Play and remember Phillip Hughes
Hughes the 12th man |
11. Darryn Randall (South Africa, 32) – South Africa, 2013 Randall was hit on the side of the head when attempting a pull shot. The batsman collapsed and was immediately rushed to hospital, but could not be revived. 10. Zulfiqar Bhatti (Pakistan, 22) – Pakistan, 2013 Bhatti was struck in the chest by the ball while batting and collapsed to the ground. Bhatti was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. 8. Alcwyn Jenkins (England, 72) – England, 2009 Beaumont celebrated a five-wicket haul earlier in the day, but collapsed on the field after suffering a suspected heart attack. The bowler was airlifted to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. 8. Alcwyn Jenkins (England, 72) – England, 2009 Jenkins was umpiring when he was struck on the head by the ball after a fielder had thrown it in Jenkins's direction accidentally. Jenkins was airlifted to hospital but did not recover from his injuries. 7. Wasim Raja (Pakistan, 54) – England, 2006 The former Pakistan batsman died while playing for Surrey Over-50s at Marlow in Buckinghamshire after he suffered a heart attack and collapsed on the field. 6. Raman Lamba (India, 38) – Dhaka, 1998 Lamba was hit on the head while fielding during a club match in Dhaka. Standing at short-leg close to the batsman, the opener sustained serious brain injuries and went into a coma three days after the incident before being pronounced dead. 5. Ian Folley (England, 30) – England, 1993 Folley's returned from retirement in 1991, but was hit below the eye in a freak accident while batting in a domestic match. While under anaesthetic in hospital, Folley suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead. 4. Wilf Slack (England, 34) – Gambia, 1989 Slack suddenly collapsed and died during a match in Banjul, the capital of Gambia. Slack had suffered four blackouts while out in the field in previous matches, but doctors they were unable to diagnose the cause of his death. 3. Abdul Aziz (Pakistan, 18) – Pakistan, 1959 Aziz was playing as a wicketkeeper in a domestic match in Karachi, Pakistan. He was hit in the chest while batting, and was declared dead on arrival when he reached a nearby hospital. 2. Andy Ducat (England, 56) – England, 1942 Ducat made a single appearance for England during his career, but the batsman suffered a heart attack during a game at Lord's, where he collapsed and died. 1. George Summers (England, 25) – England, 1870 Summers was struck on the head while batting at Lord's. He initially appeared to recover from the injury and didn't go to hospital, instead returning home, but died from the effects of his injury four days later. |
As ever, in the face of terrible tragedies, the questions overwhelm: Why ... how ... why ... why ... WHY? And as ever, the answers don't remotely satisfy. How can a healthy young man, engaged in the passion of his life, among the world's best at his craft, while wearing protective equipment ... still be mortally felled by what seemed a relatively innocuous ball?
It defies explanation, for there are no answers worthy of the name. As I wrote on Thursday morning, it seems more a matter of mathematics than mayhem. That is, if players engage in an activity where there is a one-in-10 million chance of mortal injury ... 10 million times ... then it stands to reason that every few decades someone will be the victim of colossal catastrophe through the fault of no one.
I further noted that while optimism is in the very nature of sport -- the ingrained belief that out of every loss some good must come – in the case of Phillip Hughes this is proved wrong, as from such a thing as this there is only tragedy from which there is no comeback. But maybe I was wrong.
Right now, amid the devastation, there is strong discussion among the Australian cricket community about whether next week's Test against India should go ahead. Would it be disrespectful to play it? Would the players even be capable of concentrating on a mere game in the face of losing such a cherished teammate in such circumstances? The last part is for them to decide.
But I believe the Test match should go ahead, with one caveat. That is that the proceeds go to Australian charities that devote themselves to brain injuries -- their prevention, their cure and learning how best to live with them. Phillip Hughes's legacy in cricket is secure. He will be long remembered for his achievements -- including being the youngest Australian cricketer to hit a Test century in each innings -- his engaging and self-effacing personality, his style. But what a wonderful thing if out of this tragedy came something else for others who have been afflicted by all but equal misfortune, but who have lived?
How strong if people that Hughes never met could benefit by money raised in his honour, by an Australian population that turns out in force to support the match, honour his memory and achieve one enduring positive amid the blackness.
Cricket Australia should set up a fund into which the money could go, together with donations from the Australian cricket community. And then have a panel, including members of Phillip Hughes' family, to decide which brain injury charities might most benefit from it.
Famed Australian cricket columnist Peter FitzSimons wrote this article for Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday
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