The tragic death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes shows that the wearing of a helmet is no guarantee that a bouncer will not floor you. Even the cardinal rule to keep your eyes on the ball sometimes fails.
Many of the world’s greatest batsmen have been floored by a bouncer. Travelling almost at the speed of light like a five-ounce cannon ball, it is a dangerous weapon. However, keeping the eyes on the ball can most times come to your rescue, save and except when the ball rises sharply off the middle stump, and is well pitched up. The only saving grace then is the bat or the knuckles.
The recent incident takes the Wild Coot back some 58 years when he was a wicketkeeper (ball stopper) and opening batsman in the Intermediate Division for Harrison College. We were playing against Mental at Mental. I should have known better than to play in that match.
Anyhow, George Rock was bowling. (No inmates were allowed to play for Mental, only staff.) First three balls were outside of the off stump. Fourth ball was on the leg. The Wild Coot moved inside the wicket and stroked it for four. He is full of confidence now and is seeing the ball like a breadfruit. Next ball was faster and again on the leg.
This time Wild Coot tailed to the leg and attempted to slap the ball to square leg. Ball and balls collide despite box. The Wild Coot is flat on the ground moaning. He is conscious but not concerned so much about the pain down below which is inexplicable, but moreso about the future family prospects. Anyone would be in sympathy with the poor fellow – except the bowler.
While on the ground flat out and staring up to heaven asking “why me”, he sees the fearsome figure of George looking down menacingly at him. “Yuh tink yuh cud hit me fuh four and get away wid it?” The remark remains carved on my memory until now. Each time I attempt family planning, I wonder if I am going to be successful or whether I am just wasting time and energy.
That was not my only memory of a menacing cricket ball. Harrison College was playing against Police, an Intermediate match at Harrison College. The Wild Coot was the opening batsman along with Ronnie Carter. Carl Mullins (not in his heyday) was the opening bowler for Police. Word went around in the pavilion about the fearsome bowling exploits of Carl; maybe he had played for Barbados.
Ronnie took the first over. A couple of bouncers and Ronnie was running. I foolishly stopped Carl as he was about to bowl, went down the wicket, and tried to explain to Ronnie that he must keep his eyes on the ball, not to run or else he would get hit. This action of my walking down the wicket must have angered the bowler. Ronnie edged the last ball for a single. You know Ronnie was not going back down to that end again.
The next over I had to face Carl. First ball was an out-swinging bouncer. I swayed. Second ball was an in-swinging bouncer. I ducked. The pattern continued for the third, fourth and fifth ball with me swaying and ducking. You know in those days we did not have helmets, only a cap. I decided that the last ball was going to be an in-swinging bouncer. It was.
Instead of ducking, I swung the bat and heard “kupps”. I had connected. The ball went sailing down square leg and into the drain. Six. Ever since, I have boasted that I hit Carl for six into the drain. You can ask Carlisle Carter, he was our captain, or even Tony Marshall, he was our off-break bowler.
The skipper of Police took off Carl. He saw that somebody was about to “get lick down” because this schoolboy was showing more guts than common sense, and he knew Mullins well.
The wearer of a helmet today has to be careful in relying on the protection of the helmet. It has its limitations. Chanderpaul, Lara and Samuels and others are among great batsmen that have been hit and survived. Hughes’ was a tragedy. Sorry!
Folks, have a merry Christmas now there is no Budget yet.
• Harry Russell is a banker. Email quijote70@gmail.com