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It was just another slow afternoon at the cricket, with South Australia consolidating a positive start to their Sheffield Shield encounter with New South Wales.
One young man at the crease was constructing an important innings.
For Phil Hughes this innings was an opportunity to prove that his misunderstood and confounding technique was again ready for the rigours of international cricket.
He was making his way towards another first-class hundred, when on 63 the red leather decided to bite back. Sadly for Phillip, it bit hard. Much too hard.
The red leather ball has hardly changed over the history of the game. This lack of change has recently become an intriguing topic, as everything else in the game of cricket seems to have taken a step forward except the five-and-three-quarter ounce piece of cork covered in leather.
But this little red ball is still a small missile that can cause damage that far defies its small size.
Batsmen employ helmets, guards, boxes and many other devices to combat the danger this little ball can cause. These safety measures have even led to changes in the way they play. Safety aspects of the game have led to batsman playing in a far more combative style. Rather than wait for the ball, they step forward to meet it, playing forward rather than back.
Essentially they take time away for the ball to do its damage.
Remember, though, that this little ball has never changed, thus its bite has never changed, its threat to cause damage has never diminished. It had just been forgotten in the modern game’s power hitting.
Sadly on Tuesday afternoon, this small, red leather ball again reminded us all that it will always hit harder than any batsman.
Get well soon Phil Hughes. I wish you all the best.
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