Cricketers who have died of injuries in the field

There can be no sadder way for cricketers, or sportsmen for that matter, to lose their life than while playing the game they passionately love. On Thursday, Phillip Hughes, unfortunately, joined the list of cricketers who have passed away as a result of sustaining injuries on the field. Here are a list of players who have died after getting injured on the cricket field:

#1 Phillip Hughes

The Australia batsman was struck on the head by a bouncer off the bowling of Sean Abbott during a Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and New South Wales last November. He fractured his skull and suffered massive bleeding in his brain as a result, and was operated upon in a Sydney hospital.

The operation, however, was ultimately in vain as Hughes died of his injuries a couple of days later, bringing an unfortunate end to what was turning out to be a promising cricketing career.

#2 Raman Lamba

Raman Lamba, a former India international, was hit on the head while fielding at forward short leg during a club match in Dhaka. He went into a coma three days later, before being pronounced dead.

Lamba, who was just 38 at the time of his death, had scored over 8000 runs for Delhi in first-class cricket at an average of 53.84. He also made 32 appearances for India in ODI cricket, in addition to 4 in Test cricket.

#3 Darryn Randall

Darryn Randall was hit on the side of the head when attempting a pull shot in a South African domestic match. The wicket-keeper batsman collapsed on the field, and although he was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, he couldn’t recover sufficiently from the blow and ended up losing his life.

He played a total of four first-class matches and the same amount of List A games for domestic side Border.

#4 Zulfiqar Bhatti

Zulfiqar Bhatti was a 22-year-old club cricketer who died in December 2013 after receiving a blow on his chest while batting in a T20 tournament in Sukkur, which is located in Sindh, Pakistan. He was taken to a hospital immediately, but was declared dead on arrivial.

Bhatti, who was the youngest of five sons in the family, was laid to rest in his native graveyard.

#5 Richard Beaumont

Richard Beaumont was an English club cricketer who collapsed and died on the pitch just moments after taking a 5-wicket haul for his club. Beaumont, who was just 33 at the time of his death, reportedly suffered a heart attack on the field of play.

He was airlifted to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth hospital with the match being abandoned, but he was pronounced dead just moments after his arrivial.

#6 Alcwyn Jenkins

In what must be one of the most bizarre incidents on a cricket field, umpire Alcwyn Jenkins, 72, lost his life after being hit on the head during a match between Swansea and Llangennech in Division One of the Antur Insurance South Wales Association at the St Helen's ground in Swansea, Wales.

He was hit by a throw from one of the fielders and was rushed to hospital but to no avail as he was declared dead soon after. The match was called off later.

#7 Wasim Raja

Wasim Raja enjoyed a fairly distinguished playing career with Pakistan during the 1970s and 80s, scoring 2,821 runs from 57 Tests at a respectable average of 36.16. Raja, however, tragically lost his life after suffering a heart attack while playing for Surrey over-50s at Wycombe in England. He is survived by his wife Anne, who was a decent cricketer herself, and his two sons, Ali and Ahmed.

#8 Ian Folley

Ian Folley was an English cricketer who played for Lancashire and Derbyshire in county cricket briefly, but couldn’t make use of his opportunities. At the age of 30, Folley was hit below the eye while batting for Whitehaven against Workington.

He was taken to a local hospital, but suffered a heart attack while under anaesthesia and died. He had started off his career as a left-arm seam bowler but switched to spin after encouragement from his coaches.

#9 Wilf Slack

Wilf Slack was an English cricketer who played three Tests and two ODIs for his country. A left-handed opening batsman by trade, Slack was prone to blackouts, having suffered four in the two years prior to his death, and reportedly died of a heart attack while playing in The Gambia on 15 January, 1989. His 5 international appearances for England, both in Tests and ODIs, yielded him a paltry total of 124 runs at an average below 20.

#10 Abdul Aziz

Abdul Aziz was a Pakistani cricketer who played eight first-class matches for Karachi, and was a wicket-keeper batsman. While batting in the first innings of the Quaid-e-Azam final against Pakistan Combined Services, he was struck near his heart by off-spinner Dildwar Awan.

The impact wasn’t immediate, but as he was facing up to the next ball, he fell to the ground and never regained consciousness. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

#11 Andy Ducat

Andy Ducat was one of a rare breed of cricketers who represented their country in both cricket and football. Ducat, who was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1920, played in just one Test match for England, and didn’t do too well either, scoring just 3 and 2 in the two innings.

He did, however, have a stellar first-class career, scoring 23,373 runs 429 first-class matches at an average around 40. He died in 1942 while playing a wartime cricket match at the Lord’s Cricket Ground due to suffering a heart attack.

#12 George Summers

George Summers was an English cricketer who played all his first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire. During a match against MCC at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in 1870, Summers was hit on his head by a bouncer from fast bowler John Platts. Although he seemed to recover as a result of which he was not taken to hospital, the decision proved fatal as he died four days later.