Cricket authorities have sought to minimise injuries by making protective equipment mandatory for some age groups and batsmen now take to the crease wearing leg guards, elbow pads, gloves and helmets.
Despite the improvements in protective wear, however, the risks to batsmen remain.
On Tuesday Australia batsman Phillip Hughes was wearing a helmet but was still badly hurt when failing to avoid a ‘bouncer’.
— In the infamous Bodyline Series in 1932-33, Australian wicketkeeper Bert Oldfield fractured his skull when hit by a ball from English fast bowler Harold Larwood.
— In the 1960s, Indian captain Nari Contractor was hit in the head by a ball from West Indian paceman Charlie Griffith. He was unconscious for six days and needed a blood transfusion to survive.
— Bob Willis fractured Rick McCosker’s jaw in the 1977 Centenary test and in 1986 Mike Gatting’s nose was smashed by Malcolm Marshall.
— In 1975, New Zealander Ewen Chatfield swallowed his tongue and stopped breathing after being hit on the temple by English fast bowler Peter Lever during a test match. His life was saved by English physio Bernard Thomas, who sprinted onto the field and administered CPR.
— Just two years ago, South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher lost the lens, iris and pupil in his left eye after a being hit by a bail that flew back off the top of the wicket.
— India’s Raman Lamba died in 1998 after being struck in the temple by a cricket ball hit by a Bangladesh batsman. He was 38.
— Pakistan’s Abdul Aziz was struck on the chest by a ball in 1959, collapsed and never regained consciousness. He died on the way to the hospital, aged 17.
