Last Saturday (17th Aug) was one more bad day for the world of cricket! Smith, arguably the greatest batsman among current cricketers was brutally felled by a vicious bouncer from Jofra Archer (Aus-Eng_2nd Test_4th Day at Lords). Helmet he wore was of no help, as the ball hit the back of his neck below. Were lessons from similar hits witnessed earlier just ignored?
The Aussie had to be taken on a stretcher for 'concussion tests'. On that day the word 'concussion' was the most searched word from cricket lovers, which meant that it is a state of 'temporary unconsciousness and other symptoms caused by a blow on the head'. Brave Smith came back after a while to resume batting and eventually got out at 92.
That was not all for the great batsman. On next day morning he was diagnosed with aggravated symptoms of concussion and could not take the field. Cricket's first-ever 'concussion replacement' was allowed by replacing Smith with Labuschagne who went on to bat, and save the Test by scoring 52 runs. In the meanwhile Smith is ruled out of the next Test (3rd Test) and may even miss out the entire series. Entire cricketing world is praying for his safe and early recovery!
Smith's injury takes us to the painful memory of young batsman
Philip Hughes' (25) tragic death. The Aussie was a promising bat with 26 Tests behind him. On 25th Nov 2014, Hughes was hit by a vicious bouncer on lower-back portion of the neck below the helmet in a local first-class match. He instantly fell down to never get up again. He died on 27th Nov 2014, three days before his 26th birthday.
Our own Raman Lamba who was not so lucky in cricket with India (only 4 Tests & 36 ODIs) had to seek fortune by joining a Bangladesh club for playing
club cricket. In one of the Bangla league matches on 20th Feb 1988 he was fatally hit on his bear head while fielding at 'short leg' and slipped into coma. He died 3 days later. Unfortunate Lamba, little earlier had ignored the offer to wear a helmet, as only 3 more balls were left on that fateful day.
Our veteran Test skipper Nari Contractor was from an era of 'no-helmets'! He had won a local Test series against England during
1961-62 and had continued to lead the side in an away series at West Indies. In a local match against Barbados, while batting he was hit on the back of his skull by a nasty bouncer from Griffith. He suffered a huge loss of blood. None other than the rival skipper Sir Frank Worrell donated blood to save him. No doubt Nari was saved, but he could never return to international cricket again. Nari who wanted to play at least one more Test, never knew that Cricket can be so cruel too!
Dreaded batsman of the 70s-80s, Vivian Richards was fortunate because he never had to face the battery of deadly seamers who were all mostly from his team during those days. He has the
distinction of playing throughout without wearing a helmet, although helmets had already made their way by then to cricket field.
Dennis Amiss of England was the first batsman to wear a helmet in the 'Kerry Packer's world series of cricket' during 1977. Spectators booed him for his 'act of cowardice'. During those days many including our own Gavaskar viewed wearing helmet as a distraction for batting. Slowly helmets became popular with both batsmen and close-in fielders as 'safety first' became the priority. There is a further cry now to remodel the cricket helmets in order to cover the back portion of the neck too, fatal injury to which caused the death of the young batsman Philip Hughes!
Introduction of helmet has also led to an amendment of cricket rules. If a ball hits an helmet on the field which is not in use by any player of the fielding side, the batting team will be awarded '5 runs'!
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Tail piece:
Congratulation to Mr. Kumara Sangakkara, the former Sri Lankan wicket-keeper-batsman who is now appointed as the first-non-British President of M.C.C. of England. M.C.C. which has pioneered the cause of cricket owns 'Lords stadium' and is the repository of cricket rules. Let's hope Sanga will do yeoman service to the world of cricket like he did for the Sri Lankan cricket as a player.
