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[Stuey]

You can blame them. Ponting is probably one of the few modern players who is actually good enough to pull/hook. As I've just said, there must be a reason why we are seeing more batsmen getting hit than ever, and it's certainly not because the bowling is better!

Your point was wide sweeping, there are some very good hookers/pullers and there are also some bad granted who shouldn't touch the shot. But with T20/IPL etc the emphasis is on shot making and batsman taking more risks with all shots, which is a slippery slope for cricket.

[tim2000s]

I disagree. More people are getting hit now than ever before, % means that at some point, something bad will happen. What the sport needs to look at is why are they getting hit more now than before?

The real answer comes back to wearing protective gear, but just because batsmen get themselves  in stupid positions taking on fast bowling is absolutely not a reason to stop a bowler having the deliveries in his arsenal.  There isn't a requirement to hit short bowling.  You are perfectly welcome to just get out of its way! It is as ineffective if a batsman gets out of the way as if they hit it.

[ProCricketer1982]

  There isn't a requirement to hit short bowling.  You are perfectly welcome to just get out of its way! It is as ineffective if a batsman gets out of the way as if they hit it.

That's sort of my point. Batsmen are obviously being almost forced into taking it on when they aren't really good enough to (generally speaking). Hence getting hit more often.

[skip1973]

They aren't forced into it, they just feel safe because the modern player has grown up with helmets. Techniques have changed because of this, I have always swayed out of the way because it allows you to keep an eye on the ball, too many players take their eyes off the ball. You can talk all you want about sledging and aggression but you can't help human nature with two players or teams trying to beat each other it will always happen.

[potzy248]

Got a bit off topic there which is fine. The point I think is that while Clarke has been awesome about this tragedy, I believe he should look back on some of his past games with shame. Same goes for a lot of players who in my opinion are not the best sports, but are now piping up and being gentleman like.

On the topic about players being hit more often. When helmets were not around you either got out of the way or if you were good enough you pulled or hooked the ball. Now with helmets etc, even if you are are not 100% committed to the shot we believe that we will still be ok. You missed one back then and you were in hospital.

[skip1973]

It's funny though, Warney was a massive bully and sledger, everyone loved him. Clarke is a choir boy compared, but has never really been loved by the people.

[Seniorplayer]

It's funny though, Warney was a massive bully and sledger, everyone loved him. Clarke is a choir boy compared, but has never really been loved by the people.

Warney was more upfront and open with it everyone could see  and sometimes hear what was going on Clarke isn't.

[edge]

Also Warne wasn't the captain!

[Seniorplayer]

They aren't forced into it, they just feel safe because the modern player has grown up with helmets. Techniques have changed because of this, I have always swayed out of the way because it allows you to keep an eye on the ball, too many players take their eyes off the ball. You can talk all you want about sledging and aggression but you can't help human nature with two players or teams trying to beat each other it will always happen.

As a Player  who played in pre helmet days i know I was more conscious and alert to the bouncer and than I am this days under an helmet and so were my teamates i also believe i
 used to get hit hooking more back then than I do now maybe it's just luck but
 I know i am and do feel much safer playing the shot now we have helmets.

[Jenko]

Hmmm.

I'm sure a lot of people look back on actions they have taken in life with regret. It's how they move forward to the life changing or 'lightbulb' moments that life throws their way which highlights the sort of person they are. I'm not sure hypocrite is the right word, if Clarke was to now tell someone to expect a broken arm from short pitched bowling anytime moving forward from the Hughes tragedy we could call him a hypocrite.

I'm sure there are plenty of players looking back on past actions who 100% regret their actions and wish they could have that time over again.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[ppccopener]

the article itself is interesting, perhaps with a slight bias towards Pakistan but he most definatley has a point
Personally I thought Clarke overstepped the mark in his remarks to Anderson, he was unlucky in the sense the stump microphone picked up his words when the same thing has almost certainly been said by any number of players over the years.Anderson is a brilliant bowler and chief sledger in the England side.It may be worth re-confirming Anderson and England did not make any complaints about Clarke,it was all done by the media.
You do wonder if Cook or any other England Captain had threatened to break someone's arm what the reaction of us England fans would be, and how our media would of reacted.
Personally speaking,having followed England for nearly 40 years-I don't want to see that said in a test match-play hard yes,but not that.
And we(England) should cut out the garbage we chat to opposition players, it's complete drivel-Anderson/Broad/THE LOT OF THEM

maybe cricket now will have a re-think about how it conducts itself.........hard on the field yes but let's not get carried away.

[iand123]

maybe cricket now will have a re-think about how it conducts itself.........hard on the field yes but let's not get carried away.

I agree with this. My worry is that it will build up over a period of time and get back to the levels. I'm hoping this tragic incident really can help cricket into a better place

[farnham_quins_2]

I think it's a good point about other lesser known players being killed whilst playing recently, and the case of the Israeli umpire just after Hughes.

There was little to no coverage about those players, a bit about the umpire but probably due to the timing (nothing you can do about that case anyway to be honest, just 100% bad luck).

I do also find the reaction a bit, I don't want to say over the top because it was a terrible tragedy, but slightly over-hyped.
Some people would have had no idea who Hughes was before this, yet are crying/tweeting about it. I have nothing against getting upset over it, but it almost seems like another trend that people want to get involved with (regarding tweeting).

Apologies if that offends anyone.

[uknsaunders]

Good article. Cricket is probably a safer game than 30 years ago thanks to protection but it still carries risks. We take on the risk and minimise it but it's still tragic when that 1 in a million incident happens.

Will be interesting to see if the Aussies pull back from the verbals, particularly things like "breaking arms" comments.

[uknsaunders]

It's funny though, Warney was a massive bully and sledger, everyone loved him. Clarke is a choir boy compared, but has never really been loved by the people.

Warne was very clever with some of his sledging and played on the mind. I don't think Clarke or the current Australian team are nearly that clever.