Batsman's Death Turns Attention on Helmets
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SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014 Huge outpouring Youngster who bowled ball for tragic Hughes that killed Hughes ‘broken’ SYDNEY: Flags flew at half-mast and thousands of fans and players paid tribute yesterday as Australia SYDNEY: A “broken” Sean Abbott faced rebuilding his life yesterday after Thursday evening and said he was impressed with the way he was han- and the world cricket community united in an out- delivering the ball that killed Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, although dling the situation, adding “this is a grieving process that will affect people pouring of grief for the tragic death of batsman Cricket Australia said the young bowler was holding up well given the cir- in different ways”. “I think it’s been fantastic the way in which people have Phillip Hughes. Cricketers the world over paused to cumstances. The 22-year-old was doing what he always does for his state shown concern for Sean,” he said. “What we will do and the relevant remember the player, and a spontaneous #putyour- New South Wales, bowling fast, when Hughes misjudged a pull shot at the experts will do will be to provide Sean with all of the support he needs to batsout campaign received a massive response with Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday and collapsed to the ground uncon- work through this. “But right now I can say that he is holding up very well thousands posting pictures of bats on Twitter. scious after being hit on the base of the skull. and I’m incredibly impressed with him.” Australia’s stunned Test team comforted each oth- He never recovered and died on Thursday after massive bleeding to Despite this, Pakistan great Waqar Younis questioned whether Abbott, er in a grief counseling session at the Sydney Cricket the brain. Test veteran Jason Gillespie said Abbott’s personal and profes- who has made no comment, would be able to continue in cricket. “How Ground, where Hughes was knocked unconscious sional life had been turned upside down by the unprecedented tragedy. will he continue?,” Waqar, one of the outstanding fast bowlers of his gen- while batting in a domestic game on Tuesday. The “That lad is absolutely shaken and broken at the moment,” he told Fox eration and now Pakistan’s coach said. “He needs counseling, which I am 25-year-old died two days later on Thursday from Sports, while former Australian captain Mark Taylor said he would be sure must have started, and needs to stay calm.” Abbott visited Hughes in massive bleeding in his brain, becoming one of the haunted by the incident. “He’s got no questions to answer but I’m sure Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital and has been getting support from cricket- he’ll be feeling some guilt today and probably will be for a long time,” he ing officials and his teammates. Reports said Australian captain Michael highest profile deaths in sport since Formula One said. “I really hope Sean can get over it and we one day see Sean back Clarke and Hughes’ sister Megan went out of their way to spend a signifi- icon Ayrton Senna in 1994. playing for NSW and maybe Australia.” Up-and-coming bowler Abbott, cant amount of time with him this week. While the outpouring of grief Shock at the freak accident pulsed around the who made his one-day and Twenty20 debut for Australia in October, was and sympathy on social media has been for Hughes, there have also been globe as Hughes featured on front pages worldwide seen cradling the injured player immediately after the incident. plenty of encouraging words for Abbott. and flags were at half-mast at Lord’s, the home of “Spare a thought for Sean Abbott,” tweeted England great Ian Botham, cricket in London. New South Wales authorities ‘In our thoughts and prayers’ while West Indies legend Viv Richards also sent his best wishes: “Deepest announced a public memorial service for Hughes, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland spoke with him on sympathy for Phillip’s family, friends & associates. —AFP while next week’s first Test against India hung in the balance. Four players in Australia’s Test squad-David Warner, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and Nathan Lyon-were on the field when he collapsed after being hit by a Sean Abbott delivery. “Six or seven days is not a long time, but right now with where we all are, it seems like a million miles away,” said Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland, referring to next week’s game in Brisbane. Sutherland said the “understanding and empathy” of India’s powerful Board of Control for Cricket has been “absolutely out- standing”. “They understand that these are unique and extraordinary circumstances,” he said, adding: “We all love cricket and no one loved cricket more than Phillip. “Cricket will go on and it will go on when we’re ready.” #putoutyourbats Both the Sydney Cricket Ground and the cav- ernous Melbourne Cricket Ground lowered their flags to half-mast, while club teams from Australia to India paused in a minute’s silence. Before play in the third Test against Pakistan, New Zealand’s players lined up their bats and caps outside their dressing room in somber tribute. Both teams in Sharjah, who cancelled play on Thursday in shock at the news, also held a minute’s silence and donned black armbands. Rank- and-file fans and superstars alike contributed to #putoutyourbats, posting pictures of bats leaning against front doors, stadiums and statues. Previously In this computer generated image shows a cricket helmet with old and new profiles. In light of the death of Australian bats- anonymous Sydneysider Paul D Taylor, who started man Phillip Hughes, are cricket helmets affording the right level of protection to batsmen receiving deliveries of up to 90 the campaign, said he was “amazed and humbled by miles per hour from the world’s quickest bowlers? And will helmets ever guarantee the safety of a batsman? — AP the outcome”. Google Australia joined the trend, decorating its home page with the poignant image of a single bat. The tragedy transcended sports. Golf number one Batsman’s death turns Rory McIlroy wore a black ribbon as he played the Australian Open in Sydney, and tennis star Rafael Nadal offered his condolences. Fans of Western attention on helmets Sydney Wanderers planned a minute’s applause at 63 minutes Hughes’ score when he was struck down- during Saturday’s derby match against Sydney FC. SINGAPORE: A week ago, cricket was considered one of the safest lot of mobility, so they can turn their heads quickly enough to avoid Australia’s rugby team will wear black armbands games in the world, a sport that anyone can play without any real fear being hit and play the shots required to score runs. It is a fine balancing when they play England at Twickenham on Saturday, for their safety. The horrific death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, act and even the helmet manufacturers say there is still no guarantee and a message of sympathy came from New who died after being hit in the head by a ball, has shattered that notion that a newer style helmet would be completely safe. Although test crick- Zealand’s All Blacks. forever. Suddenly the sport is under the spotlight and preparing to con- et dates back to the 1870s, players only started wearing helmets in the Meanwhile support remained for Abbott, 22, the duct a full review of its safety procedures to ensure there is no repeat. late 1970s and the initial response was mixed. The former Australian cap- unlucky fast bowler who delivered the fateful ball But if history, and what has happened in other sports is any guide, tain Graham Yallop was booed when he wore a helmet in the West and who was said to be “broken” by the incident. wholesale changes are unlikely to happen quickly. Indies in 1978 while Tony Greig was lampooned for wearing one that “That lad is absolutely shaken and broken at the The two key elements that will come under most scrutiny are hel- looked like a motorcycle helmet. moment,” former Test quick Jason Gillespie told Fox mets and bouncers, the deliveries that cause the most serious injuries. But as time past, and lighter, more aerodynamic styles were made, Sports. The sport has already placed restrictions on the number of bouncers a they became more commonplace, reducing the number of serious Doctors said the ball cannoned into the base of bowler can deliver and even in the immediate aftermath of Hughes’ injuries. Cricket is not the first sport to investigate helmets after the Hughes’ skull, splitting his vertebral artery and caus- death, there was universal support to keep the existing rules, considered death of player. In 1920, Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman was killed ing massive bleeding in his brain. Hughes, who was a vital part of the game. The main focus will be on helmets. It is currently when he was hit in the head by a ball thrown from New York Yankees struck below his helmet, remained standing for a few not mandatory for batsmen to wear helmets but that rule will now be pitcher Carl Mays, the only death in Major League Baseball. His death seconds after the blow, before crashing to the pitch reviewed, as will the design. Hughes was wearing a protective cap but led to calls for batter helmets but they were not made mandatory face-first. Experts called it a freak injury with only 100 the ball slipped through a tiny gap between his shoulder and the base of until the 1950s.