Australian cricket and sport lovers generally, are in shock after young batsman, Phillip Hughes, died a short while ago, just short of his 26th birthday. He was hit on the head by a short ball from NSW fast bowler Sean Abbott, in a Sheffield Shield match between NSW and South Australia on Tuesday. He collapsed and was treated by medical staff at the Sydney Cricket Ground, before being taken by ambulance to Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital in a coma, from which he never recovered. It has sent shock waves through the cricket community all around the country, and Cricket Australia immediately abandoned all 3 Shield matches being played.
Phil Hughes was tipped to play in the first test against India, starting on December 4, as a replacement for injured captain, Michael Clarke. He had been in marvellous form recently, scoring runs freely, and looked set to resume his interrupted test career. He became the youngest batsman ever to score a century in each innings of a test when he was just 20, but lost form for a while and was dropped from the Aussie team.
I feel sorry for Sean Abbott, who is only 22, and one of Australia's rising stars in the bowling department. He has been offered counselling, and players are rallying around him as he tries to come to terms with the accident. I can only try to imagine how he feels. No bowler tries to maim an opponent and, while the bouncer is a legitimate delivery, players have frequently been hit, but never as devastatingly as on this occasion. Hughes appeared to turn his head away, and was struck at the base of his skull, causing bleeding to the brain, and doctors were unable to revive him.
Phil's death will have a massive impact on cricket here, as players try to deal with his loss. The shock and grief on the faces of players who went to the hospital was plain to see. He was a fine young man, extremely well liked by his team mates, and all who knew him. He will be greatly missed by all followers of cricket both here and overseas.
Peter.