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Do you remember Kanhai or Sobers getting hit on the head?

I remember the Aussies calling Freddo "Concrete Head"

In reply to Dukes


No. I don't remember that happening.

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In reply to Dukes

NO! ( And I do not consider myself an old timer!)

No. Don't recall any frontline batsman from Sobers/Kanhai era being floored by a bouncer. Remember Jackie Hendriks being floored by Australian Graham McKenzie in the 1965 home series.

was wondering if all the protective gear is making batsmen complacent!

Sobers and Kanhai were also not protected by two bouncers per over.

?In reply to Dukes Beyond Sobers and Kanhai , was Dujon not hit in that 1 st test against Australia in Australia in 1984?.
He did retire hurt and came back to make a big hundred.

Today's batsmen are hit much more frequently. Think the helmet is one possible cause. It has triggered a change in technique. For example, one former Test batsman told me that he usually got inside the line whenever he was hooking so that if he missed the ball would miss him. He thinks todays batsmen don't take that kind of precaution because of the much better protection that they have.

In reply to spider

They do not attempt the footwork needed for the hook. Back and across. That is what takes the batsman inside the line.


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In reply to jacksprat


And I do not consider you an oldtimer either!




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In reply to Ewart

yep. Batsmen are now striding forward to hook. Don't think that was really done before helmets.

Can remember Contractor and Hendriks being hit on the head. Many other batsmen were frequently hit in the rib cage or occasionally on the shoulder, or even suffered broken arm. Recalled McMorris being hit over the heart by Statham and had to retire hurt. Can't recall any big bats-Simpson, O'Neill, Dexter, Barrington, Hanif or West Indians -suffering head injuries. Batsmen occasionally got facial hits when they mishooked. Sobers once said that changes in batsmen stance, with the bat raised causes batsmen to move rather than remain perfectly still. This stillness allows allows them to pick up the line of the ball fractionally earlier. The natural movement of old time batsmen were back and across thus allowing them more time to play off the backfoot. Modern batsmen with better prepared wickets often play quickies on the front foot like they are spinners. Their cover drives are impeccable but they are not good hookers. Modern bats are heavier,fast bowlers are fitter and many actions are suspect.

That sums it up.

In reply to Dukes

No

Saw Andy Roberts hit Cowdrey with a bouncer before he made WI team. Middle of his chest I think it was.

In reply to Dukes

nope

In reply to jacksprat

One fundamental difference before the introduction of the helmet was that the earlier batsman would duck or sway out of the path of the bouncer. Very few would try to play the bouncer coming at the body. The present day batsmen now will play the hook shot rather than get out of the way. The helmet give them a sense of protection and they are more willing to take on the bouncer in order to score runs rather that duck or sway as the earlier batsmen tended to do.

One remembers how Kali took on Lillee in a display of hooking in the 1975 world cup. However he got his revenge in the 1976 tour and humbled the WI team.

In reply to Dukes

No

Batsmen of those days learned to hook, duck or move out of the way with ease

Hitting on the head became prevalent after helmets were introduced.

Most modern day batsmen don't know when and how to duck properly...they look so comical and ungainly ducking...and in most cases the bat is up in the air like a periscope in a submarine

this is not an old timers' thread. where r Norm, Fuzzy and che?

In reply to sudden

It's a funny thread. Some real ole timers seem to have been offended while other not so ole timers are eager..

In reply to Khaga

like yourself?

In reply to spider

You’ve never seen Viv Richards hook off the front foot?

And yes....he also got hit

In reply to jacksprat

Most guys can't even play the pull shot far less the Hook.

In reply to seaegg99

you guys forgetting the infamous bodyline series or the 74/75 England tour of OZ when many of the english player got broken bones. Kalli had his nose broken by Lillee in the 75/76 series and I think Julian got his thumb broken as well. Lloyd, Freddo and Murray were hit as well..

In reply to seaegg99

Some people just don’t know the difference!

In reply to Bigzinc

It is not a question of players getting hit.People have always gotten hit.I am talking about the best like Kanhai and Sobers.Steve Smith has been mentioned in the same sentence as Bradman so...........

In reply to Bigzinc

Not a single West Indian batsman was spared on that 75-76 tour

And I know they all wished they had helmets and forearm guards etc back then too

In reply to seaegg99

Have you seen the modern batsmen? They all appear quite proficient at hooking and pulling, albeit when it is fast, everyone will have a problem. These guys are well equipped to make all the shots.

What has happened to test cricket is that the game has quickened up. Teams are looking for results. Batsmen are trying to score faster, taking more chances, and hence exposing themselves to getting hurt. Additionally, the game is being analyzed in depth, strategies worked over, and players worked out.

It will be interesting to see the amount of games drawn in the 80's compared to games drawn in 2010's?

In reply to runout

Yes, a hook shot properly executed results in a 4 or 6.Worth taking the chance to score more quiclky.