Bowlers won't find it easy to bowl bouncers after Phillip Hughes' tragedy: Merv Hughes

Merv Hughes

Former Australian speedster Merv Hughes has said that fast bowlers will be looking to bowl the bouncer very sparsely, following the sad passing away of Phillip Hughes. Hughes was hit on the side of his neck by a Sean Abbott bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match, which ultimately led to his death last Thursday.

There has been a flurry of reactions from across the cricketing globe, with most of them putting out their bats and caps in honour of the country boy from Macksville, New South Wales.

The 53-year-old, who played 53 Tests for Australia between 1985 and 1994 and was himself a very fiery character during his playing days, said that quick bowlers won’t find it easy to bowl the short-pitched delivery.

“It is a part of the great game and again it's going to affect people it in different ways and certainly time will tell but it's hard to imagine that bowlers, over time, aren't going to resort to the bouncer," Hughes told Daily Mail Australia.

"It's about taking a wicket and it's about planting the seed of doubt but by no means, as a bowler, do you think that you're going to hit someone or hurt someone. I'd suggest fast bowlers will be very mindful of the damage they can do.

“As a fast bowler we are not trying to hit a batsman or hurt a batsman, we're trying to take wickets so when you bowl a bouncer you are looking for a glove through to the wicketkeeper or possibly a catch down at deep square leg or deep fine leg, so it's not about hitting batsmen it's about taking their wicket. Certainly it going to be in the back of people's minds for a little while everyone is going to be different so it's a case of seeing what comes of it,” he added.

Current squad will take time to overcome this tragedy: Hughes

Hughes also said the current group of cricketers will find it hard to not think about the passing away of their mate.

"I can't begin to think for the current players but certainly the tragic passing of Phil Hughes will be on everyone's mind for a little while,” he added.

“Different people will handle it in different ways and it may take someone a little longer to get over it."

While Phillip’s passing away has been the talking point across the cricketing fraternity, Sean Abbott, who delivered the fatal delivery, has also been getting support from several fans and followers around the world.

Michael Clarke, in an emotional column for the Herald Sun, had written that he would be the first batsman to "strap on the pads and go stand up the other end of the net". Few cricketers like Waqar Younis and Irfan Pathan, however, feel that the New South Welshman may never play the game again.

I can’t even imagine what Abbott must be going through: Hughes

Hughes also came out in support of the young fast bowler.

"My heart goes out to him, a young man early in his career, a promising young bowler. Again I have met him a couple of times, I don't know him all that well but I couldn't even begin to imagine how he's feeling or what he's going through. It's up to the individual and possibly time, you hope that he (Abbott) doesn't hold himself to blame because it was just a tragic incident,” the Victorian said.

“Many bowlers have run in, over time, bowling short balls at batsmen and have hit batsmen and been worried about it. It's very, very, tough for him - there's no doubt about that - I can't even begin to imagine," he added.