Editorial: Bowling rules are not at fault

Australia's Phil Hughes after the win against New Zealand on the fifth day of the first International cricket test, Basin Reserve, 2010.

The tragic death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes after being felled by a short-pitch delivery has sent shock waves through the wider cricket community.

No one expects to die playing sport.

In a lifetime of watching and playing cricket, I have never seen such serious consequences from a batsman being struck.

But any calls to change the rules governing fast bowling following the incident are wide of the mark.

Law makers have made the game safer by restricting bowlers to a maximum of two short-pitched deliveries per over.

Back in the 1980s, batsmen had no such protection when the West Indies played four or five ruthless fast bowlers.

Any further reduction on short-pitched bowling would make the game too much in the batsmen's favour and take away an integral aspect that defines the game of cricket.

Facing up to short-pitched fast bowling is an essential part of a top-order batsman's skill set and a stern test of mental fortitude.

Player safety is taken seriously at all levels of the game. Bay of Plenty Cricket highly recommends all batsmen from the age of 7 wear batting helmets.

They are not compulsory but, on Saturday mornings at every cricket ground in the Western Bay, you are unlikely to see the next budding young Kane Williamson batting without one.

The only good thing to come from the Phillip Hughes incident is a review of how batting helmets are worn to ensure the head is protected at all times.

That is something to be applauded but any further tinkering with short-pitched bowling laws is not.