Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Players => Topic started by: Montys Beard on November 25, 2014, 04:28:22 AM
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Phil Hughes has taken a bouncer to the lid at the SCG and is in a pretty bad way.
"There are serious concerns for South Australian batsman Phil Hughes after he was hit on the side of the head by a bouncer by Sean Abbott during a Sheffield Shield clash against NSW at the SCG.
An ambulance helicopter arrived at the SCG with a doctor to help Hughes. A spokesman for the Ambulance Service of NSW said paramedics were called to Moore Park at 2.37pm, and Hughes was taken to St Vincents Hospital by ambulance in a critical condition.
After the blow, Hughes stood, looked at his feet and crashed face-first onto the pitch. The NSW players and umpires called for help immediately"
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/phil-hughes-knocked-out-by-bouncer-at-scg-20141125-11titq.html (http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/phil-hughes-knocked-out-by-bouncer-at-scg-20141125-11titq.html)
Thoughts are with Phil right now.
*Update - Just heard they had to perform CPR on him at the ground. Unconfirmed but what I'm hearing on social media/radio etc...
*Update 2 - Reports on the news he had a cardiac arrest - Again unconfirmed.
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My goodness, this looks really bad.
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Mates with him when we both played in Worcester, sick to my stomach with this news.
Praying for him to pull through this, thoughts with family, friends and Sean Abbot who must be feeling terrible.
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Saw a video of them putting him on the stretcher - His body was just completely limp. Not good at all :(
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News services now indicating CPR was performed for 40 mins at the ground.
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Yeah, sport.fm have just said that he's in surgery at St.Vinnies....
There's a press conference in 15 minutes which they're going to try and put live so I'll post something up if there's anything new.
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Really sad news. Hopefully he will recover and back on the cricket field.
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Terrible news, really hope he pulls through?! Things like this really show the potential dangers of the game and put things into perspective.
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From News Limited reporter at the scene, Ben McClellan:
St Vincent's Hospital spokesman David Faktor said Hughes was on life support.
"He underwent a set of scans to establish the extent of his injuries and then a decision was made to perform surgery," he said.
"He arrived in a critical condition and remains in a critical condition. He is undergoing surgery as we speak.
"I understand they intubated him at the scene. He is the best of hands and surrounded by a leading team."
Mr Faktor said he's family was by his side.
"He's got loved ones here at the hospital," he said.
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They are running bulletins every 5 minutes or so on SEN radio here in Melbourne.
Latest reports suggest the ball may have hit Hughes in the neck, not head as first reported.
Unconfirmed reports that it may have damaged (severed?) an artery, hence poor Phil going into cardiac arrest.
Was reported to have been on life support. Condition is critical.
Family and friends (Michael Clarke etc) have rushed to be by his side in hospital.
This is terrible, terrible news.
I hope and pray Phil pulls through.
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Now reports on the radio saying that Hughes is undergoing brain surgery.
The ball must have hit him on the side of the head on the temple.
Was put into an induced coma apparently.
The news bulletins do not sound positive at all.
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This doesn't sounds great. My thoughts and prayers with Phil Hughes and his family.
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Just woken up to this news on bbc.
This is desperately sad and we can only hope he pulls thru
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Not looking good for him. Terrible news
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Jesus I couldn't believe this when I read the story. Fingers crossed for Phil. This is terrible news.
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Report on TV a moment ago suggested the ball hit underneath the helmet? Side/back of the head?
Will be 24 to 48 hours before results of the surgery are know.
This is unbelievably bad.
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The ball has struck Hughes behind the ear as this picture shows:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-25/phil-hughes-hit/5917226 (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-25/phil-hughes-hit/5917226)
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Terrible news. Really hope he pulls through
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Out of surgery and into intensive care apparently.
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Just awful news. My thoughts are with Phil and his family.
Also hope that they look after Sean Abbott he must be feeling awful.
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A close up....nasty, nasty hit.
I have never seen anything quite like it.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/phil-hughes-injury-cricket-australia-and-south-australia-officials-release-statements/story-e6frf3g3-1227134635359?nk=835e66bb9b6154c06280ec90aa87d8d1 (http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/phil-hughes-injury-cricket-australia-and-south-australia-officials-release-statements/story-e6frf3g3-1227134635359?nk=835e66bb9b6154c06280ec90aa87d8d1)
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hope he pulls through ok.
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Thoughts are very much with him. Hope for the best, you have to think that ever things in his favor, all the experts ect around him and every done right from the start. Good luck to him.
Wonder when the helmet issue will be brought up. Looks like an older mesuri to me. Hope the other companies don't jump on this one like they have on other events.
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Thoughts and prayers for Phil and his Family.
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Thoughts are with Phil and family, hoping he pulls through and is back on the cricket field.
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Bloody hell, this is awful. Let's hope something positive comes out of the situation.
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The way he fell on his face towards ground was terrible , wish him speedy recovery
Ban coming soon on bouncers Anyone ?
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Wonder when the helmet issue will be brought up. Looks like an older mesuri to me. Hope the other companies don't jump on this one like they have on other events.
There has never been a helmet invented that could have prevented this injury. The ball has struck below the helmet line below the back of the ear. A freakish place to get hit that happened due the instinctive turning away of the head. I am still in shock.
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Agreed. I don't think any helmet could have prevented that injury. Awful. He's been terribly unlucky. I hope he pulls through OK. Abbott must be feeling terrible.
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Yeah until they make full head helmets Im afraid none that none on the market would of changed the outcome.
Tait? You mean Abbott? He would be feeling terrible at the moment. As would all who were there at the ground. Bad enough just seeing it in the news
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Awful news. Rooting for the guy.
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I watched it and it was absolutely sickening. He went really blue and all the players were looking very frantic. Really hope he pulls through, such a saddening incident. Doubt they would let him play again after a blow like that if he pulls through. Devestated, his mum and sister were in the crowd. Hope all the best for him and his family.
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thanks for all the Aussie updates Vic - this looks terrible.
When I first heard about it my first instinct was to ask what lid was he wearing - but clearly it has hit him in a place where no lid covers.
Pretty grim, fingers crossed for him.
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Shocking news hope he will be okay this highlights what could happen to any of us particularly at amateur level where certain players lack technique to play or avoid the short stuff and there are still to many dodgy batting tracks.
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Thoughts and Prayers with the Hughes Family
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Phillip Hughes has shown over his young life that's hes a fighter. He's gotta have at least one more fight in him to recover from the serious situation. C'mon Phil keep fighting 🙏🙏🙏
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Wishing him the very best. Thoughts and prayers with him and his loved ones.
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What a terrible injury, thoughts and wishes go to Phil and his family - hopefully he'll pull through and make a full recovery.
It must have affected the players on the pitch a lot too, hopefully they'll get counselling if needed.
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To abandon the game shows how much it affected them all, hope everything goes ok for him. The vision was horrible to watch.
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Yeah until they make full head helmets Im afraid none that none on the market would of changed the outcome.
Tait? You mean Abbott? He would be feeling terrible at the moment. As would all who were there at the ground. Bad enough just seeing it in the news
Thanks Jenko. Now corrected.
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My god what a terrible accident. Wishing Phil all the best. I sure hope he can pull through with not too many long term debilitating effects from the blow and surgery.
Cricket is a dangerous game. Not too many outside the sport seem to realize it. It takes genuine guts to face up to fast bowling and keep your wits about you rather than piss yourself and retire. To see a batsman go down like that is just so rare and unlucky. I'm sure the whole cricket world is In a state of shock now.
This should in no way be interpreted as a joke but...will some innovative manufacturer try to come up with a neck pad now? Maybe like a padded hood (ski mask style) that can be worn under the helmet which offers some protection to the back of the neck.
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Any updates on his condition guys? Hope he recovers at the earliest and can be seen in action very soon. I do not use a lid and if my wife comes to know of this news my cricket will be over.
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Awful news. Thoughts are with him and hope for his speedy recovery!
Blows on head are become too common, whilst being struck in non-helmet zone, I reckon it can be still be covered/protected?
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Awful news. Thoughts are with him and hope for his speedy recovery!
Blows on head are become too common, whilst being struck in non-helmet zone, I reckon it can be still be covered/protected?
I agree this is completely tragic, but, i dont think we can keep adding and adding to helmets we will end up wearing motorbike helmets.
this is just a freak accident
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Prayers go out to Phil and his family, friends and teammates who have to endure this pain. Hope he will safely pull out of this and recover well.
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The thing is, up until about 18 months ago Hughes always swayed out of the way of bouncers.
He never played a hook or a pull stroke ever off the fast men as he stayed leg side of the ball.
Then the coaches at CA got into him about developing an all round game so he could be more rounded when he next plays test cricket and he started playing the hook and the pull where previously, he never touched those two strokes.
That turn of the head at the last split second has allowed the ball to hit on that bit of bone just behind/below the ear for a disasterous outcome.
Hughes literally would have been better off taking the ball flush on the grill or above the visor.
I feel sick with worry at the lack of news on his welfare.
The kid is in an induced coma and is fighting for his life. The results of the surgery will not be known for 24-48 hours.
It must be hell for his family.
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Agreed. I don't think any helmet could have prevented that injury. Awful. He's been terribly unlucky. I hope he pulls through OK. Abbott must be feeling terrible.
Really hope he pulls through as well. terrible terrible thing to happen.
The thread below claims Ayrtek lids do have protection to stop this sort of blow.
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=29498.0 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=29498.0)
Will the press release over the Staurt Braod incident come back to haunt Masuri?
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Not sure the Ayrtek press release does that - from the images it looks as if he was hit behind the ear which is no protected by anything in any lid.
Vic you comment about techinque was interesting, I always thought Hughes has technical issues, but was solid against the short ball - as you said he got out of the way well. This shows the imact of poor coaching and trying too hard to change methods, when you frequently don't need to.
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All helmet manufacturers strive to provide the best possible levels of protection for batsmen when wearing a product at the crease. However as has been shown today not ever scenario can be accounted for, be it the shape and age of the ball squeezing through a gap, a top edge or the batsmen's natural instinct to avoid being struck by the ball.
Rest assured we have invested time, money and resources into designing products we feel offer optimal levels of protection to help significantly reduce the risk/severity of injury in the event the product is called into action.
We would like to take the opportunity to wish Phil Hughes a full and speedy recovery.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/30191502 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/30191502)
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Just seen the awful footage, Vic, really interesting insight into Hughes being coached to face the short ball. Have to agree with buzz too-can you coach a mentality that isn't there?
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Really hope he pulls through as well. terrible terrible thing to happen.
The thread below claims Ayrtek lids do have protection to stop this sort of blow.
[url]http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=29498.0[/url] ([url]http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=29498.0[/url])
The area illustrated in the picture is the rear neck area which was highlighted by the ICC/FICA as an area of concern and being vulnerable in the event a player turns their head/back on the ball. As mentioned by Buzz it appears Hughes was struck in an area where helmets would provide little to no protection due to the position he got into.
A very unfortunate series of events resulting in a very serious injury that we all hope he makes a full and speedy recovery from.
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Thats very unfortunate. Feel lucky, had a similar blow last season just 3-4 inches in front and survived with 7 stitches above right eyebrow.
Hope he recovers and comes back stronger.
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A very unfortunate situation and one that highlights the dangers that are in cricket.
We can only hope the Phil Hughes recovers fully.
One would hope that coaching and not helmets are what comes under scrutiny following this incident.
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it is a freak injury I can't see how any helmet worn today would of prevented the injury..he didn't hook against England when he played in the Ashes so got a lot of short balls(he got out the way)
very interested in Vic's comments about coaching the hook and pull, personally I've always believed these particular shots come naturally or not at all. Jonathan Trott would be one example.
There's been plenty of players over the years who did well in Test cricket without pulling or hooking.....they either swayed or ducked under
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This is Athers' response in the Times - note that this is the second similar incident in a month according to the article...
Helmets have made us complacent
Mike Atherton Chief Cricket Correspondent
Last updated at 11:30AM, November 25 2014
There is a certain irony in the knowledge that Phil Hughes was stricken and sent into hospital and on to life support not by a ball that was too quick for him, but by a ball that was too slow.
Hughes is a left-hander; he was hit on the left side of his head. All former professional batsmen know, therefore, that in trying to play the hook shot, he was through his movements too soon. He had completed the stroke a fraction before the ball arrived, turning his head having completed the shot, only for the ball to hit him below the helmet, near his left ear, as he swivelled around. Maybe the ball “stuck” in the pitch a fraction longer than normal; maybe Hughes simply mistimed his shot.
There are two ways an opener can get clattered on the head, and, paradoxically, it often happens when they are too early on the stroke rather than too late. Openers have a phrase to which they tend to adhere: give the bowlers the first hour. The ball is new, the pitch fresh, the bowlers eager. It pays to be a little conservative. Everything is at its quickest then, and the hook shot — one of the riskiest in a batsman’s portfolio — can be put away until later.
Until the ball is older, the pitch flatter and the bowlers a little more tired. That is exactly where Hughes found himself at 2.23pm yesterday afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He was playing well, pushing hard to regain his Test place. He had given the opening bowlers the early phase of the game; this was his time now, time to take advantage. A short ball from Sean Abbott, therefore, presented an opportunity rather than a threat, but seconds after being hit Hughes collapsed into the turf, a second blow to the head as he fell, accentuating the first.
Even in this helmeted, padded age, cricket remains a brutal game and Hughes’ sickening injury was a reminder of that. To read Kevin Pietersen’s recent autobiography, and the description of waiting to bat against Mitchell Johnson at the “Gabbatoir”, was another. England’s tailenders were, to be frank, sh**ting themselves, said Pietersen; Pietersen himself thought he could be killed. To be reminded of those things is to be reminded of the terrible beauty but threat that genuine fast bowling brings to the game. Without fast bowling, without the physical threat, cricket is a lesser game. But with that, comes inevitable risk.
For the vast majority of batsmen who get hit, the helmet does the trick and prevents serious injury. We have seen a few examples in recent years of the ball bursting through the grille of the helmet, as it did to Stuart Broad last summer, or as it did to the West Indian batsman, Kieron Pollard, during Twenty20 finals day at the Ageas Bowl in 2010, when a Dominic Cork bouncer smashed sickeningly into his right eye. Instinctively, I thought that Pollard would lose his eye at that moment (he was fine ultimately) and Broad did break his nose, so briefly ruining his looks, but there have been few instances of a threat to life, as in the hours after Hughes’s injury yesterday.
Maybe helmets had made us a little complacent, then. Certainly, they have changed the game beyond all recognition. Before the advent of helmets in the mid to late 1970s, batsmen were acutely aware that a blow to the head could put them in the morgue. Facing Harold Larwood in the 1930s, or Frank Tyson in the 1950s, or that dreaded combination Lillee ’n Thomson in the 1970s, was to walk to the crease with that knowledge. It is why I have always argued that any comparisons between batsmen of the pre-helmet age, and post-helmet age, are ridiculous.
Helmets changed the way batsmen play, and in doing so altered the dynamic of the game fundamentally. Whereas, pre-helmets, batsmen tended to move back and across initially, post-helmets, they advanced to the bowler more; whereas, pre-helmets, batsman hooked cautiously, infrequently and off the back foot, giving themselves a fraction longer to see the ball, post-helmets (think, above all, Matthew Hayden here) they hooked off the front foot with added danger. The balance between bat and ball, aggressor and defender, shifted: batsmen are now, figuratively and literally, on the front foot.
Hughes’s injury, therefore, is a reminder that batting remains, if not quite as dangerous a game as before, then still one with serious risk attached.
I spoke today to a writer who was at the SCG and witnessed the action. I wanted to check that Hughes had actually been hit on the left side off the head. He certainly had, my colleague said, before adding that he bumped into Ben Rohrer, the New South Wales batsman, just after Hughes had been hit. Rohrer suffered a similar injury earlier in the month, hit on the side of the head, through his stroke too soon, staggering a few steps before collapsing. Thankfully, Rohrer recovered fully, although my colleague said that he still looked pale even yesterday, three weeks after the incident. Let us hope that Hughes, like Rohrer, recovers to tell the tale.
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Aakash Chopra's view on the incident
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=melbctiFiAM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=melbctiFiAM)
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Good article from Athers, a reminder to everyone of the dangers of playing cricket. Thoughts and prayers with Phil Hughes and his family.
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Just saw a tweet, which indicated that Masuri released a statement:
Graphic released by manufacturer of the helmet worn by Phil Hughes. The one he wore was the older model. #PhilHughes http://t.co/WIa7pyQGQ0 (http://t.co/WIa7pyQGQ0)
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Just saw a tweet, which indicated that Masuri released a statement:
Graphic released by manufacturer of the helmet worn by Phil Hughes. The one he wore was the older model. #PhilHughes [url]http://t.co/WIa7pyQGQ0[/url] ([url]http://t.co/WIa7pyQGQ0[/url])
In many ways that's worse than the Broad comment. It invites the reader to say "if he had been wearing a new one it wouldn't have happened" which we can't know.
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^^^ in that case they should recall their old defective product [emoji6]
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In many ways that's worse than the Broad comment. It invites the reader to say "if he had been wearing a new one it wouldn't have happened" which we can't know.
Exactly what I was thinking. And furthermore the timing of the whole statement is in really poor taste. It seems as though they're trying to distance themselves from the incident. Very inhumane if you ask me.
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Exactly what I was thinking. And furthermore the timing of the whole statement is in really poor taste. It seems as though they're trying to distance themselves from the incident. Very inhumane if you ask me.
It's business.
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Just saw a tweet, which indicated that Masuri released a statement:
Graphic released by manufacturer of the helmet worn by Phil Hughes. The one he wore was the older model. #PhilHughes [url]http://t.co/WIa7pyQGQ0[/url] ([url]http://t.co/WIa7pyQGQ0[/url])
^^^ in that case they should recall their old defective product [emoji6]
Surely if they are saying the old product is vastly inferior to the new one to the extent it's unsafe they should do a trade in for a new model, free of charge...
If you have a receipt for an old (at the time top of the range) masuri, then get hit wearing an old one, what's to stop you going to masuri, showing them the receipt for their old style helmet and this diagram stating its unsafe, saying "this was top of the range, here's your admission it's unsafe, so you should have done something about it, compensation please...)
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Isn't this the reason why new models of many different products are brought out? Due to product development, research, advancements in technology etc etc? You wouldn't expect to be able to swap a car because the new model had new advanced safety features?!
Anyway, I think this is slightly diverting from the original thread. It should be about wishing Phil Hughes a speedy recovery.
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Yeah.
A bit sickening to see business concerns being discussed while the young mans life remains in the balance.
Fight hard Phil... the whole cricket world is rooting for you.
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a little snippet from masuri's press release, sounds almost like a piece of advertising
From the footage and pictures currently available to Masuri, it appears that Phil Hughes was struck by the ball to the rear of the grille and below the back of the shell, missing his Masuri Original Test model helmet,' the company's statement said.
'This is a vulnerable area of the head and neck that helmets cannot fully protect, while enabling batsmen to have full and proper movement.'
However, Masuri's statement added: 'The newly-developed Masuri Vision Series helmet, which supersedes the 2013 helmet worn by Phil Hughes, does afford batsmen extra protection in this region - and still allows comfortable movement.'
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a little snippet from masuri's press release, sounds almost like a piece of advertising
From the footage and pictures currently available to Masuri, it appears that Phil Hughes was struck by the ball to the rear of the grille and below the back of the shell, missing his Masuri Original Test model helmet,' the company's statement said.
'This is a vulnerable area of the head and neck that helmets cannot fully protect, while enabling batsmen to have full and proper movement.'
However, Masuri's statement added: 'The newly-developed Masuri Vision Series helmet, which supersedes the 2013 helmet worn by Phil Hughes, does afford batsmen extra protection in this region - and still allows comfortable movement.'
i don't care about masuri or any other brand, but this is selective quoting, and not really fair on them. they have clearly stated that they DON'T know whether the newer helmet would have saved him.
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It's always (No Swearing Please) "one-ups-manship" with Masuri.
Just like with Stuart Broad.
Tough times for all players involved
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i don't care about masuri or any other brand, but this is selective quoting, and not really fair on them. they have clearly stated that they DON'T know whether the newer helmet would have saved him.
i did say it was only a snippet. i haven't read the statement this was the quote that was used in the news story i was reading
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Isn't this the reason why new models of many different products are brought out? Due to product development, research, advancements in technology etc etc? You wouldn't expect to be able to swap a car because the new model had new advanced safety features?!
True, but most companies don't go on to release a detailed diagram why the old product is unsafe and bordering on dangerous like Masuri seem to have done here.
Using cars as an example - even the safest car in the world isn't fail proof.
With the diagram Masuri have released they're almost saying "it wouldn't have happened if he'd been wearing one of our new helmets" which is awful timing and impossible to claim. No helmet is fool proof, it's just a shame it takes these tragic incidents to open people's eyes to the fact.
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It's business.
Aaah that old chestnut. Seems to take precedence over everything it seems in this world. Shame.
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Nice article about Phil Simmons and his similar injury
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/cricket/30198194 (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/cricket/30198194)
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It just seems as though Masuri is trying to absolve themselves from blame. Which to me is really very dumb, as I don't think anybody would have blamed the helmet manufacturer for an injury under those circumstances
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Could we all for one not talk about helmets. and instead all go too sleep with a little thought for a great cricketer who might be facing the biggest battle. best wishes mate.
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Hope he pulls through this. Prayers are with him.
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very interested in Vic's comments about coaching the hook and pull, personally I've always believed these particular shots come naturally or not at all. Jonathan Trott would be one example.
There's been plenty of players over the years who did well in Test cricket without pulling or hooking.....they either swayed or ducked under
To answer ppccopener and a few others on here in relation to the hook shot and Phil Hughes recent acquisition of the stroke.
As most cricket fanatics on this site well know, Australian batsmen and the hook shot are synonymous with each other. One cannot think of one without conjuring up images of the other.
Every great Australian batsman, be it Bradman, Ian and Greg Chappell, Kim Hughes, Allan Border, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke and now Davey Warner all play the hook instinctively.
Why?
Because we are brought up playing it from a very early age. It is in our DNA to play it. So when an Aussie batsman doesn't hook, it seems odd. Almost un-Australian.
Steve Waugh was a compulsive hooker, but decided against the West Indies it was asking for trouble. So he put the shot away...for good. Never played it against anyone. His reasoning was that he didn't want to play a shot that was for him low percentage.
Others like the Chappell's, Kim Hughes, Ponting etc played the hook so well, that it was an attacking weapon to put a fast bowler in his place. "You reckon you are fast...COP THAT!"
Which leads us to Phil Hughes...
As a kid Hughes grew up on his parents banana plantation in Macksville. His dad used to bowl/throw downs at Phil for hours on end sometimes to satiate his sons thirst for improvement. As Phil's Italian mums rose bushes were on his legside, he knew that any shot into them would have his mother upset requesting they stop playing. SO Hughes avoided leg side strokes altogether and developed a home baked technique that allowed him to stay legside of the ball and hit it anywhere from over slip through the covers, to straight...and occasionally an on drive thrown in. But hooks and pulls were out of the question.
So when I saw Phil Hughes hooking and pulling in FC games less than 2 years ago...I knew that this was part of Cricket Australia's brains trust to try and turn Phil Hughes into an round wicket player rather than someone who merely swayed out of the way of bouncers monotonously.
What was obvious straight away was Phil Hughes hooking and pulling, whilst technically sound, looked unnatural...sort of mechanical. It was obvious he had honed it with hours of work with a bowling machine...but he still did not have a natural "feel" for the stroke.
In his innings yesterday, Hughes would have been almost certainly thinking "not only do I need a hundred to keep my name up in lights for a test recall, there has to be runs scored all round the wicket. Because the Aussie selectors will take notice if I crunch a few hooks and pulls to the boundary".
The Aussie selectors have an ingrained mentality of what an Aussie batsmen should play like...and when they saw Hughes back when he was slicing and dicing a bewildered South African bowling attack who were puzzled as to what this kid was up to with this strange technique...rather than just leave the boy be, experts like Greg Chappell started almost immediately to mess with the kids mind by making public statements along the lines of "Phil Hughes can potentially be a great Australian batsman, but he needs to start playing the hook and pull".
I remember those press quotes as clear as day.
The kid has scored 469 runs in a 3 test series on the high veldt against Steyn, Morkel and Ntini, and he was already being criticized??
By the time he got to England for the Ashes, he was already muddled in his thinking with all the conflicting advice he was receiving.
He was dumped after 3 test innings. 36 at Sophia Gardens. 4 (caught down the legside) and 16 (when Strauss claimed a catch from a ball that bounced in front of him) at Lords.
HARSH.
But the kid took it well and thought his time would come soon enough.
In the mean time, CA sent guys like Justin Langer to instruct Hughes to play the hook and pull etc and the lad became more confused. He was brought in for the injured Watson in a test in New Zealand and when Oz needed 115 to win, Hughes scored 86 not out off 75 balls to leave Katich standing still as Australia won by 10 wickets. And the selectors congratulated the lad, by dropping him immediately!
This messed with Hughes mind and his confidence plummeted to unseen levels. He was in shocking form in FC cricket when the selectors against all logic brought him back against England in the 3rd test of the 2010/11 Ashes. He predictably failed in all three tests, although he battled hard. Within a few weeks, he was dumped from the NSW team altogether and was back playing grade cricket. Confidence shot.
He worked hard and got selected for the Sri Lanka tour where he made a decent hundred in the 3rd test and then in the first test against SA in SA, he made a dashing 88. Three tests later, he was dumped again after the innocuous Chris Martin had him flashing at balls outside off stump straight to Guptill at third slip.
The "Phil Hughes has to learn how to play the hook and pull" drums beat louder and louder.
Brought back more than a year later against Sri Lanka at home he made 86 and 87 in the two tests and then had a poor first two tests against India in India (most Oz batsmen struggle there), but he came good with 69 in 3rd test (given out caught behind when he missed it ala Khawaja style) and 40 in the last test.
Made 81 not out in the first Ashes test...and true to form, was dropped straight after making two poor scores in the Lords test not to be seen again.
The hooking and pulling intensified as Hughes then spent the last year and a bit piling up big scores (two double centuries this year)...but ot looked forced...not natural. Because it really wasn't in Hughes psyche to play the shot.
Now today we are left praying for the well being a of young guy who is lying in a life threatening coma down to a shot he would not have even bothered playing 18 months ago.
Now is not the time for blood letting and blame shifting...but Phil Hughes was given many, many mixed messages as to what it would take to get back into the team only to see blokes like Maxwell selected at #3 in Australia's most recent test in UAE. Never once did he complain...but, I cannot help but feel Hughes was extending himself in ways he need not have to try and appease the Australian Selectors.
The ball hitting below the helmet line on a batsmen through with the shot too early is unpreventable and cannot be planned for. Driving a batsman to play a shot he was never comfortable with was entirely avoidable.
If you are not hooking by the time you are 14-15, you will never be a hooker.
The pull is entirely different (although mechanically it resembles its cousin the hook) in that it is played from balls that are chest height and lower and frequently from outside of off stump and thus off the line of the body. The hook is played to a ball that is zeroing in on your head...if you are not confident playing it, you should never play it. It si like asking someone with jumpy nerves to be a bomb disposal specialist...it is courting with disaster.
All we can hope for is that Phil makes a full recovery to health. That is what I am praying for...and I know all you blokes want the same.
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Could we all for one not talk about helmets. and instead all go too sleep with a little thought for a great cricketer who might be facing the biggest battle. best wishes mate.
My appologies, and of course my prayers are with him
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Very sad news about Phil, like all of us my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
Vic, your points on the hook shot and Phil Hughes are very interesting.
From an Australian perspective, I think people who have made the test team as batsmen are expected to be able to hook convincingly (even if they choose not to). I remember Michael Bevan being battered by the short ball (I think in 1997 Ashes) and was never given a chance again in tests despite scoring heavily in the Sheffield shield matches later on, his test career ended after that. So can certainly understand if Phil may have felt the pressure to show that he could play the shot at will like his other contemporaries, especially the way he had been treated in the past and the many mixed signals from selectors.
I also agree that you are either a natural at it or not. More than any other shot I can think of, the hook requires instinct, it is not something you can ever learn at a later stage to be completely comfortable with when a ball is zeroing in at your head at speed.
Still all in all its just a very sad unfortunate accident, something that could have happened to even the best hookers in the game.
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Great post above Vic - people blaming the equipment are looking for the easy answer.
The hook is a crazy shot that is very hard and there are very few people who can play it. There is no need to either, bowlers aren't going to spend all day bowling bouncers at you, it wont happen.
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I think the hook shot is more dangerous and risky than it is hard to play it is also a natural shot for most left handers.
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For me the hook is an instinct shot, i play it its one of my best shots, but its purely instinct I couldn't tell you why I play it to some balls and not others (of similar length) and most of the time after ive played it i couldn't tell you why i played it. My brother on the other hand cant play it at all. I think its just one of those shots you play or you don't. Its as hard to train some one to play the shot as its as hard to untrain. If your not a natural hooker/puller it should be left in the changing room and if you are you take the dangers that come with it.
Get well Phil Hughes.
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fully agree with the post from Vic
the hook is a natural thing as I have seen coaches try to coach it in to people but they are never comfortable
myself im a natural hooker and puller (may as a hockey defender im so used to balls flying passed my head on short corners it doesn't bother me as much) but I would never coach it into someone who felt uncomfortable as there is a limit to how many you can bowl at that height.
if not limit to bouncers then you could say there was an argument as that is all bowlers would do but as there is a limit they have to bowl you at least 4 in areas that are more hittable rather than risking injury playing the hook
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excellent post from Vic, fully agree
playing on English pitches is completely different from Australia of course, most of us play on uncovered soggy wickets and we don't grow up playing the shot, ive tried it in the nets and got in a right mess
we can only hope there is a recovery so everything crossed.
good to see the worldwide cricket community coming out in support for Phil Hughes.
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Poor Phil Hughes. It was just a couple of days ago that my 10 year old son and I were discussing the list of replacements for Michael Clarke. We both agreed Hughes deserved another chance. Now we can only hope he recovers well enough to play cricket again.
On the subject of helmets: when are we going to see the Masuri Samurai model introduced? Add a grille and you're good to go. Okay maybe not a metal one but the style might work (complete with personalised helmet ornament)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/TheBigGunns/Klingon/Edo_Samurai_Armor_5800_7779.jpg)
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Very sad news this. Hope he recovers pretty soon.
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Also I think the ball batsman need to be wary of is the throat ball bowled in line with the body but not short enough to hook or
duck or sway and hits you at pace under the chin below the helmet visor.
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http://www.sportsfan.com.au/hughes-helmet-not-to-blame,-says-robbo/tabid/91/newsid/149034/default.aspx (http://www.sportsfan.com.au/hughes-helmet-not-to-blame,-says-robbo/tabid/91/newsid/149034/default.aspx)
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With regards to the seriousness of Phillip Hughes' injury, there could be a case that the secondary impact(head hitting the ground) caused the more serious damage.
Often you see someone get punched and they'll lose their senses, basically be out on their feet. Obviously, like Phil, they would be seriously hurt. But when the fall results in the head hitting the ground, it compounds the injury.
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This is awful.
I thought they had an ambulance on standby at the ground?? Or is that only for international matches?
http://mobile.news.com.au/sport/critical-14-minute-delay-before-triple-0-was-called-after-phillip-hughes-collapsed-at-the-scg/story-fnaqgujp-1227135591700 (http://mobile.news.com.au/sport/critical-14-minute-delay-before-triple-0-was-called-after-phillip-hughes-collapsed-at-the-scg/story-fnaqgujp-1227135591700)
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Bit of an update for you non AU folk as the news has been filtering over slowly to you...
"Cricketer Phillip Hughes is breathing only with the assistance of medical technology after he was struck by a bouncer that damaged a major artery in the back of his head, broadcaster Alan Jones said on Thursday morning.
Jones, a Sydney Cricket Ground trustee and a friend of the injured 25-year-old, said Thursday was a critical day in the treatment of Hughes, who is in an induced coma after suffering an injury that was "much more serious than anyone had imagined".
A clearly emotional Jones said on his 2GB radio program on Thursday that he had been told that the "neurology is very, very bad, or in the language that the layman understands, the brain is very sick".
"What happened is that the blow from the cricket ball damaged ... a major artery in the back of his head and that caused bleeding over the skull and prevented blood from going to the brain," Jones said.
"Today is a critical day. I repeat, this is much more serious than anyone imagined. Medical technology is currently breathing for him. The brain is very sick and we pray for miracles."
Genuinely made me feel sick reading this as it's starting to look really bad.
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/phillip-hughes-damaged-major-artery-and-is-not-breathing-on-his-own-says-alan-jones-20141127-11v4ik.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nc&eid=socialn%3Atwi-13omn1677-edtrl-other%3Annn-17%2F02%2F2014-edtrs_socialshare-all-nnn-nnn-vars-o%26sa%3DD%26usg%3DALhdy28zsr6qiq (http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/phillip-hughes-damaged-major-artery-and-is-not-breathing-on-his-own-says-alan-jones-20141127-11v4ik.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nc&eid=socialn%3Atwi-13omn1677-edtrl-other%3Annn-17%2F02%2F2014-edtrs_socialshare-all-nnn-nnn-vars-o%26sa%3DD%26usg%3DALhdy28zsr6qiq)
And this has just made me feel incredibly angry... the BCCI still want the first test to happen. That decision lies solely with the Australian players in my book...
http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/indias-cricket-team-says-tour-game-against-ca-xi-and-first-test-should-proceed-despite-hughes-situation/story-e6frf3g3-1227136907954?from=public_rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed (http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/indias-cricket-team-says-tour-game-against-ca-xi-and-first-test-should-proceed-despite-hughes-situation/story-e6frf3g3-1227136907954?from=public_rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed)
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Guys,
Sorry to be the first one to post this, it's utterly horrible news.
Cricket Australia has released a statement saying Phil Hughes has passed away.
Numb. Totally numb.
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Terrible, terrible news...
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I'm shattered. So young. At least he got to die doing what he loved, not many people can say that.
I don't even want to play this week now.
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And this has just made me feel incredibly angry... the BCCI still want the first test to happen. That decision lies solely with the Australian players in my book...
[url]http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/indias-cricket-team-says-tour-game-against-ca-xi-and-first-test-should-proceed-despite-hughes-situation/story-e6frf3g3-1227136907954?from=public_rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed[/url] ([url]http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/indias-cricket-team-says-tour-game-against-ca-xi-and-first-test-should-proceed-despite-hughes-situation/story-e6frf3g3-1227136907954?from=public_rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed[/url])
If true, which it most likely is, then it is shameful, disrespectful and repulsive from Indian board, money hungry bast***s...
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well tour game cancelled and 1st test in doubt
understandable with the events so I hope its not the boards view but just some off comment from a random person as no one would forgive BCCI or any board for making aus play the test if the players were not in the right frame of mind
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well tour game cancelled and 1st test in doubt
understandable with the events so I hope its not the boards view but just some off comment from a random person as no one would forgive BCCI or any board for making aus play the test if the players were not in the right frame of mind
I really doubt the Indian players would be driving this...they would be feeling pretty low at this time like anybody else.
The BCCI, however, view everything as a business that has to go on at any cost.
The funeral will likely be some time middle next week. I cannot imagine any Oz test player wanting to front up the next day to a test match with their headspace elsewhere.
Will be interesting to see where all this goes...but right now, Australia is shattered. Being cricket fanatics, we all feel like we have lost a brother or a son.
RIP Phil, you will never be forgotten.
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even BCCI would not push this as there would be a revolt in aus and hopefully the cricket world
hopefully as I said it was a comment not thought through rather than the boards stance and everyone will respect this tragedy
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Terrible news that has shocked everyone. Thoughts must also go to the bowler. he was only doing his job, bowling in a manner expected of a pace bowler and now has to live with the fact that a short one has led to a freak death. He is in no way to blame but no doubt the guilt will live long. A horrible thing to happen but an accident with no-one to blame.