Some say bouncers should be banned from cricket, something I agree with, and some say it shouldn't. There's probably good argument from both sides, however,
according to Wikipedia, there have been 4 deaths, including Hughs from a bowled cricket ball / bouncer, plus 1 umpire from a thrown ball that hit him on the head; the deaths go back to 1870.
Also reports some players are lucky to be alive after being struck by a cricket ball, from bowling or otherwise. Wikipedia also explains numerous players who have sustained long term / lifelong injuries and dismemberment from being hit by a cricket ball, eyes, toes, fingers etc.
Question is, how long will world cricket allow the bouncer to go on before they deem it too dangerous and call for its eradication from cricket.
The bouncer, in the hands of a weathered and experienced professional can do the same amount of damage as in the hands of an amatuer or teen cricketer; any bouncer can hit a crack or uneven ground wrong and who knows what can happen, or where it flies off too.
Then there's the kids who try to copy their cricketing heroes, what price a life, of any aged cricketer?
All sports require, and are given certain safety rules to try and safeguard the sportsman and umpires/referees etc, probably none more so than Formula 1 racing and it's equivalents.
The safety rules and measures put in place are what saved Martin Brundle on two occasions, as well as other drivers, sadly, not for some others.
Female netball players were not allowed to wear hobnailed boots on court for obvious reasons, so they didn't damage the court floor. Just threw that one in humorously.
All sports seem to advance as the sports become older and more competitive, and further upgraded or introduced safety rules and measures always seem to follow.
Cricketers wear protective clothing nowadays, because of how cricket, especially bowling has progressed. Look at the yanks in gridiron, the catchers and umpires in baseball etc etc etc.
In rugby the spear tackle was outlawed, so was an arm around the neck / face area, no kicking in goolies etc.
In football, high kicks, especially when showing studs was outlawed, no kicking in goolies, no dangerous tackles of any kind, no head butting, amongst other things.
So the question is, should bouncers in cricket be banned, are they a danger to players lives; obviously they are as some players have died from bouncers.
Question A, should bouncers be banned from cricket.
Question B, should bouncers be allowed to stay in cricket.
You can give your reasons on both counts if you wish.
Following on from Eccers post on Hughes
posted on 28/11/14
Luvr,
these are the two questions that I am talking about
Question A, should bouncers be banned from cricket.
Question B, should bouncers be allowed to stay in cricket.
Why on earth would you make question A rhetorical, to the ask the same question B?
stop trying to make yourself sound clever.
How often do you watch cricket btw?
posted on 28/11/14
I'm not a fan of cricket in any form. I do check the Yorkshire CCC progress/results.
Sad when anyone dies more so when so young and when simply doing their job. My deepest sympathies to his family.
Should there be a knee-jerk reaction to this accident? Absolutely not. If headgear can be improved further still to better protect players in light of this tragic event then yes, absolutely, go for it.
Should bouncers be banned? Don't think so. This was a tragic accident, nothing more.
posted on 28/11/14
I play to a pretty high level, as a batsman they shouldn't be banned. We should not be reacting to a freak accident, possibly some form of skull cap could be worn under the helmet to absorb a hit like that, helmet designs shouldn't change materially, you keep adding to the helmet and it restricts movement and agility which in itself is bloody dangerous when facing a decent pace.
posted on 28/11/14
HFL, the two questions below aren't rhetorical questions.
They are none rhetorical questions which require a response from those who choose to answer those questions, as written in plain english.
"Question A, should bouncers be banned from cricket.
Question B, should bouncers be allowed to stay in cricket.
Why on earth would you make question A rhetorical, to the ask the same question B?"
I think you've confused yourself H.
posted on 28/11/14
oh yeah,
I started playing cricket at school, and continued playing right through untill I left the army.
posted on 28/11/14
Luvr they are the two questions that I am asking why you asked the same wurst ion twice.
posted on 28/11/14
To which you told me the first one was rhetorical
posted on 28/11/14
AZA totally agree, I played at a decent level at school & up to being 20 but lost interest and just play some sundays and some mid-week games now.
The helmet is already a beast of a piece of kit, especially the new lightweight ones...that get tested using the bowling machines at 100mph.
Any major overhaul would make movement of the batsmen much more difficult, the head needs to be able to move in all directions also, so a full neck plate would be much more dangerous in my opinion.
This was a 1 in a million outcome to an every day action...driving a car is more dangerous...but everytime there is a car crash we don't make the wheels bigger or make the cars slower.
posted on 28/11/14
HFL, Luvr....come on lads
not the sort of thread to be petty with each other over nothing. Lets move on eh?!
posted on 28/11/14
Fair play Jud