Israeli Umpire Killed by Cricket Ball Just Days after Phillip Hughes’ Death

Another person involved in a cricket match has died recently in Israel. An umpire at a cricket match in the Israeli city of Ashdod passed away after he was struck by a ball. Apparently, witnesses were on hand to tell reporters that a fast ball delivered by the bowler was struck back down the pitch by the batsman before it ricocheted off of the wicket and then in to the umpire.

This current incident is the second freakishly unfortunate and sad incidents in world cricket involving a person passing away as a result of being struck by a cricket ball. This comes just two days after Australian batsman Phillip Hughes died of a head injury caused by being struck by a ball at a match in Sydney. Hughes’ death an extremely high profile one, with the shock, sorrow and outpouring of emotion extending beyond Australia and the sporting world, to make worldwide news, mostly because of just how much of a likeable character Phil Hughes was, coupled with the sheer fact of how unexpected and unusual the accident was. To have tow such incidents in world cricket within a few days, is not only both very sad and equally bizarre, but almost defies belief given how rare one such incident is in the first place.

Unlike most batsmen in cricket, umpires do not wear helmets despite being in a slightly dangerous position. The umpire will only find themselves in danger when the batsmen strikes the ball particularly hard straight back down the pitch, which is not that common in itself, but for that ball to find its way towards the umpire’s head, is extremely rare. The last incident involving an umpire passing away on the cricket field was at a match in Wales five years ago, after a ball thrown by a fielder hit the man on the head.

The AFP news agency, quoting the Israeli Cricket Association, named the umpire to die recently as fifty-five year old, Hillel Oscar. Oscar had formerly been captain of the Israeli national cricket team.

There were conflicting reports about how he died, with some saying that he was hit in the face, others that he suffered a heart attack after being hit in the chest. He was taken to a city hospital, but medics were unable to revive him.

With Israel not commonly known as a cricket playing nation, most teams in the country’s amateur competition are made up of Indian, Australian, English or South African expats. Despite the relatively low profile in comparison to Hughes’ death, the cricketing world is no less shocked and sorrowful with regards to the second incident.

Oscar’s wife, Jenny, told YNet that the unfortunate incident had occurred only moments after those present at the cricket match had observed a minute’s silence in order to show respect for Phillip Hughes, who died in hospital on Thursday after being struck by a ball during a domestic first-class match in Sydney.