Its Summer! - the Fever Cricket Thread. (Part 2)

Phil Hughes.  Dead.  Shark.

RIP

RIP Phil Hughes.  Such an unlucky 1 in a million accident.  Feel horribly for Sean Abbot.  I hope someone is looking after him at the moment, he must just be absolutely distraught.

Fudgeing hell, only just heard the news he's died. Knew his career was over but hoped he would survive to live some sort of life. Feel completely numb. Just playing cricket for fudge sake. Can't imagine the state Sean Abbott is in.

Tragic.

Sean Abbott wont play cricket again. Poor lad. (not to distract from the death)

Its odd cause in sports there are accidents. Spear tackles, leg breaker tackles. This guy got a legit delivery. Tragic.

I bet you that ICC review bouncers now after this. I would hate to be the first person to bowl a bouncer against an Australian team in Australia. Assholes all day and wont make it out of the ground. 

Any cricket game after this (considering bouncers are legal deliveries) will be too soon.

Aussies will just bowl beamers instead.

I once beamed my big brother in the backyard.  On purpose.  A good one too.  

Barely escaped with my life.

have to say that this incident did cross my mind, but I didn't post on it. 

No one should have their memories sullied with Brett Lee.

P.s. Definitely the right call to suspend play for a day in our test match. But a particularly classy decision by Pakistan given the state of play.

Having played cricket with the same core of players for nearly 16 years, this hits close to home. I've seen my team mates hit, my team mates hit other players along with many other injuries. We are lucky enough to play one of the great sports and for however long we play it, the amount of time we spend on the field and on the sideline together, we will all walk away with lifelong friends. Phillip Hughes' family, friends, team mates and opponents will need support and time, that is a given. I'm also sure plenty of cricketers are feeling reflective about the sport we love and know what a tragedy this is. Continue to play the game hard, to compete and to challenge yourself, but remember when the bats are put down and the pads come off, cricket is more than a sport, it's human interaction at its finest and purest.

Tragic. Truly tragic.

Such a shame he never really made the most of his talent either. Two centuries in his second test away in South Africa at 20 years old. Had schoolboy records better than Bradman apparently. They never really settled on a position for him. He could be opening one match then be at six the next then at three. Never gave him a chance in one position for two or three series.

It's so hard to believe. It's on everyone's minds even here too. At work just now on the way back from the kitchen to my desk I was stopped for 3 different conversations about it by people I've never spoken about sport with before. I don't see how the game can ever be the same again. What bowler is ever going to want to bowl a bouncer again? Certainly not in Australia in any case.

Brett Lee coming out saying no bowler ever wants to hurt his opponent reminded me of him trying to knock Piers Morgan's head off at the Ashes last summer. Yeah it was funny and all that at the time because it was Piers Morgan and no real harm was done (I think Morgan may have broken some ribs). But in hindsight now, for someone so ill equipped to defend himself against that kind of fast bowling, it's actually a miracle something like this didn't happen.

What do I tell my quick bowlers to do tomorrow?

Stop the bouncers, keep it full?

I feel we should play as normal, but should we consider taking it easy?

EDIT: Double Post

You may also want to think about how the batsmen are going to feel... and not just the good ones - the tail-end Charlie's too.

If I was playing social cricket tomorrow I'd be having a chat with my team and opponents and perhaps agreeing to pitch it on or just short of a reasonable length - and who cares if it becomes a run/slog fest, it's limited overs anyway, peoples safety and well being is far more important.

Quality Surge. 

It's a tough one. It's not like my guys are bowling anyone near 140 clicks, probably 110 at the most (enough to do damage though). It's still a part of the game, maybe we limit to one an over. As a batsman, I wouldn't be offended if I got a bouncer but understand others might.

I think I need to chat to my team, the opposition and go from there.

As Club Captain I've spent all morning trying to organise helmets for all lower grades at the club - suddenly a lot of places are out of stock.

Have a look at the #PutOutYourBats hashtag on the Twitterz if you want to remind yourself that humanity isn't always bad... it's kinda moving - especially the ones from the Joe and Jackie Public's.

Good luck with the helmets Leigh. I only played to age 14 or something before choosing tennis instead but never wore a helmet. Feel stupid now. Noone should be without a helmet at any level or age group.

Edit: Actually think the only time I ever did wear one was an end of season friendly game where we reversed the order and I got sent out to open (I couldn't bat at all) so was scared of the fast bowlers! I actually hit a 4 too (yes they were so rare I remember each one!).

Here's an interesting wee read...

https://www.smh.com.au/nsw/why-our-children-should-play-cricket-this-weekend-20141128-11vu2r.html

I batted in the middle order at Reserve grade last season when they were short. I had NOOOOO business being there.

Most have helmets but need to ensure there are enough for all as they can be expensive. I have a Masuri one but I think I may upgrade at some point to a higher spec model.

Why on earth would you think Sean Abbott won't play cricket  again?

Can't you imagine how distraught he will be Leggy?

After watching a little of the black cap test this morning and the payers reactions even when wickets are being taken, there is no way that this Australian Indian match should be played. It simply would be to much for the Ausi players

Of course, but I would be very surprised if he flagged it.

We've come back into this one but would have to be a pretty rapid moving next day or so for there to be a result in this one. Haven't seen it but I read no appeals and celebrations? Must have been a pretty surreal session.

Edit: I see Cricinfo are calling this Day 2, have they just moved the test back a day? I figured this would be Day 3 now?

Edit again: I've had that confirmed, Day 2 it is. We're in a decent position then. Hopefully bat once and bat big and give ourselves a shot in Day 4/5.

Bazza playing a swashbuckling innings..50 off 30 balls...

The best tribute to Phil Hughes would be to play the test match...the guy lived for the "baggy green"..!!

Bit of a bizarre day of cricket. But to be expected I guess. 

playing like they want the test match over as quickly as possible perhaps? 

well batted today NZ

McCullum brings up his ton on the last ball before tea. At 78 balls it's the fastest test century by a kiwi.

The most downbeat celebration of a century I think I've seen since the old days when a polite raising of the bat and a shake of your partner's hand was sufficient.

I feel sorry for the bowler, he must be devastated that this has happened.

I've never liked bouncers, I always thought the ol full toss "sandshoe crusher" was better. Make them dance so to speak.

Think this is a fair point. Baz has been looking to do this and the circumstances have enabled him to pull it off a bit easier perhaps. Amazing innings though, great powers of concentration. Equally, putting us in with a very very good chance of winning a test match. I know that that shouldn't matter at the moment but to come away from an away series against Pakistan with a drawn series would be one of our best test achievements in a long time.

Brilliant Century from Bazza....now @ 150...strike rate has dropped to 105...stumps now ...Wow 3 centuries by the openers on this overseas tour...average opening partnership of 50...Also good to see Kane Williamson back in form

2 of the best days cricket Nz have played in a while and we all still feel gutted -i think its classy to see the PH on the teams shirts