04/24/24
July 07, 2009
Cricket Umpire Killed by Thrown Ball During Match: A cricket umpire has died after a ball thrown by a fielding player hit him in the back or side of the head during a match in Swansea, Wales, Saturday. Alcwyn Jenkins, 72, was airlifted to a hospital but never regained consciousness. "The fielder threw the ball back to the wicket but the umpire didn’t see it," spectator Paul Llewellyn said. "I don't know if you've ever been hit by a cricket ball -- it hurts," said Swansea Cricket Club chairman Steve Davies. "It's like a launched missile."
Very sad story.
The ball has a cork inner, leather outer, about the same size but a bit heavier than a baseball. I've been hit a few times (in the days before helmets), both batting and fielding. It does hurt.
posted by owlhouse at 05:25 PM on July 07, 2009
The BBC's video interview of the club chairman is wonderful. The teams and players obviously cared for the umpire.
posted by dusted at 05:28 PM on July 07, 2009
More about the cricket ball than you ever wanted to know:
The covering is constructed of four pieces of leather shaped similar to the peel of a quartered orange, but one hemisphere is rotated by 90 degrees with respect to the other. The "equator" of the ball is stitched with string to form the seam, with a total of six rows of stitches. The remaining two joins between the leather pieces are left unstitched.For men's cricket, the ball must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163.0 g) and measure between 8 13/16 and 9 in (224 and 229 mm) in circumference. Balls used in women's and youth matches are slightly smaller.
Also, they're fiendishly expensive:
As of 2007, the ball used in first class cricket in England has a recommended retail price of 70 pounds sterling.
posted by rodgerd at 10:00 PM on July 07, 2009
(Although I note they omit Ewen Chatfield from their list of serious injuries; his heart stopped on the pitch and he required CPR after having his skull fractured by a delivery.
posted by rodgerd at 10:03 PM on July 07, 2009
I know nothing about cricket so pardon my asking this silly question: What is a cricket ball made of?