Re: Phillip Hughes dies, aged 25

by Fred Nerk Wed 26 Nov 2014, 09:18

Conjecture isn't news, although crayon-munchers will often try to dress it up as such..

As Red will probably tell you (if she's old enough to remember), John Greening was in a coma for three weeks.

I also wonder whether one brain scan taken at one moment in time can tell them anything that they couldn't already work out without it, or whether they need do another one and compare and contrast the numbers.

by skully Wed 26 Nov 2014, 09:31

He was scanned last night and again today, so I'm guessing they were doing just as you suggest.

Fingers crossed. As others have said, though many of us despised him as an aspirant to an Aus Test spot, the cricket world in general seems to have a great deal of love for the man. May it carry him through this darkness.

Paraphrasing what was said at the time on the ABC forum about another grating character who suffered a dreadful head knock, "he may be a technically deficient little grub, but he is OUR technically deficient little grub".

by Fred Nerk Wed 26 Nov 2014, 09:44

I also guess, if you've actually played the game at any level at all there's an element of 'there but for the grace...', OK Phil Hughes may have been a bit of a spud next to Clarke or Ponting or Warner at their best, but he was still among the best 20 batsmen in Australia and if he can lose one and score it behind the earhole, then the likes of Fred Nerk, who at his absolute best may have struggled into the best million, was taking life in hands every time he picked up a cricket bat.

by Ethics? The Gall! Wed 26 Nov 2014, 09:54

not to mention the danger to the bat

by Red Wed 26 Nov 2014, 10:17

Fred Nerk wrote:I also guess, if you've actually played the game at any level at all there's an element of 'there but for the grace...', OK Phil Hughes may have been a bit of a spud next to Clarke or Ponting or Warner at their best, but he was still among the best 20 batsmen in Australia and if he can lose one and score it behind the earhole, then the likes of Fred Nerk, who at his absolute best may have struggled into the best million, was taking life in hands every time he picked up a cricket bat.

Yes, that does demonstrate that according to the law of averages we should see more of these horrific incidents so in some ways we've been pretty lucky that really serious injuries seem few and far between.

The doctors have suggested that the scans are also to measure brain activity and responses so that if they aren't giving the positive indicators they had hoped they might keep the person in an induced coma for longer so that metabolism etc. is not placing further pressure on the brain. One would imagine that the number of his teammates who walked out of the hospital looking grim or in tears today though did suggest that there was certainly no improvement today. Guess they were probably shocked to see how stricken he was given that he is usually a vibrant sportsman.

by Henry Wed 26 Nov 2014, 11:25

Eight months on from his skiing accident where he took a big knock on the head, Michael Shumacher still can't walk or speak. Whilst it is obviously still a life or death situation for Hughes, at the very least his cricket career is almost certainly over.

Hughes went to the crease on Tuesday looking to force his way into the Aus test team. Four hours later he was fighting for his life. One's fortunes in life can change with truly devastating speed.

by PeterCS Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:06

skully wrote: Dicks were phoning in on talkback demanding short pitched bowling be banned. Talk about people with no understanding of the great game. [sigh]... Fordo seems to have very limited cricket knowledge as well. To his credit though, he stopped taking calls on bouncer banning after 3 clowns (who didn't know what they were talking about) rang up demanding the move. Seriously, they gave me a headache.

Pun intended, Skulls? ...

On this issue of law changes/bouncer bans (despite the 3 radio clowns mentioned by Skully, I'm not sure anyone on this Forum has actually called for this, though? ~ so it might be a bit of a strawman) ...

Just to clarify, I wouldn't favour such a move. Apart from the problem of reducing the game if you no-balled anything rising above the shoulder? - navel? - todger? - I don't know how you'd go about proving intent to injure.

What I WOULD toughen up on is stated intent to injure. "Prepare to get your ****ing arm broken, mate" - esp to a tailender - should lead to a ban. Say all you like about "heat of the moment" joshing: that's not bad language, it's a hospitalisation threat, and a bad example for the game.

Second, umpires might be instructed again to use their discretion in no-balling clearly intimidatory bowling to players notionally carrying a bat but hardly batsmen. Not a law change, but an awareness of fair competition.

Third, I hope the helmet manufacturers continue to develop workably light and manoeuvrable safe helmets. The manufacturer of the headgear Hughes was wearing has said he was wearing an outdated model (Merls has mentioned this already, above). Mebbe so. You'll never have guaranteed safety in a high-adrenaline, ferociously mental and physical, high-velocity compressed- cork'n'leather-meets-pressed-willow game. But as long as the batsman can move freely and see clearly in a helmet, I don't see why you don't maximise chances of health & survival - even in case of flukes.

Anyone inclined to say, "But that sort of shit rewards lazy batting and poor technique", I feel might be a bit too wedded to the "virility cult" mentioned above. You can take the gladiatorial metaphor a bit too far. Unless perhaps you want tridents, swords and sandals out there, (literal) lions and tigers, and Dan Christian buried up to the neck in sand.[/quote]
[/quote]

by Red Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:07

Knee jerk reactions aren't the most considered responses but one wonders if some coaches, especially at the junior level might at least teach the youngsters how to use their feet and eyes to avoid getting hit by the short balls and stop using the helmets as the ultimate panacea.

Cast your mind back to Clarke's last very good innings in Cape T. when he prepared to wear Morkel on the body and helmet rather than counter the short ball with proper footwork etc. Even some of his greatest fans (including ex-players) were aghast at this.

BTW from sports physician Peter Larkins - "While it's an extraordinary injury in cricket, such head trauma injuries are seen in high-speed car crashes all the time and there are some miracle stories of full recoveries."
Peter Larkins, one of Australia's leading sports physicians, said people who suffer serious injuries can remain comatose for days but can still make full recoveries.

by PeterCS Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:11

I agree!

Good play, and expert coaching, is always to be encouraged. Poor footwork is a drag.

Except in T20, perhaps, where it's irrelevant. Wink

by tricycle Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:13

Nah, I see some splendid footwork in 2020s.

Granted it's from the cheerleaders, but some of the best I've seen.

by PeterCS Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:15

So now you're looking at their feet. I'll buy it - thousands wouldn't.

by taipan Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:16

PeterCS wrote:

Second, umpires might be instructed again to use their discretion in no-balling clearly intimidatory bowling to players notionally carrying a bat but hardly batsmen. Not a law change, but an awareness of fair competition.

taipan wrote:In addition umpires should be empowered to take more control of the game. There are rules about intimidatory bowling in place and the umpires should be encouraged and protected to enforce those rules. We all know what happened when they were stopped from calling throws.

It would also help if we stopped circuses like the Brett Lee/Piers Morgan farce. That really was a stain on the game.

by PeterCS Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:19

Yep, I agree. I wasn't claiming to be the first or only one to think thus Very Happy

And as for P Morgan ... I'd ban him for life. From the media, from the UK ....

by taipan Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:23

PeterCS wrote:Yep, I agree. I wasn't claiming to be the first or only one to think thus

And as for P Morgan ... I'd ban him for life. From the media, from the UK ....

Just waiting for the kneejerk reaction when someone suggests cutting back the sledging.

by JGK Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:38

Heard from a pretty reliable source tonight that it is all looking pretty grim.

Talk of turning machines off possibly as early as tomorrow or Friday.

by Henry Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:50

JGK wrote:Heard from a pretty reliable source tonight that it is all looking pretty grim.

Talk of turning machines off possibly as early as tomorrow or Friday.

Seriously? I'm pretty sure the test match will go ahead, but you wonder how many Aus players will opt out in those circumstances.

by Merlin Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:52

What I WOULD toughen up on is stated intent to injure. "Prepare to get your ****ing arm broken, mate" - esp to a tailender - should lead to a ban. Say all you like about "heat of the moment" joshing: that's not bad language, it's a hospitalisation threat, and a bad example for the game.

Disagree Petey.
Take the banter out of the game, knock out the pure sledges and the ripostes and
you'll be left with an anesthetised version of rounders.

Cricket has thrived for decades on the exchanges between opposition players,
from Club all the way up to International level.

At least one could say that the expression "I'm going to knock your block off" from
a bowler gets the batsman prepared "for the worst" - and anyway, if, as both you
and Taips have suggested, the Umpire gets a fair call on what is right and fair with what
a bowler sends down, then I really don't see a problem at all.

Leave things as they are and indeed, have been for the past 250 years....
cricket would be the ultimate loser with the disappearance of characters
who have their banter castrated from them in order to exhibit a 'show of decency'.

Just not on Pete.

by taipan Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:54

Merlin wrote:
What I WOULD toughen up on is stated intent to injure. "Prepare to get your ****ing arm broken, mate" - esp to a tailender - should lead to a ban. Say all you like about "heat of the moment" joshing: that's not bad language, it's a hospitalisation threat, and a bad example for the game.

Disagree Petey.
Take the banter out of the game, knock out the pure sledges and the ripostes and
you'll be left with an anesthetised version of rounders.

Cricket has thrived for decades on the exchanges between opposition players,
from Club all the way up to International level.

At least one could say that the expression "I'm going to knock your block off" from
a bowler gets the batsman prepared "for the worst" - and anyway, if, as both you
and Taips have suggested, the Umpire gets a fair call on what is right and fair with what
a bowler sends down, then I really don't see a problem at all.

Leave things as they are and indeed, have been for the past 250 years....
cricket would be the ultimate loser with the disappearance of characters
who have their banter castrated from them in order to exhibit a 'show of decency'.

Just not on Pete.

For myself I am not calling for the total end to sledging bit some of the stuff recently has gone too far.

by Merlin Wed 26 Nov 2014, 12:57

In which case the Umpire steps in and takes charge, either by rapping the offenders
knuckles immediately and then defusing the situation, or, if the sledge is unadulterated
abuse, then a report to the Referee with a recommendation to ban the culprit.

by taipan Wed 26 Nov 2014, 13:00

Merlin wrote:In which case the Umpire steps in and takes charge, either by rapping the offenders
knuckles immediately and then defusing the situation, or, if the sledge is unadulterated
abuse, then a report to the Referee with a recommendation to ban the culprit.

100% agree. Once again it is back to the umpire taking ownership of the game.

by JGK Wed 26 Nov 2014, 13:00

Henry wrote:
JGK wrote:Heard from a pretty reliable source tonight that it is all looking pretty grim.

Talk of turning machines off possibly as early as tomorrow or Friday.

Seriously? I'm pretty sure the test match will go ahead, but you wonder how many Aus players will opt out in those circumstances.

Well I have no reason to doubt that my mate was told this by someone who is in a position to know. Whether that person has full information is not clear.

by Merlin Wed 26 Nov 2014, 13:08

Talk of turning machines off possibly as early as tomorrow or Friday.

Grim news.
Jesus, I really hope that is not the case.

Go Hughsie ... keep scrapping mate.

by embee Wed 26 Nov 2014, 13:58

taipan wrote:
Merlin wrote:In which case the Umpire steps in and takes charge, either by rapping the offenders
knuckles immediately and then defusing the situation, or, if the sledge is unadulterated
abuse, then a report to the Referee with a recommendation to ban the culprit.

100% agree. Once again it is back to the umpire taking ownership of the game.

The umpires will rely on direction from the ICC

by MoH Wed 26 Nov 2014, 13:58

tricycle wrote:Ahmed Shehzad makes a strong case again to be the twat of the year

My case was the same as Hughes's bt due 2 huge prayers 4m my mom frnds n fans made me able 2join training 2day.Alhamd

Wonder if the sun shines from his arse too? Or should that be rs?

The twat has deleted that now he's realised that his case was pretty ****** far from Hughes's. Superb journalism in this article:

http://www.thenewstribe.com/2014/11/26/ahmed-shehzad-in-big-shock/

by Basil Wed 26 Nov 2014, 18:47

JGK wrote:Heard from a pretty reliable source tonight that it is all looking pretty grim.

Talk of turning machines off possibly as early as tomorrow or Friday.

Dear God No.

Come on You Pear

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