Cricket Summer 2014

Yes that is true.

I think the DRS thing evens out. Gary Balance had consecutive innings cut short without actually being out either time. I did miss it though-the odd howler gets through without.

I'm not sure I now why India still hold out against it. Seems to me the technology is pretty mature now and has become an accepted part of the game. Not at all sure replays help with disputed low catches though.

I actually found it very refreshing not having the play continually broken up with DRS reviews. There was a pleasing amateurism about it, and as you say it evened out.

Terrible attitude from India though, and amazing to think back to the great batting teams of the past.

Cracking day at a packed Headingley yesterday in seriously nice sunshine.

Root was great, India a bit half hearted.

My only day watching cricket this year so it was a good one

Thoroughly enjoyable T20 today. Huge tension at the end.  Must admire Dhoni's 'leave it to me' confidence. It didn't quite work but he's some player and captain.     

Seconded on all counts. I'm not the world's biggest T20 fan, but this one was special.

Congratulations to Yorkshire for winning the county championship today with a resounding victory over Notts.  

Now hoping Hants get promoted from Div 2.

My hopes realised so congratulations to Hampshire for winning the second division title with just the one defeat all season.  

Pity Hants only play at the Rose Bowl these dates. Rather undermines the concept of them being a 'county' team.

Sign him up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSX5TqnCPeY

Australian Phil Hughes is in critical condition after a head injury (hit by bouncer wearing a helmet) today. Sounds like he collapsed immediately after being hit and requires surgery.

Another sporting head injury, but unlike Bianchi/Schumacher this is more likely to be an acute bleed and different to a diffuse deceleration injury; fingers crossed his prognosis is probably better.

Just a reminder that sport is not always safe, even with the best kit. Amateur sport is the riskiest statistically so wear that ski/cricket/cycling/riding helmet whatever you do.

Bruce

Very much hope he recovers. I've only seen the incident on photo stills but it looks like the ball struck the side of his helmet which makes the damage seemingly done to him all the more surprising. 

Phillip Hughes , all the pommies are with you mate. 

A tragic accident and loss of one so young.

V sad, 25yrs age. International cricket is a close community with friendships that cross national and regional boundaries. His loss will be felt.

Ultimately cricket is like most sports; a degree of risk will always remain. Perhaps helmet design will change but ultimately not everything is preventable.

I play local league cricket. One of our players was struck by a ball in the upper chest/throat (he was bowling and failed to get out of the way for the ball as it was hit back towards him) and died on the pitch from cardiac arrest. Unfortunately I was not playing for them at the time, I wonder if I could have made a difference.

Bruce

Stunned by the news of his passing today, just stunned. All of Australia wished & hoped he would pull through........

The vision of his parents leaving an impromptu service at the SCG soon after he died sent chills through me as I watched the news report. His dad’s eyes just looked so totally empty, the grief must be soul crushing for them, as they were at the ground watching him play.

He would have been 26 on Sunday.

hook

Bowling to hit the batsman (or more accurately to unsettle them) is totally legitimate. It may cause them to get out directly if they edge/hit the ball to a fielder or deflect it onto the stumps but it may also unsettle them for the next ball. Excessive short bowling is restricted in some forms of the game-by limiting the number of bouncers per over for example. If it is exceeded then runs would be lost but the bowler would not be disciplined. If you bowl short and badly directed deliveries you'll also get hit for a lot of runs so it falls both ways.

Short pitched aggressive fast bowling as absolutely part of cricket, it will stay and it should stay. It has made for some of the most enthralling encounters in cricket history. Remember that a cricket ball is bounced into play not thrown direct as per baseball. A directly delivered ball at head height is far more dangerous-and can result (if deliberate)  in a bowler being warned and removed if it is repeated. This is also true in lower levels of the game. In fact variable quality of pitches and skills/protection make lower level cricket far more dangerous than elite level. 

Batsmen wear lots of protection; at the elite level this will include abdominal chest and arm protection as well as gloves/helmet/pads etc. Cricket balls are hard, and can hit you at 90mph. It is part of the game.

Bruce

It is worth also adding that protection is a trade-off, especially in terms of mobility. A heavy helmet that   restricts the neck makes it hard to duck or weave, or indeed to even follow the ball. Batsmen take strike bending forward on their bat, sideways-on,  looking down the pitch over their front shoulder. You cannot do that with a helmet that extends too far below the ear.

Some of the more severe injuries occur to wicketkeepers and close fielders who are often struck in less 'predictable' fashion than a batsman where they not be able to anticipate or dodge the incoming ball. Fielders and keepers wearing helmets is a later innovation than batsmen wearing them-and a very good one.

Bruce

A classic clip of fast bowler vs class batting. (Allan Donald vs Mike Atherton for the cognoscenti). Hook, watch and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JojnoSO4MDc

What tragic news. Very sorry for his family and the Aussie cricket 'family'.  I suppose this was something of a freak injury, the ball seemingly splitting an artery, and statistically rare. In top level contact sport I suppose that risk of serious injury cannot be completely eliminated but perhaps it will lead to some improved design on head protection which might prevent or reduce the chances of a reoccurrence.

This rather puts into context the broken nose and black-eyes that Broad suffered in the summer, which got a fair bit of media coverage. I bet he's now counting his lucky stars.  

Cricket isn't a contact sport.

In contact sport all participants are aware their participation and actions could result in serious action to themselves. People who participate in dangerous sports such as mountain climbing know that they face danger that is usually the down to their actions.

The difference with cricket, is the person taking the action that could cause injury or death, the bowler bouncing a ball at the batsman's head, is at absolutely no risk themselves from the action.

FC, I'm the first one to admit to know absolute nothing about cricket, and  it was a sad loss no matter what, but it seems to involve a group of players and an audience, let's call them supporters for the benefit of sporstmanship. I do, however, fail to see or comprehend the inclusion of the word "sport"  when it comes to montain climbing! Where is the competition and/or audience or am I missing something? 

fatcat 

I think batsmen facing a fast bowler and even close fielders might not agree with you about cricket not being a contact sport.  Or is all that padding and the helmets there for show?

All bowlers get to bat, and therefore they also share the risk of the game.