The gruesome history of the gentleman's game

Phillip Hughes

Phillip Hughes, a young, energetic and a well established Aussie player shocked the world by a devastating exit from this world.

Cricket has always been an aggressive game and promotes a thrilling, sharp and belligerent attitude. But the suddenness of the events of the last three days time has left the world in a catastrophic position as to how scary the game can get, causing the loss of life.

Australia is a historic leader in the world of cricket – not just being the world champions but also highly reputed in the standards of the cricket facilities, gear and equipment. A big player in the episode of Hughes’s death is the manufacturer of the helmet, who claimed that Hughes was not using the updated model due to which his protection what at risk, hence the sharp hit at his neck.

Hughes merely unlucky, not the first to fall

The cricket world has seen many such shocking injuries, a recent victim being Ahmed Shehzad who is fortunate enough to bounce back into being declared fit by fighting the hairline fracture. Revisiting the history as back as to 1986 where Mike Gatting was fiercely hit by Malcolm's ball; when the ball was returned to Marshall he found a piece of Gatting’s bone lodged in the leather.

Another incident had occurred in 2002, involving Alex Tudor during Australia vs England match, where he was hit by a bouncer by Brett Lee. Six stitches were required to repair his wound.

During England vs Australia in 2005, Ricky Ponting, one of the most finest back foot players, was late to tackle Steve Harmison's short ball causing a gash on his cheek, but surviving. As recent as in 2012, during a match between South Africa and Somerset, Mark Boucher got pinned down with an eye injury forcing him to retire but he had not worn a helmet.

Similarly, in 2014, during England vs India's match, Stuart Board got in a serious condition, breaking his nose after delivery from Varun Aaron, but was saved from much serious injury.

However, the recent death of Phillip Hughes due to the immense and direct damage to his artery compressing the brain tends to be the most frightening and blood curdling injury in the history of the game. Phillip Hughes has not only left a devastated experience for the world but has got all the world saddened by the loss of such a sparkling character he possessed. He will surely be missed.