak occurrence but I've often thought that cricket helmets could do with more protection for the neck and throat areas.

I wonder if they'll end up looking a bit more like something that riot police wear?

The big problem is the side facing stance of the batsman when facing up, and then having to move the head to execute certain shots. That I believe restricts the possibilities of protection. Still, its not a great excuse at all and I think some or the other innovation should certainly be possible. Shame its taken the loss of a young talented life to bring back attention to it.

 

[2mufc0]

I think the American Football style helmet offers better protection, if they could design it around that shape.

 

[zing]

Was genuinely gutted when I heard this in the morning.

Don't know what else to say.

 

[Moonred]

Considering how awful I feel about this, I can't even start to imagine what his close ones are going through now. Truly horrible day.

 

[zing]

https://amp.twimg.com/v/9e5a87dd-4059-4555-a805-814ad3e636f2

 

[kotha]

Just heard this awful news... RIP Phil Hughes..

Hope Abbott is also given the very best psychiatric help, he must be down in the dumps..

 

[The Man Himself]

The doctors said that it was very unfortunate injury and because it hit artery and the resulting blood flow it became fatal. Helmet company has said that his helmet was bit outdated. I don't know if it is proactive cover up or it genuinely is the case, but reading all this makes me more sad. No point discussing those things right away but hopefully some measures are taken, if needed to avoid it happening ever again.

Thought for Abbott too. Imagine how it will feel every time he will bowl bouncer in future. Horrible it must be for him.

 

[KM]

I find it extremely out of order that BBC are carrying photos of Sean Abbott leaving the hospital. Utter scum.

 

[Damien]

I find it extremely out of order that BBC are carrying photos of Sean Abbott leaving the hospital. Utter scum.

The Mail had EIGHT photos. Just disgusting. Was like he was a murderer or something and not someone who was grieving a tragic accident.

 

[KM]

The Mail had EIGHT photos. Just disgusting. Was like he was a murderer or something and not someone who was grieving a tragic accident.

Kind of expected that from Daily Mail, but BBC are meant to be respectable.

 

[The Man Himself]

I think the American Football style helmet offers better protection, if they could design it around that shape.

Totally different game obviously so design won't be exact same. For instance, the grill design is trade-off between good sighting of ball vs risk, even slight, of ball coming through it(refer Broad's injury in recent India-Eng series). As I said in post before this, if there are some measures that can be taken, even to remove possibility of such freak accidents, it should be done.

 

[The Man Himself]

News channels and media are fecking horrible. It was ABC or something which tweeted that it can't be confirmed if he was dead or alive while leaving stadium.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

The big problem is the side facing stance of the batsman when facing up, and then having to move the head to execute certain shots. That I believe restricts the possibilities of protection. Still, its not a great excuse at all and I think some or the other innovation should certainly be possible. Shame its taken the loss of a young talented life to bring back attention to it.

There's a school of thought that the more padding/protection in any sport the more risks taken. Hence we're seeing this growing problem with chronic brain injuries in the NFL. I don't have the stats to hand - so can't be certain but I'm sure I read somewhere that you're more likely to get concussed in the NFL (wearing a helmet) than you are in rugby (not wearing a helmet)

Bringing it back to cricket, I wonder if bowling (and batting) has got more reckless since everyone started wearing helmets? Would be interesting to crunch the numbers on the ratio of pull-shots vs ducking out of the way in players wearing helmets vs those without.

Ultimately, I suppose no sport can be made entirely safe and you'll always have tragic, freak accidents. Apparently he ruptured a vertebral artery, which is an incredibly rare injury, in any sport.

 

[The Man Himself]

There's a school of thought that the more padding/protection in any sport the more risks taken. Hence we're seeing this growing problem with chronic brain injuries in the NFL. I don't have the stats to hand - so can't be certain but I'm sure I read somewhere that you're more likely to get concussed in the NFL (wearing a helmet) than you are in rugby (not wearing a helmet)

Bringing it back to cricket, I wonder if bowling (and batting) has got more reckless since everyone started wearing helmets? Would be interesting to crunch the numbers on the ratio of pull-shots vs ducking out of the way in players wearing helmets vs those without.

Ultimately, I suppose no sport can be made entirely safe and you'll always have tragic, freak accidents. Apparently he ruptured a vertebral artery, which is an incredibly rare injury, in any sport.

No. In fact bowling used to be more aggressive back in the days and batsmen were more at risk. Multiple reasons or rather multiple rule changes led to it becoming less aggressive. Safety was maybe one reason but it has become more batsman's game gradually. The front and sides are well protected in modern helmets, even back of the head too, but hopefully if needed the spot where Phil got hit can be covered too. Batting with helmet is definitely uncomfortable than say without and batsmen don't want helmet to be too heavy or with too much of front grill hindering the vision.

 

[peterstorey]

Could ban the bouncer.

 

[The Man Himself]

Could ban the bouncer.

That won't be right. Bouncer is key part of fast bowler's game. Improving safety methods is better option. The instances of batsmen getting hit on helmet itself are rare let alone such tragedy.

 

[Moonred]

I find it extremely out of order that BBC are carrying photos of Sean Abbott leaving the hospital. Utter scum.

Appalling behaviour, media focus on abbott is stupid. Just leave the poor guy alone, he was a friend ffs. The world doesn't need to teach him how to deal with it.

 

[Snowjoe]

There's a school of thought that the more padding/protection in any sport the more risks taken. Hence we're seeing this growing problem with chronic brain injuries in the NFL. I don't have the stats to hand - so can't be certain but I'm sure I read somewhere that you're more likely to get concussed in the NFL (wearing a helmet) than you are in rugby (not wearing a helmet)

Bringing it back to cricket, I wonder if bowling (and batting) has got more reckless since everyone started wearing helmets? Would be interesting to crunch the numbers on the ratio of pull-shots vs ducking out of the way in players wearing helmets vs those without.

Ultimately, I suppose no sport can be made entirely safe and you'll always have tragic, freak accidents. Apparently he ruptured a vertebral artery, which is an incredibly rare injury, in any sport.

On that point I'm not sure if it's fair to compare seeing as in the NFL you'll regularly see say Wide Receivers hit high in the body by the Corners at full pace, rather than Rugby where there is a lot more controlled contact so to speak. When you see QB's and receivers hit in the positions where their body has no protection and their heads whipping around it's not as surprising, helmet or not.

Now I could have of course just talked complete bollocks however!

Although on your main point I remember when I used to teach snowboarding my friend was really into the helmet debate as it was a big point of discussion around the Natasha Richardson incident as to whether it was mandatory. I seem to remember him digging out studies that showed it didn't make much difference to overall injury rates. Of course I may be talking bollocks again but I'll see if I can dig it out.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

On that point I'm not sure if it's fair to compare seeing as in the NFL you'll regularly see say Wide Receivers hit high in the body by the Corners at full pace, rather than Rugby where there is a lot more controlled contact so to speak. When you see QB's and receivers hit in the positions where their body has no protection and their heads whipping around it's not as surprising, helmet or not.

The theory is that tackling rugby is more controlled and technical, because it has to be. Pad them up and you'd probably see much similarly reckless tackles to what you see in the NFL.

Now I could have of course just talked complete bollocks however!

Although on your main point I remember when I used to teach snowboarding my friend was really into the helmet debate as it was a big point of discussion around the Natasha Richardson incident as to whether it was mandatory. I seem to remember him digging out studies that showed it didn't make much difference to overall injury rates. Of course I may be talking bollocks again but I'll see if I can dig it out.

I've never actually heard a snowboarder moan about helmets, if only because it's cold enough I've never known someone to be bothered about wearing them. I prefer wearing a helmet to a wooly hat, personally. Don't like the way snow and ice sticks to wool when you stack.

I have heard cyclists talk about stats which indicate that wearing a helmet might not protect as much as it seems, because drivers are less careful around them. Not sure I believe that myself but you'd have to wonder if fast bowlers would target the head as much if batsmen didn't wear helmets? (I'm sure there's data out there to confirm whether that's true or not)

 

[Sam]

https://amp.twimg.com/v/9e5a87dd-4059-4555-a805-814ad3e636f2

feck man, that was unbearably sad to watch. Not ashamed to admit I shed a tear or two.

Its strange really, I'm not Australian, I don't follow cricket that much (apart from the England tests), and I didn't know that much about Phil Hughes, but this has really hit me hard. I guess there's just something so tragic and pointless about a young man losing his life, doing something he loved, and in such unexpected circumstances. Life really is such a bitch sometimes. God knows how his friends and family must be feeling right now.

 

[Snowjoe]

The theory is that tackling rugby is more controlled and technical, because it has to be. Pad them up and you'd probably see much similarly reckless tackles to what you see in the NFL.

Could be, although the legality of the different types of tackles I feel is more the issue, if rugby players were allowed to clean each other out like NFL players can then I think protection would be needed, but the games are totally different in that sense. I'm not sure if you padded them up you would see the same tackles without a rule change, but I guess the current rules stem from not injuring the other player.

I've never actually heard a snowboarder moan about helmets, if only because it's cold enough I've never known someone to be bothered about wearing them. I prefer wearing a helmet to a wooly hat, personally. Don't like the way snow and ice sticks to wool when you stack.

I have heard cyclists talk about stats which indicate that wearing a helmet might not protect as much as it seems, because drivers are less careful around them. Not sure I believe that myself but you'd have to wonder if fast bowlers would target the head as much if batsmen didn't wear helmets? (I'm sure there's data out there to confirm whether that's true or not)

When I started teaching I was surprised as to how many people moaned about it, mostly younger people who thought they were invincible mind. I've had plenty of concussions wearing one mind, but the thing I wore it for the most was for things like rails in the park or rocks, I'd rather have two inches of foam for a rock or metal bar to go through before hitting my skull!

I was going to say that I don't even register if a cyclist has a helmet or not, I just try and stay away from them as your cars gonna feck them helmet or not. But then I remembered how many cretins are on the road so it may well be right

 

[Spoony]

Could ban the bouncer.

That would make the game even more batsmen friendly. As for protection, I suspect they give players false security.

 

[RonaldoVII]

Are you joking?

No? I mean it's not exactly boxing or f1 where you're putting your life on the line each time you go out is it?

 

[XdanielredX]

Was a great player for the Redbacks.

Will be missed greatly here in South Australia

RIP

 

[Globule]

Terrible news.

I'm not a cricket fan, but I've always wondered how long it would be before someone died as a result of a ball to the head. Always assumed it would be a fielder rather than a batter. I remember watching some of the 2005 Ashes highlights and seeing a couple of the fielders stand right up close to the batter and wondering how on earth they are allowed to stand that close without some kind of protection.

 

[surf]

Gary Sobers, who never wore a helmet and rarely wore a cap, said he got hit when young by trying to duck a bouncer. After that he decided he would always stand up and hook. The bouncer is a key part of cricket - not just about trying to hurt the batsman but also trying to tempt him into an injudicious hook.

Also, to answer GB, Abdul Aziz died after being hit on the heart by a slow bowler.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

The #putoutyourbat tribute is quite touching.

 

[dannyrhinos89]

Bad news to see someone die so young, I feel so bad for Sean though I can't imagine what he must be going through knowing he accidentally caused another mans death. It'll scar him for life poor guy.

 

[gormless]

That would make the game even more batsmen friendly. As for protection, I suspect they give players false security.

Superman theory.
There is a fair bit of talk every few years in the NFL about removing their helmets as the players launch themselves in trusting the prote. They get so many more concussions than Rugby players who don't have protection so they go for more sensible technique based tackles.

You wouldn't see this happen if they didn't have helmets

 

[DOTA]

Quite shocked about this. Feel for the bowler, especially. I don't really see how you can get over something like that. Not sufficiently to continue playing the game that was your livliehood and presumably dream.

A part of me feels this should've been prevented. Hughes was never good at facing short pitched bowling, frankly, and it seems somewhat negligent that he was allowed to play wearing a helmet that people more knowledgeable than me seem to think wasn't appropriate. I'm not really sure what, if anything, should be done about that though.

 

[Archie Leach]

Quite shocked about this. Feel for the bowler, especially. I don't really see how you can get over something like that. Not sufficiently to continue playing the game that was your livliehood and presumably dream.

A part of me feels this should've been prevented. Hughes was never good at facing short pitched bowling, frankly, and it seems somewhat negligent that he was allowed to play wearing a helmet that people more knowledgeable than me seem to think wasn't appropriate. I'm not really sure what, if anything, should be done about that though.

The manufacturer of the helmet said it wouldn't have made a difference, the coverage required to prevent the injury would've stopped him been able to swivel his head. The 2014 model of the helmet has an extra cm, if that.

 

[DOTA]

The manufacturer of the helmet said it wouldn't have made a difference, the coverage required to prevent the injury would've stopped him been able to swivel his head. The 2014 model of the helmet has an extra cm, if that.

Ahh, okay.

I'll assume the "people more knowledgeable than me" were doing the same as I and thinking too hard for something to blame and therefore change in future.

I do find it hard to accept as 'something that can happen'. I know it's such a freak occurence but I guess it's the high profile of the victim in it that makes it feel different.

 

[Archie Leach]

Ahh, okay.

I'll assume the "people more knowledgeable than me" were doing the same as I and thinking too hard for something to blame and therefore change in future.

I do find it hard to accept as 'something that can happen'. I know it's such a freak occurence but I guess it's the high profile of the victim in it that makes it feel different.

I'm sure they'll be looking into a solution. It would need to be some sort of mobile protection (moving plates or something?) because the ability to swivel is so essential.

 

[Pexbo]

Ahh, okay.

I'll assume the "people more knowledgeable than me" were doing the same as I and thinking too hard for something to blame and therefore change in future.

I do find it hard to accept as 'something that can happen'. I know it's such a freak occurence but I guess it's the high profile of the victim in it that makes it feel different.

I think it's worth considering how many hundreds of thousands of balls have been bowled professionally since helmets became standard compared to how many fatal accidents.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

Horrible for Hughes' family, and for Abbott too. Genuinely feel for them all.

RIP.

 

[LeChuck]

Really sad news.

A tragic accident with two victims.

RIP to Phil Hughes and I hope Abbott gets the support he needs.

 

[DOTA]

I think it's worth considering how many hundreds of thousands of balls have been bowled professionally since helmets became standard compared to how many fatal accidents.

Very true.

I think I'd find it hard to focus on that though, if I was a professional fast bowler at this moment in time. Even just as a fan, I think it will be a while before I can watch some tailender getting roughed up without feeling a level of unease. I know that's not a rational reaction though.

 

[Flying Fox]

google au has their bat out. brilliant

 

[Insanity]

24 hours later and it's still hard to believe. Seen many a batsmen hit on the helmet or in the vicinity before, but never imagined that someone can lose their life.

Someone asked yesterday if this has happened before. Here's a list of people who unfortunately passed away due to incidents on the cricket field.

http://www.rediff.com/cricket/repor...ba-jenkins-randall-bhatti-hughes/20141128.htm