Australia and the cricketing world is in absolute shock following the announcement of the death of Australian test cricketer, Philip Hughes today.
Hughes who was 25, had been in an induced coma since he became unconscious after taking a bouncer on the back of his head while batting for South Australia against his home state, New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Hughes, who would have turned 26 at the end of the month, was reportedly on the verge of a return to the Australian test side for the upcoming series against India after a solid run in domestic cricket having been dropped from the test side last year after a dismal Ashes series.
Hughes made history by becoming the youngest Australian test cricketer to make his debut at the age of 20 when he was named to open with Simon Katich against South Africa at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Hughes' rise was swift as was his downfall, as his technique was discovered by the English pace attack in the 2009 Ashes series.
Indeed, Hughes would be dropped numerous times from the test side but his talent was very evident for all to see and at age 25, the boy from a town in country NSW which grew bananas was set for a prolonged career with the Baggy Green not dissimilar to fellow Blues, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson.
Alas, we will never see a great talent flourish following this tragedy not dissimilar to Ayrton Senna's in 1994. There will be questions following this tragedy but I hope the governing bodies don't make hasty short-sighted decisions that will damage the game in the long run, i.e. considering banning the bouncer, etc. This is not the time to make changes to the game even as it contemplates its first death as a result of an action in the game.
Finally, thoughts must be with the family as well as rising Aussie fast bowler, Sean Abbott who will forever be affected by this, the latest high profile head injury involving an athlete in the last 12 months after Jules Bianchi and Michael Schumacher.
RIP Philip Hughes 1988-2014
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