‘ Myprayers withHughes’ British trio eye knockout
BOWLER AND TEAMMATES GET COUNSELLING AFTER ACCIDENT
While the cricketing world has joined in prayers for Australian batsman Phil Hughes, the survivor of the game’s other most well- documented injury feels there is no need to tamper with the laws further for the protection of batsmen.
“You must realise that such an incident has happened after 52 years — it’s an accident,” said Nari Contractor, the former Indian captain whose career was brutally cut shot by a bouncer during their West Indies tour of 1962.
Contractor was struck on the back of the head by a rising delivery from West Indies speedster Charlie Griffith during a practice match in Barbados.
With helmets unheard of in those days, he was unconscious for six days and needed an operation and blood transfusions before he finally came round — though his playing career was over.
Now 80 years old and still quite sharp, Contractor feels that with all the protective gear and restriction on the number of bouncers, there is no further need to curtail the bowler’s freedom. “While Hughes’ incident is most unfortunate, it’s all a part of the game. Cricket should continue the way it is,” he told Gulf
News from Mumbai.
Slow recovery
“I wish Hughes gets well soon, my prayers are with him,” said Contractor, who was at pains to the relive the process of his recovery and return to normal life.
“I was unconscious and don’t remember anything from that fateful incident. I must thank fellow cricketers who donated blood for me and the surgeon who conducted the emergency operation. I was in the operation theatre for a long time,” he said.
“The recovery was a slow process — it was all a struggle and extremely painful and I don’t really want to dwell on it anymore,” he added.
The octogenarian’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing for the last two days — with the cricket media seeking soundbites from him for the striking similarity with the Hughes incident. After his accident, Contractor was unable to build on his 31- Test career and handed the captaincy to Mansour Ali Khan Pataudi.
“These things happen — he [ Hughes] tried to pull the ball, mistimed and got hit. There have been, of course, 20- 25 incidents of batsmen getting injured from bouncers but none has been so severe,” he said.
Temporary scar
Asked if Hughes’ blow will cast a psychological scar for the modern batsman in general, and M. S. Dhoni’s men who are touring Down Under at the moment, Contractor said: “It may be temporarily there but then, they play so much cricket these days that it should not have a longlasting effect.”
Among those who donated blood for the felled Contractor was the then West Indies captain Frank Worrell, a gesture that has carved a special place for him in Indian cricketing folklore.
The Cricket Association of Bengal ( CAB) celebrates a Frank Worrell Day on August 16 every year with a blood donation camp. Everton veteran Distin exudes confidence as they aim to progress in Europa League along with Tottenham and Celtic
As the global cricket community prays for Australia cricketer Phillip Hughes’ recovery from a severe head injury, fast bowlers rushed to the defence of Sean Abbott, whose short- pitched ball struck the batsman and left him fighting for his life.
Abbott and his New South Wales teammates received counselling on Wednesday, while Hughes lay in an induced coma at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney after having surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
Abbott was one of the first to rush to Hughes’ aid at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday, cradling the 25- year- old before he was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
Offering support
“It says a lot about Sean, doesn’t it?” Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland told reporters yesterday. “Sean will have all the support he needs around him. I’m sure his team mates and everyone don’t feel in any way ill of him for what happened ... It’s a freak, freak incident that’s happened.”
Fast- bowling all rounder Abbott celebrated a personal milestone last month when he was picked for his debut international, a Twenty20 match against Pakistan in the UAE.
He played another two T20s and made his one- day international debut against Pakistan, raising his hopes of a dream spot in Australia’s squad for the World Cup, cricket’s quadrennial showpiece that will be held in February and March.
Though Abbott’s best years may lie ahead, he will inevitably be recorded as the bowler whose delivery put Hughes in hospital, much as England paceman David Lawrence is remembered for hitting West Indies batsman Phil Simmons in the head in 1988.
“You want to go out there and give your full commitment and test the batsman in all different ways. But that sort of result is not what you aim for. He will be devastated.”
West Indies batsman Simmons, now Ireland coach, made a full recovery after lifesaving brain surgery and resumed his international career the following year.
The short ball, known in cricket parlance as a ‘ bouncer’, is a celebrated part of the sport.