Australia mourns the loss of a young life.
Australians today are mourning the loss of a young life.
As way of explanation, Australia's favourite summer sport is cricket, a game played around the world, even in the USA. During a game at the second highest representative level, a young batsman was struck in the head by a cricket ball. Although protected by a helmet, the ball struck the lower rear of his skull, seriously damaging his cerebellum and rendering him unconscious. Despite the best of medical attention, he did not regain consciousness and died 24 hours ago as I write this.
The batsman, Phillip Hughes, would have turned 26 next Sunday. He had risen through the ranks starting as a boy playing in his home town; progressing through District representative level to being selected to play for his home State. From this, his talent and potential led him to being selected to play for Australia at the International level. Obviously he was a great athlete.
Messages of condolence have flooded in from around the world, not only from the world cricket family, but from players of other sports, politicians, entertainers and the cricket loving man-in-the-street. It has been noticeable in hearing these messages of condolence, the number of people who have eulogised Phillip, not simply as a great batsman with the cricket world at his feet, but as a likable polite young person who, despite his hero status remained a caring, sharing local lad. That must come as a grain of solace to his parents and sister.
The injury was accidental. The ball, weighing between 5.5 and 5.75 oz (156 - 163 gms) was bowled to him in a legal way, within the spirit of the game, at a speed of around 90 mph (~150 kpH). It rose from the ground sharply and would have been described as a "bouncer". For a batsman of Phillip's standard, such a delivery would have been run-of-the-mill. However, as he swayed his body and turned his head to get out of the ball's path, he may have misjudged its line of flight and the ball hit him in an area of the head that is not expected to be in danger in the normal course of events.
What makes his death so tragic to my wife and I is that, although we did not know Phillip personally, we have traveled the path he and his parents traveled as he grew up. Our son turned 26 last Sunday, so he and Phillip are the same age. Our son was a successful batsman as a lad, and we spent our summer weekends going hither, thither and yon for games, and suffering the heat, dust and sun at cricket grounds. In every game, we watched, hoping that serious injury would not befall him as he batted, or even as he was in the field while the opposition batted. Competition for places in representative teams, and his interest in the opposite sex, halted his progress up the grades. We feel deeply for Phillip's parents who lost their only son, only to find out with in what high esteem he was held in his local community; his home State; his Nation, and Internationally.
At the same time we must extend our sympathy and support for the bowler, Sean Abbott, a friend and former team mate of Phillip. There was no malice in Abbott's heart as he bowled that fatal ball. We must prevent him from believing that he did wrong. What happened after the ball left his hand was God's way of selecting an opening batsman for the forthcoming Heaven -v- Hell match at Lord's Ground.
Vale, Phillip Hughes
1988 - 2014
Promoted to a Higher Grade
