By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Dec 1
THE untimely death of Australian cricketer Phil Hughes has started the debate of the risk factor of playing with the hard ball and safety measures taken by the sports equipment manufacturing companies and administrators alike.
Nobody thought that a 5.3 oz red leather ball would take life of a cricketer who was on the verge of achieving great heights.
Hockey, the game which is also played with a hard ball weighing 5.7 oz, too, has an element of risk. But Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh said that hockey goalkeepers’ helmets are tough, hard and covered enough to avoid such incidents.
“At the national and international level all goalkeepers use best quality goalkeeping kits. They all are well protected. I am using OBO keeping kit since 2005 and it is one of the best in the world. Our body is fully covered and has minimum risk of getting such dangerous life-threatening injuries.
“The best part is our helmets cover most part of our head, neck and throat which minimises the risk of getting head injuries,” said Sreejesh while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ from Bhubneshwar, venue of the eight-nation Champions Trophy.
The Indian vice-captain said he was nobody to talk about cricket but advised that cricket administrators should think more seriously about players safety.
“I can’t comment on cricket because I’ve never played that game. Now, that such unwanted incident took place, they (cricket administrators) can think of future,” said the Olympian.
Though hockey goalkeepers are fully covered, Sreejesh said it is still dangerous for the rushers while defending dragflicks during penalty corners.
“While defending a penalty corner it is very dangerous for the runners. We call it a suicide running because the rushers run straight towards the ball. They have only gloves, abdomen guard, knee guard and a face mask. It becomes more dangerous for those standing under the post because the ball travels at a speed of around 140-150 kmph and from just 16 yards. They get a fraction of second to save the goal or themselves”.
Sreejesh, however, differed with Australian coach Ric Charlesworth who has demanded abolishment of dragflicks. “I don’t feel there is a need to abolish dragflicks. The game will lose its sheen if we stop teams from using dragflicks. It’s like the main weapon of any team. People come to watch dragflicks and I think the game would lose its spectators if we do away with this art of scoring,” the Asian Games gold winning goalkeeper opined.
Sreejesh said chances of getting injured are more during practice sessions than during matches.
“Chances of getting injured are more during practice session because we face 10-15 balls in succession and the hitters, too, get enough time to target which is not possible during matches. The power in their hit is much more as compared to during matches because there they get less time to execute their shots. Our concentration level also goes down when we face so continuous hits. Our coaches advise us to not take more than 5-6 hits at a time,” he said.
“The hockey ball travels almost at 150 kmph. The distance from which a dragflick is taken is around 16 yards as compared to 22 yards in cricket. So, the risk factor is much more,” he added.Talking about the painful hits he has taken in his career, Sreejesh said those were not serious injuries.
“I got injured several times but those injuries were only blood clots. The least covered part on our body is forearm, biceps or thighs. When a hockey ball hits on these parts there is blood clotting. It pains a lot but the injury is not that severe. But when you get hit on your helmet, the fear feeling remains for two-three days,” he said.
