Was the Babar Azam injury totally avoidable by the use of appropriate protection?

[MenInG]

I understand that each batsman has his own opinion on comfort in terms of protective equipment he wears but why was he not wearing an elbow guard? Azhar Ali and others were so why not Babar? Did Pak management not think it important or did nobody notice or they let it be?

Will this policy change now? Babar's injury is a huge blow and the fact that England are targeting Pak batsmen with short stuff should have made them think.

Views?

 

[MenInG]

Seems Asad wasnt either!

 

[USofA]

It depends on the confidence level of each player in their own technique. Comfort level should be secondary. Not sure about Babar on his thought process.

In this particular case it was poor technique. He played the ball poorly. Completely took his eye off the ball. Was almost tailender like.

 

[MenInG]

It depends on the confidence level of each player in their own technique. Comfort level should be secondary. Not sure about Babar on his thought process.

In this particular case it was poor technique. He played the ball poorly. Completely took his eye off the ball. Was almost tailender like.

Think some protection should be mandatory from a team's pov.

 

[Abdul]

Overconfidence.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Think some protection should be mandatory from a team's pov.

No. They are a very large number of international batsmen who don't use arm-guards. In fact, the majority don't.

This is the most unproductive sort of knee-jerk reaction.

Comfort level isn't secondary, it's actually incredibly important, because if he's uncomfortable it can impact his batting negatively and thus his career as well as Pakistan's prospects in games.

These injuries are extremely rare, and there's no need to suggest armor suits every time someone takes an injury.

 

[MenInG]

No. They are a very large number of international batsmen who don't use arm-guards. In fact, the majority don't.

This is the most unproductive sort of knee-jerk reaction.

Comfort level isn't secondary, it's actually incredibly important, because if he's uncomfortable it can impact his batting negatively and thus his career as well as Pakistan's prospects in games.

These injuries are extremely rare, and there's no need to suggest armor suits every time someone takes an injury.

Its called commonsense. You dont need to wear a helmet either if you are Azhar Ali as I dont recall him being hit by a ball on the head. Question really is whether batsmen should change their protection depending on the conditions. In UAE you can get away with it - is it the same on England pitches?

 

[hur rizvi]

I think he would wear one from now on

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Its called commonsense. You dont need to wear a helmet either if you are Azhar Ali as I dont recall him being hit by a ball on the head. Question really is whether batsmen should change their protection depending on the conditions. In UAE you can get away with it - is it the same on England pitches?

Plenty of batsman are hit on the helmet on a regular basis.

Players are very rarely hit on the arm, and hits there are very rarely serious on top of that.

That's why in England or otherwise, very few batsmen wear arm-guards.

It's not common-sense. Otherwise you would have made a thread on this years ago. It's quite obviously theoretically possible that someone can be hit on the arm. I don't think people suddenly realized this only yesterday.

It's a knee-jerk reaction because you will not say this at any point of time except in the immediate aftermath of someone being hit on the arm and injured.

 

[MenInG]

Plenty of batsman are hit on the helmet on a regular basis.

Players are very rarely hit on the arm, and hits there are very rarely serious on top of that.

That's why in England or otherwise, very few batsmen wear arm-guards.

It's not common-sense. Otherwise you would have made a thread on this years ago. It's quite obviously theoretically possible that someone can be hit on the arm. I don't think people suddenly realized this only yesterday.

It's a knee-jerk reaction because you will not say this at any point of time except in the immediate aftermath of someone being hit on the arm and injured.

Dunno why you are getting so excited about this. Its a simple question. Anything that you dont consider logical is not 'kneejerk'

 

[Mr.Q]

Its called commonsense. You dont need to wear a helmet either if you are Azhar Ali as I dont recall him being hit by a ball on the head. Question really is whether batsmen should change their protection depending on the conditions. In UAE you can get away with it - is it the same on England pitches?

Spot on.
You gotta change your safety gear according to the conditions and the opposition. One batsman who used to do this so well was Rahul Dravid. He’s a great example for every young batsman.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Dunno why you are getting so excited about this. Its a simple question. Anything that you dont consider logical is not 'kneejerk'

I'm excited about it because player freedom and comfort matters. Just adding regulation after regulation on them from afar every time some incident happens is counter-productive.

And I'm calling it knee-jerk, because a knee-jerk reaction means a sort of automatic and not deeply considered response to something bad. Neither you nor anyone would have been worried about this in general. If someone had asked you why batsmen don't wear arm-guards yesterday, you would have given them a perfectly normal and rational response because the vast majority of batsmen don't wear arm-guards.

To suddenly say they should now be mandated by the management after one guy gets hit is ill-considered, and will hamper players who are not used to it, and do very little except prevent the very very rare freak injury once in a blue moon.

 

[MenInG]

I'm excited about it because player freedom and comfort matters. Just adding regulation after regulation on them from afar every time some incident happens is counter-productive.

And I'm calling it knee-jerk, because a knee-jerk reaction means a sort of automatic and not deeply considered response to something bad. Neither you nor anyone would have been worried about this in general. If someone had asked you why batsmen don't wear arm-guards yesterday, you would have given them a perfectly normal and rational response because the vast majority of batsmen don't wear arm-guards.

To suddenly say they should now be mandated by the management after one guy gets hit is ill-considered, and will hamper players who are not used to it, and do very little except prevent the very very rare freak injury once in a blue moon.

Stop making assumptions about what others are thinking about and calm down in your responses.

 

[Baigel]

This topic should have arisen before the series but it wasn't..... I agree with [MENTION=135134]CricketAnalyst[/MENTION] that this topic has arisen purely due to Babar's injury

BTW, I have an armguard at home and I can guarantee that the place where Babar was struck is not protected by the arm guard. That spot is a small breathing zone between the bottom of the guard and the strap of the glove

 

[shaz619]

It was definetly avoidable but it comes down to player comfort as well, am not sure if Babar has ever wore an elbow guard in his career so it would take a while to get use to; am sure after this he will seriously consider it though.

In rare instances a lack of protective equipment is productive for the player, Viv Richards never wore a helment and while it would make sense for him to do so it also improved his vision to play the short ball better, likewise Tyson Fury is among a small group of fighters who don't wear headgear during sparring, it improves his vision and he has always been one to back his head movement and shoulder rolls.

But generally though, beyond the helmet, pads, gloves and box; it comes down to personal preference and we can't overly criticise these blokes in my opinion if they didn't go all out but I see your point.

 

[shaz619]

This topic should have arisen before the series but it wasn't..... I agree with [MENTION=135134]CricketAnalyst[/MENTION] that this topic has arisen purely due to Babar's injury

BTW, I have an armguard at home and I can guarantee that the place where Babar was struck is not protected by the arm guard. That spot is a small breathing zone between the bottom of the guard and the strap of the glove

Good point, Babar may have been injured regardless given that there may not have been sufficient padding. Then again it depends on the guard although most are as you describe.

 

[MenInG]

This topic should have arisen before the series but it wasn't..... I agree with [MENTION=135134]CricketAnalyst[/MENTION] that this topic has arisen purely due to Babar's injury

BTW, I have an armguard at home and I can guarantee that the place where Babar was struck is not protected by the arm guard. That spot is a small breathing zone between the bottom of the guard and the strap of the glove

From this pic it seems to be the area which an arm guard would cover I think but I may be mistaken?

 

[Baigel]

From this pic it seems to be the area which an arm guard would cover I think but I may be mistaken?

https://images.news18.com/ibnlive/uploads/2018/05/babar.jpg[.img][/QUOTE]

These probably arent the best pictures but they do some justice

<img src="https://wicdn.wisdenindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/453381966.jpg" alt="Related image"/>

[url]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-3165171/Chris-Rogers-escapes-injury-despite-hit-head-clash-echoes-incident-Australian-batsman-Phillip-Hughes-tragically-lost-life.html[/url]

The chris rogers photo is almost identical to the babar azam scene and had that ball hit Rogers it would still have cause alot of damage

 

[Baigel]

And babar azam has broken his wrist specifically his Ulna
<img src="https://www.epainassist.com/images/Article-Images/galeazzi-fracture.jpg" alt="Image result for wrist bones ulna"/>

The "arm guard" won't protect the wrist

 

[*sallu*]

Disagree completely. How many international cricketers wear arm guards ane chest guards? I'd say less than 10%.

Hindsight is 20:20 but comfort in these outweighs minor bruises + the once in a bluemoon chance of an injury.

 

[introvert]

Injury happened to babar was purely result of poor technique.
It is batsman's personal choice to wear or not to wear an elbow guard.
I remember Sachin,dravid wore it regularly.
It also depends on batsman's confidence on his pull and hook shots
Natural puller like ben stokes/cook would never play that ball like babar did.

 

[Mr.Q]

From this pic it seems to be the area which an arm guard would cover I think but I may be mistaken?

https://images.news18.com/ibnlive/uploads/2018/05/babar.jpg[.img][/QUOTE]
You’re right. At least the evidence suggests that. Here’s more.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]81754._xfImport[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]81755._xfImport[/ATTACH]

See the image below (from a YouTube video). That’s where he got hit. You can see the impact on his sweatband. If an arm guard doesn’t protect you from that, you should sue the manufacturer.

[ATTACH]81780._xfImport[/ATTACH]
He should have been wearing one when he knew they were going to test him with short length bowling as he doesn’t play it very well. Anyways, let’s hope he recovers soon.

Many batsmen wear it in the longer format not because they think they’ll return with a broken bone otherwise but because getting hit there can be extreeemely painful. And cricket is a team game. When you retire hurt, it affects not just you but the entire team.

 

[HuzaifaE]

I believe comfort and ability to play to the best of your ability takes precedence over all else, it's not as simple as assuming Babar would have 0 issue adapting to wearing the arm guard, so I don't feel comfortable criticizing him for not wearing it just because there was an unfortunate but rare injury.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

its easy to say aster the fact, most of the english bats arent wearing one. From my own expereinces I know wearing an armguard is annoying.

Im sure from now on he will wear one though

 

[Baigel]

You’re right. At least the evidence suggests that. Here’s more.

View attachment 81754
View attachment 81755

See the image below (from a YouTube video). That’s where he got hit. You can see the impact on his sweatband. If an arm guard doesn’t protect you from that, you should sue the manufacturer.

View attachment 81780
He should have been wearing one when he knew they were going to test him with short length bowling as he doesn’t play it very well. Anyways, let’s hope he recovers soon.

Many batsmen wear it in the longer format not because they think they’ll return with a broken bone otherwise but because getting hit there can be extreeemely painful. And cricket is a team game. When you retire hurt, it affects not just you but the entire team.

He's been diagnosed with a broken wrist and a fractured Ulna

 

[Fahdi]

Many batsmen don't wear an arm guard. Cook doesn't do so and neither does Root. Infact I think most English batsmen don't.

One factor which may influence their decision is the fact that if the arm guard is in contact with the glove then you can get out if the ball bounces off it.

 

[MenInG]

So now Fakhar Zaman fielding close to Stokes - no helmet or even Shin pads! What are Pakistan doing?

 

[fawad_wellwisher]

So now Fakhar Zaman fielding close to Stokes - no helmet or even Shin pads! What are Pakistan doing?

View attachment 81785

This is truly irresponsible from Fakhar. He should be wearing protective gear. What is the coaching staff doing?

 

[hadi123]

So now Fakhar Zaman fielding close to Stokes - no helmet or even Shin pads! What are Pakistan doing?

View attachment 81785

Wow. I didn't even know this was allowed, I thought protection is necessary if you're that close. I think it's Azam's choice not to wear an arm guard - many batsmen don't, he just got unlucky.

 

[xbox]

Compairing wearing helmet to elbow guard is not fair. Its compairing an apple with an orange. If we look at the modern day cricket you will majority of the batsmen do not wear arm guard and chest pad. Arm guard and chest guard are two gears which feels uncomfortable to a lot of cricketers. If you have not worn these gear your entire life its very difficult to start wearing them. Actually its a mental thing for a lot of players they just don't feel free flowing with an arm guard which actually moves a lot at times.

Now what Fakhar did was totally stupid. Captain and management has to look into this and make sure it doesn't happen. Back in the days fielding at silly-midoff was not considered as dangerous as silly-middon or shor-leg. But in this age and era where powerfull hitting is at its best you have to be very carefull.

 

[MenInG]

So wonder if Babar Azam wearing anything more this time? looks similar to last time. Guess to do with confidence.

 

[Firebat]

So wonder if Babar Azam wearing anything more this time? looks similar to last time. Guess to do with confidence.

Was just wearing a sweatband back in 2018; he's upgraded to a small forearm guard for this series.

 

[Omer2002]

I think he is wearing a short arm.guard

 

[Bhaijaan]

So now Fakhar Zaman fielding close to Stokes - no helmet or even Shin pads! What are Pakistan doing?

View attachment 81785

This is truly irresponsible from Fakhar. He should be wearing protective gear. What is the coaching staff doing?

This is what zindadil attitude is all about.