06 july 2023
Cricket could be stumped by the dangers of a short ball barrage
We're delighted that Partner Alun Williams has featured in The Times and The Times Brief newsletter with an article about cricket and how short-pitched fast bowling, as seen in the second Ashes Test at Lords, could cause long-term damage to the game.
Though the week's headlines focused on Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal in the Test, Alun writes that overuse of the short ball, which can result in injury, has become commonplace, pointing to legal issues this may cause for governing bodies.
"There has been an understandable reluctance to place umpires and referees in a position where they are required to make subjective decisions that influence a player’s wellbeing for fear of exposing the decision maker to legal jeopardy," writes Alun.
The article goes on to consider a legal claim that was made recently by 200 former rugby players to determine whether governing bodies were responsible for failing to prevent head injuries that may have led to conditions including early onset dementia and Parkinson's.
Alun concludes that cricket administrators must be wary in case images of injured cricket players "might well be replayed on a courtroom television in the not-so-distant future."
Please note that this post has been prepared for the purpose of providing general information in a non-specific situation. Legal advice should be taken in relation to your particular circumstances. It is not intended that this post is relied upon by any party, and no liability is accepted for reliance.