Two days after he was struck by a ball in what was called a freakish accident, an Australian cricketer, Phillip Hughes, died in a Sydney hospital on Thursday, drawing expressions of grief, shock and disbelief from fellow players and sporting figures around the world. Mr. Hughes, 25, had represented Australia in dozens of international matches — in both one-day games and the longer contests called test matches — and was regarded as a player with a bright future after a sometimes-uneven record in the national team. But his death stunned many fans of cricket’s thrilling duel between bowlers and batters in protective pads and helmets, renewing a long-running debate over safety. It is not unusual for the ball to strike players, but fatalities are rare. Cricket is a national sport in Australia, which prides itself on the skill and courage of its players. Read more http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/28/s...t-star-dies-after-being-hit-by-ball.html?_r=0