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Rodney Hogg filled with remorse over Hughes injury

26th November, 2014
2

Watching batsmen flinch under a bouncer used to get ex-Test quick Rodney Hogg “pumped up”.

Not any longer.

The shocking head injury to Phillip Hughes has filled the self proclaimed former Australian “lunatic fast bowler” with remorse after terrorising batsmen over a six-year Test career.

But it has also prompted the perhaps insensitive call from the outspoken former speedster that NSW paceman Sean Abbott may have a “cross to bear” for the rest of his life in the wake of the Hughes incident.

Hogg is the first to admit he enjoyed intimidating the opposition in a bruising 38-Test career that began with a remarkable 41-wicket haul for a World Series-depleted Australia against England in 1978-79.

“It’s like playing footy if you knock someone out and keep playing the ball down the ground,” Hogg told SEN radio of bouncing batsmen.

But Hogg revealed he could not sleep on Tuesday night after hearing of Hughes being felled by Abbott in the now abandoned NSW-South Australia Sheffield Shield clash.

“An incident like this now I’ll certainly reflect and look differently upon some of the guys that I’ve hit over the years,” Hogg said.

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“I think I’m like a lot of cricketers, just in total shock.

“Over the years you send all these short balls down and you are probably trying to hit people, but when something like this happens it just drives a nail through your heart.

“I couldn’t sleep last night, I was so upset.”

Hogg said the freak Hughes accident brought back nightmare memories of Test teammate Rick Darling’s brush with death in 1979.

English players and umpires saved Australian opener Darling’s life after he was struck in the heart by a rising delivery by Bob Willis and collapsed on the pitch during an Adelaide Ashes Test.

Darling’s chewing gum became lodged in his throat and he nearly choked to death.

Hogg hoped for Abbott’s sake Hughes also made a similar recovery to Darling.

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“I remember back to the whole crowd at the Adelaide Oval when Rick Darling got hit in the heart and was brought back to life when he stopped breathing,” Hogg said.

“We’re just praying that Phillip can pull through, but if he doesn’t it will certainly be a cross to bear for young Abbott the rest of his life.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan predicted the Hughes incident would provide more sleepless nights – for batsmen.

“Batsmen will now feel that while they are out in the middle they are in a world that is full of danger with the risk of serious injury,” Vaughan wrote in his Telegraph column.

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