What Is The Point Of A "bouncer"in Cricket?

[sinderella]

what is the point of a "bouncer"in cricket?
as that is what caused the injury to the cricketer who died.

[sandyRoe]

To unsettle the batsman?

[woofgang]

It makes the ball more erratic and harder to hit.

[ToraToraTora]

the same as any delivery, to get a wicket. The bowlers either target the wicket directly or they try to force an awkward shot out of the batsman in order that a fielder may catch it a "bouncer" is the latter. Bowler v Batsman is a brutal duel in cricket. In the past it has been a tactic to actually target the batsman to force a defence, eg "bodyline" bowling. Yes it was a bouncer that was the cause, it hit him in the neck, presumably unprotected by the helmet. Very sad and thankfully rare in cricket. This will no doubt induce a new helmet design.

[sinderella]

so it sounds to me like he deliberately targeted him then?

[BlackadderV]

40 years ago an ex colleague of mine lost his 13 year old son in a similar incident at school.

[ToraToraTora]

Yes and no, it is a legitimate delivery but the bowler would not be trying to cause injury merely force and off balance awkward shot.

[alexanderd]

bodyline was totally diferent to a bouncer. The aim was to hit the batsman in bodyline, not so in a bouncer

[New Judge]

"In this case the bowler should be charged with Manslaughter, "

I don't think so. imho, that is.

[BlackadderV]

//The modern Bouncer is directed to drastically intimidate or kill the batsman//

Intimidate, perhaps. Kill? Don't be silly.

[DTCwordfan]

Agree on that one - Intimidate yes, Intentional - no. And I was an opening batsman and am one that certainly would not like this element to be removed from the game.

It is also regulated on the pitch by the umpires. It was a freak accident, perhaps some learning lessons will emerge for better helmet design.

[DTCwordfan]

methyl, they are very different! Look it up - bodyline was premised on short and normal deliveries, with bouncers too, targeted at the leg side and with a heavily-weighted close-in leg-side field to pick up the catches.....