Head examinations – the 90mph bouncer and its repurcussions
Eoin Morgan struck on the head by a short ball from Mitchell Starc at Old Trafford
The bouncer was once the most feared thing in cricket. The West Indies fast bowlers of the 1970s and 80s made devastating use of it. Better protection and a more gung-ho attitude amongst batsmen (and tailenders) means it is a less damaging weapon than it was, but it still requires a high degree of skill to handle, something many players don’t possess. Eoin Morgan is the latest batsman to suffer a frightening head injury, courtesy of Mitchell Starc. Simon Hughes investigates, explaining why some players get injured and how the top batsmen deal with those fast short balls aimed at your head.
