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No one is to blame for Phil Hughes fighting for his life at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney after being struck on the head by a bouncer playing for South Australia against NSW at the SCG yesterday.
UPDATE: Phillip Hughes has tragically passed away.
The 25-year-old was making a concerted bid to replace Michael Clarke if the Australian skipper was ruled unfit to play in the first Test against India at the Gabba starting December 4.
Hughes was unbeaten on 63 and looking very comfortable when Sean Abbott let fly with a bouncer, just as thousands of fast bowlers have done, many thousands of times.
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But with this one, Phil Hughes was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Don’t blame Abbott, he was just delivering the fast bowlers most aggressive weapon. Although I venture to say young Sean won’t be too keen to deliver another bouncer for the foreseeable future.
And don’t blame the helmet manufacturers either. Phil was struck behind the left ear just below the helmet line, where it’s impossible to protect.
With lower protection, the batsman would have less free head movement, and that wold be even more dangerous.
No, it was a tragic accident, with even more tragic ramifications.
Phil has had more scans since his surgery yesterday to remove pressure on his brain, and even though he’s still in an induced coma, he will have more scans today.
We won’t really know Phil’s condition, other than critical, for another 24 to 48 hours.
And while social media is in meltdown with people from all over the world wishing Phil, his family, and his friends all the very best, the wait for good positive news is suffocating.
So while we impatiently ride the wait, let’s have no blame games.
The accident was tragic, no argument about that, but part of the game as everyone who has played cricket is only too well aware.
But let’s be positive with the very best scenario.
And that would be Phil Hughes sitting up in bed on November 30, next Sunday, celebrating his 26th birthday with family and friends.
Now wouldn’t that be something?