Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi: Bouncers are certainly one of the prime weapons for fast bowlers. And when it comes to the longest format of the game, especially on fast tracks, it’s a major tool for a bowler to push a batsman on the back-foot by mainly targeting his body.
India are all set to play a four-match Test series against Australia, Down Under. The major threat for the visitors is undoubtedly the deadly speedster Mitchell Johnson, who has been in form of his life. Interestingly, the pacer has used the short balls with good effect, not just to pick wickets but to terrorise the opposition camp.
We have already seen how intimidating he was during the recent Ashes series. He had created panic in the English camp, helping his side completing a 5-0 series whitewash. The 33-year-old continued his fiery form against top ranked South African team. The left-arm bowler even sent one of the South African all-rounder Ryan McLaren to the hospital, after one his bouncers hit the southpaw on the head. And McLaren suffered from post-concussion syndrome in February this year.
But after the tragedy of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, chances are high that Johnson or for that matter any other speedster will at least think twice before using the short ball in the upcoming series. Hughes died on Thursday, two days after he was struck on the head by a bouncer from Sean Abbott in a Sheffield Shield game in Sydney Cricket Ground.
There is a possibility that while planning to bowl a bouncer, they might think of the recent tragedy. But even if they use bouncers in the series, it will certainly remind most of us of Hughes, who lost his life, while facing a short ball.
