RIP Hughes

A single, freak delivery has touched the world of sport in a manner previously unseen. The tragic demise of the diminutive Australian batsman, Phillip Hughes, has touched the lives of many across the globe, bringing tributes at a wide variety of sporting events with old bats and hats being dusted off and paraded.

The left-handed opening batsman who played 26 Tests and 25 one-day internationals for his country, made his international debut against South Africa in 2009.

In only his second Test the swashbuckling farmer’s son from the Outback became the youngest player to score a century in both innings, against the impressive might of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. His reputation was set.

Hughes played cricket for Middlesex CCC and established a reputation like no other, on and off the pitch. In a little under a month he hit three centuries and two half centuries in only five first class innings, leaving the club with a remarkable average of 143.5 having amassed 882 runs.

However, it was off the pitch that he left even more of a mark, developing a reputation as a hard-working model professional, who was happy to talk cricket to anyone, including spectators and reporters.

Ironically, it may have been this hugely successful spell at the home of cricket that may have led to the exposure of a weakness that proved to be his downfall. While playing under the Middlesex and England captain, Andrew Strauss, the analysts identified a weakness against the short ball.

This deficiency was tested and exposed by Steve Harmison in a warm-up game ahead of the first Test and then by Andrew Flintoff. Writing in his autobiography, Australian captain Ricky Ponting commented: “Suddenly our rising star looked terribly mortal,” words that now look quite prophetic.

Unfortunately for any batsman that plays the bouncer badly, word quickly spreads amongst the fast-bowlers’ ‘union’ and the bombardment was destined to continue.

Hughes eventually lost his place in the team and had been working hard, learning how to play the bouncer better from all angles. The great irony is that he looked likely to regain his place in the Test team this week due to his fine form and an injury to Michael Clarke. Indeed, Clarke had recently commented that Hughes could well play over a century of matches for the ‘baggy greens’.

Intimidation and the threat of injury is all part of the fast-bowlers’ armoury. This was first witnessed in the notorious ‘bodyline’ Ashes tour of Australia in 1932 when the England quicks targetted the body and head of the opposing batsmen. Australia’s Bert Oldfield had his skull fractured. Aside from the controversy at this ‘ungentlemanly’ tactic it brought changes to the rules and enhanced safety. The following summer England batsman Patsy Hendren played against the West Indies with a home-made protective ‘deerstalker’ with sponge attached to protect the ears and temples.

It was not until the late 1970s when helmets became more commonplace, partly due to the Kerry Packer revolution but possibly more because batsmen sought protection from the awesome West Indies pace attack, led by Michael ‘Whispering Death’ Holding. Even Sunil Gavaskar created his own skull protector.

Now helmets are second nature with children enforced to wear them until the age of 18 in some countries.

Helmets have continued to evolve. Apparently, the helmet worn by Hughes was the 2013 model supplied by Masuri, with the current model affording more protection in the area in which Hughes was struck.

Statistically, Hughes was hugely unlucky. In a study conducted by Loughborough University in 2013 experts analysed incidents in which first-class cricketers were struck on the head by bouncers. Of the 35 ‘outcomes’ only two involved batsmen being hit on the back of the head underneath the helmet and these were more likely to result in concussion. Remarkably, these results were similar to those experienced in baseball.

Hughes died of a vertebral artery dissection. The impact of the ball created a massive bleed on the brain, the pressure of which could not be rectified by surgery. Experts have found only 100 previous reported cases and only one of these from cricket.

Batsmen get hit all the time. Earlier in the week Ahmed Shehzad, the Pakistan opener, suffered a minor skull fracture when hit by Corey Anderson having scored 176. New South Wales (NSW) batsman, Ben Rohrer, is still recovering having been struck by his former team-mate, Chris Tremain. However, given the number of hours of cricket played, it is still considered to be a safe sport.

Hughes was batting for his new state, South Australia, against his home state, NSW. Having ducked under earlier bouncers he attempted a hook shot, playing it too early, exposing the less well protected back of his head and neck.

So what of the bowler who delivered the fatal blow? Sean Abbott, who only made his debut for Australia last month, was only doing his job. Three years his senior, both men rose through the ranks of Sydney junior cricket and Hughes was there to welcome Abbott when he made his senior debut in 2011.

Abbott was a close friend of Hughes and was the first to cradle and comfort the batsman as he lay stricken on the wicket. He is understandably distraught and receiving support and counselling. In addition to being a promising fast bowler, some deliveries breaking the 90mph mark, he is also a useful, clean-hitting batsman.

His first international wicket was that of Shahid Afridi with an in-swinging yorker. Let’s hope he makes a full recovery as it would be tragic for Australia to lose two such fine talents from this incident.

Abbott cannot be blamed just as Adrian Newey was not held culpable for the death of Ayrton Senna or Chris Eubank for delivering the uppercut that left Michael Watson with brain damage and in a coma for 30 days. Sport brings risk.

Yet, however freakish the injury, lessons are still likely to be learned.

There are numerous other sports where helmets are compulsory including equine events, motor racing and skiing. Ice hockey has compulsory headgear, Sweden being the first to introduce the regulation in 1963 while the US followed in 1979.

Bizarrely boxing has just gone the other way with the International Amateur Boxing Association banning headgear for international bouts last year, citing evidence to show this could reduce the number of injuries by reducing risky behaviour. Geoffrey Boycott has said something similar about cricket, noting the greater number of perilous shots attempted with the greater confidence emanating from superior protection.

Yet, while this is a tragedy, it is one that does not necessitate radical knee-jerk changes. It is one to be mourned with lessons about protection and technique to be learned.

Young adults die every day from illness, injury and war. Yet, this is a fate that is not supposed to befall the superheroes of modern sport. They are the fittest, most talented humans on the planet, many of whom are idolised. A high proportion of them do not deserve such accolades. Phillip Hughes did. Rest In Peace. 63 not out … and in our memories for ever.