They don't bowl bouncers to injure a batsman.
It is purely for intimidation and that it works and gets wickets.
Smith and Archer are on the same IPL team too. They're all buds outside of the competitive pantomime that is the Ashes. None of them want to see another hurt.
I think cricket would be a lot less interesting without bouncers. What we can do though is keep finding ways to improve safety gear.
No, they dont bowl to "injure" a batsman, just send a cricket ball at his head at nearly 100mph.
If it hits them, thats just a serendipitous "accident".
Smith could have been killed, even with a helmet on.
The argument that cricket has always been this way, doesnt take into account recent data on head injuries in sport and concussion. Its not clear that concussions are very dangerous, and never more so that when you have just received one.
Australia sending smith back out to bat was utterly horrifying. They risked the players life to help save a draw at a game of cricket. Astonishing.
The attitude towards concussions in sport has changed, but only on paper.
Vertonghen in the Football Champions League against Ajax was clearly concussed, but all the coaches, match officials, medical staff and players said nothing and he was allowed to play on after coming round.... Until it was clear that he was still out of it. He struggled off and vomited on the pitch.
To cover themselves, the medical staff and the team say he had no concussion. Just like the Australian cricket board have.
