The tragic death of Ben Austin, a 17-year-old Australian cricketer, has shaken the cricket world. The teenager was struck by a ball while practicing against a bowling machine and passed away a few days later. Despite wearing a helmet, he was hit on the neck.
While such accidents are rare, they highlight how dangerous a cricket ball can be when propelled at high speeds.
More dangerous than a tennis ball projected at 200 km/h
Made from a cork core wrapped in string and covered in hand-stitched hard leather, the cricket ball weighs between 156 and 163 grams. It is nearly three times heavier than a tennis ball (around 57 g) and almost four times heavier than a golf ball (45 g), while having a similar diameter of about 7 centimeters. Its hardness and density make it a very compact and rigid object.
Energy comparable to a gun bullet
The best bowlers propel the ball between 140 and 160 km/h, generating a kinetic energy of approximately 200 joules. For comparison, a tennis ball hit at 200 km/h releases about 110 joules; a golf ball reaching up to 250 km/h reaches around 320 joules.
In other words, a cricket ball hurled at full speed carries a force greater than that of a .22 Long Rifle bullet (about 140 joules) and close to a .38 caliber revolver bullet (with an 8 g bullet). Unlike a rubber tennis ball, which deforms and absorbs some of the impact, a cricket ball hardly deforms: the energy is therefore concentrated on a small area.
Protected by helmets and chest guards, professional players rarely suffer serious accidents. But as the tragedy in Melbourne shows, an impact to the neck or head can still be potentially fatal.
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