Australian Cricketer dies

It's been heartening to see the level of support for the unfortunate bowler. He could so easily have been made a hate figure when he'd done nothing wrong at all.

My mother had a friend who was an air raid warden during the war. He was killed instantly when a piece of shrapnel caught him under the edge of his tin hat.

In all this, let us also think of the young cricketer who bowled the ball that caused this injury and death. His delivery was within all the laws of cricket, he did nothing wrong. It was just one of those damn things.

They say he may never play again because of the devastating effect of this awful event upon him.

It was very sad to hear the news of Phil Hughes, one of the times when people say 'did you hear ...' There has been a lot on the news over here about the accident, it's always tragic when someone young dies. There have also been commiserations for the bowler.

What a tragic accident, I was sad to hear he didn't make it. Awful for all concerned.

This is terribly sad for everyone and so hard to believe life can be so fragile.

It is a similar ( but more innocuous) injury that caused DS1's stroke. I feel for his family and especially for the bowler.

As Greyduster says, an awful freak accident.

Heartbreaking news.

This is just awful and my heart goes out to his family. My son played cricket for his station when he was in the RAF and during a match a chap took a ball to the head and died on the pitch, despite immediate medical attention being given. Both teams were distraught, and the poor bowler collapsed. He was not wearing a helmet, just a cap, and, until then, neither did my son. That soon changed - my DiL said if he didn't buy one immediately she would put all his kit in the garden and burn it. The poor man who has just died was wearing a helmet of course (sensibly everyone does these days) but I understand that the ball found a gap round the back of his head. A freak accident that no-one, sadly, could have foreseen.

Dreadful tragedy for the family, the Australian cricket team and the poor bowler. Something similar, not lethal, happened in DH's cricket team in NSW in the 1970's, the reverberations lasted for years afterwards.

Sounds as if it was just a dreadful accident and could not have been prevented. How sad for all involved. FlicketyB, I hope you are not too upset with being reminded of your sister's death.

Utterly shocking. Life can be so fragile.

Every time I read these cases, my heart bleeds. My sister died in a similar way, although her injury was caused by a blow to the head when she was knocked off her bike; the rush to hospital, the operation to relieve pressure in the brain and death without gaining conscience two days later. I am just thinking of his family and what they are going through now; the mixture of shock, disbelief and grief and I hope and pray they have the united and supportive family we had to gather together and support each other at such a dreadful time.

Oh no. I saw this on the news last night and thought surely there must be a safer design for their helmets. I'm not a cricket fan but felt so sorry for this young man and I fully expected him to come out of the coma.

This is a very sad outcome.

I also feel for the bowler.

Breathtakingly awful. Poor young man. Boor bowler too.

What a tragedy and how awful for the poor bowler.

Sad. Very sad.