Five Players Who Suffered Fatal Accidents In The Past
Published - 22 Mar 2020, 04:38 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:04 AM
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In any sport, the role of fitness is very crucial for each and every player. In the past years, cricket was considered a sport where players were picked not on their fitness but on their talent. However, nowadays, the fitness side of things is equally as imperative for cricketers as is their talent.
While injuries are something that every player likes to minimize by staying fit at all times, there are certain things which are out of their control. Sometimes, players suffer fatal accidents away from the cricket field, that changes their lives completely.
There are various players in the world right now who suffered from accidents but came back stronger, and some even went on to become key personnel for their team.
Here are five players who had suffered fatal accidents in the past:
5) Bruce French
Former English player Bruce French is known to have suffered multiple fatal accidents in his life. He played for England for just three years, earning 16 caps in Test cricket, whilst taking part in 13 ODI matches.
The right-handed batsman was infamous for having a sort of bad luck with injuries and accidents. Bruce was part of the English team when they toured Pakistan in 1987-88. In a practice match, he was hit by the cricket ball accidentally and was rushed to the hospital.
The 60-year-old’s misfortunes did not end there, as in the hospital also he accidentally bumped his head on a wall. Later, Bruce also endured a car accident, and he was even bitten by a dog once, in 1985-86. Talk about back luck. Although, after retirement, he did have a stint with the English team as a coach.
4) Mohammed Shami:
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has also suffered a very fatal accident which nearly derailed his career. However, he would go on to make a much-awaited return to the cricket field and has become a key cog for the national team now.
In the year 2018, Shami suffered a car accident while he was travelling from Dehradun to Delhi. He suffered a few stitches above his left eye, but the 29-year-old was lucky to have escaped without any major injuries.
Shami has also had a bumpy ride in his personal life, with a couple of off-field issues with his wife Hasin Jahan, but all of it is in the past now, and the right-arm pacer is back to his best form for Team India once again.
3) Karun Nair
The only Indian to hit a triple ton in Test cricket apart from Virender Sehwag, Karun Nair, unfortunately, belongs to the category of players who suffered a fatal accident in the past. Nair scored his triple century at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Chennai in 2016.
Later that year in July, the 28-year-old was on a holiday in Kerela. Nair along with a few of his relatives were travelling to the Aranmula temple when tragically their boat drowned.
The right-handed batsman luckily knew how to swim and he did just enough to save his life. Although, in this accident, Karun lost a few of his family members sadly.
2) Nicholas Pooran
Caribbean cricketer Nicholas Pooran is often heralded as a batsman for the future. Aged just 24, he bats down the middle order for the national team and is well renowned for his explosive batting style. At present, Pooran would easily walk into the playing XI of any team, but there was a time when he couldn’t even run properly.
In January 2015, the left-hander was on his way home, when he suffered a fatal car accident in Trinidad. The injuries were so serious that Pooran had to undergo surgeries on both of his legs. For months, he had to be on the wheelchair while recovering.
The wicket-keeper batsman had already started jogging by August and started net practice one month later. Pooran would soon join the West Indies national team yet again, and in an interview, he credited Kieron Pollard for being supportive like an elder brother.
1) Oshane Thomas
Having burst into the limelight with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Oshan Thomas was a prodigious talent who was selected for the West Indies squad very quickly after his breakthrough season.
Soon, he would become a regular feature in the national team was signed by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for an amount of INR 1.1 crores in 2019. Although in February 2020, Oshane suffered a tragic car accident in Jamaica. The right-handed pacer was rushed to the hospital and doctors had asked him to take rest.
However, the 23-year-old recovered well from the fatal setback and made his return against Sri Lanka in a T20I series. Oshane played incredibly well upon his return and he was able to set an example, for all the young fans. Dedication and commitment really do wonder sometimes.
