One of the unique joys in elite long-form cricket is the art of bowling a bouncer. Although, a series of unfortunate concussion events with batsmen getting hit in the head has given rise to a pressing problem – Is cricket becoming dangerous?
The world had a brief reality check after the death of Australia’s Phil Hughes and caused a brief moratorium on threatening a batsman’s head.
The requirement to use bouncers as a shock tactic has started to haunt again, having already lost 4 players due to hear injuries in ongoing India vs Australia Series.
Ravindra Jadeja
Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja suffered a concussion on his head during the first T20 match against Australia off a bouncer bowled by Mitchell Starc. Jadeja was ruled out of the remainder of India’s three-match T20 series, after the incident, and is also in doubt for the upcoming opening Test in Adelaide on December 21.
Will Pucovski
During the day-night practice match at the Drummoyne Oval, Pucovski got hit on the head by India’s reserve pacer Kartik Tyagi. He suggested a concussion after getting struck on the helmet late in the match, which implied a likely Test debut has been put on hold. This is the ninth concussion he has suffered.
Harry Conway
The latest victim of this perilous trend is Australian No. 11, Harry Conway. The medium-pacer was ruled out of the ongoing pink-ball warm-up match against India after suffering a delayed concussion there.
Cameroon Green
Ahead of the first Test match against India next week, Green was the second case of concussion faced by the Australian squad. Merely days after young opening prospect Will Pucovski was hit on the head, Green – the 21-year-old all-rounder – had to walk off the pitch after being struck on the head by Jasprit Bumrah’s shot in the follow-through of his bowling action.
