This morning Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren chatted to Australian cricket legend Merv Hughes following the tragic news of a young cricketer’s death.
Merv spoke about the risks of the sport despite significant advancements, the strength of the cricket community, and how it has changed since his playing days.
Merv: It just shows that, even if you’re wearing helmets and whatever, it’s still a very dangerous game. And like Aussie rules football, like any code of football, really, it’s a contact sport, there’s going to be injuries. You don’t expect them to happen, but when they happen, they’re just tragic.
Lauren Phillips: I remember when that happened to Phil Hughes, and my stepfather is involved in cricket as well, and it rocked the cricket community so desperately. And I remember thinking, wow, it is such a community though the cricket world, isn’t it? And I’m sure there will be so many people with heavy hearts today hearing this story.
Merv: Yeah, without doubt. So I heard the news last night that he’d been hit and he’s in intensive care, but to hear that he’s passed away, it’s just shocking.
Lauren: You know what I miss, because I grew up watching cricket. I loved cricket as a kid, but I feel like the characters are gone, like they’re all a bit vanilla these days. Where are the Merv Hugheses? And where are the… and the Warnies and the Boonies? Are they all a bit soft these days?
Merv: The big thing about modern day sport in all codes, is with the media, with social media, the players have got to be so careful these days. They’re earning a heap of money. If they show any personality whatsoever, they get written off as two-bob lairs. So basically, you ask five different players the same question, you get the same answer, because they got this media training. Let the players be themselves!
Lauren: How is the celebration after games changed? Because I imagine you guys would have been down in the shed smashing some cans straight after a game.
Merv: I knew it was time to give cricket away when we started training. Came off after a Sunday morning session, normally there’s party pie, sausage rolls and a couple of beers. They had energy drinks, they had soup!
Lauren: Time to hang up the baggy green!
Jase & Lauren can be heard from 6am to 9am on Nova 100 in Melbourne, stream the show live or catch up with the daily podcast by downloading the Nova Player. Image supplied.