Aussie test cricker Hughes dies from bouncer injury

By Michael Heath

Phillip_HughesNov. 27 (Bloomberg) — Australian cricketer Phil Hughes has died from a head injury after he was hit by a ball during a match at the Sydney Cricket Ground two days ago.

“He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends,” Peter Brukner, the Australian team’s doctor, said in a statement on Cricket Australia’s website. “He never regained consciousness following his injury.”

The 25-year-old, who was wearing a helmet, was hit as he tried to strike a ball while playing a state match for South Australia against New South Wales. The bouncer — a ball delivered at speed that rises sharply off the ground — appeared to strike him near the ear just under his helmet, television images showed.

The world’s cricketing community was plunged into shock by Hughes’s injury and expressed their condolences on Twitter.

“No no no no no,” former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said in a Twitter posting, and urged Sean Abbott, the bowler who delivered the ball, to “stay strong.”

Hughes, who played 26 Test matches after making his debut in 2009, scored 1,535 runs at an average of 32.65 in cricket’s five-day form, according to data on espncricinfo.com.

He was dismissed for zero on his test debut against South Africa in 2009, then in his second test became the youngest man to score a century in each innings. He spent the next four years in and out of the test team, playing his last match for Australia against England at Lords in 2013.

Masuri Group Ltd., the closely held maker of the helmet Hughes was wearing, said in an e-mailed statement this week that cricket players can’t avoid injuries wearing head protection that allows movement. – BLOOMBERG

 

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