Phillip Hughes' death after being hit by a bouncer has left Ian Chappell shocked and the former Australian captain feels his country's pacers would find it tough to use the short-pitched delivery in the upcoming Test series against India.
"It's only natural for a bowler to be hesitant when unleashing a short-pitched delivery with the ghastly reminder of the consequences of bad luck still fresh in the memory. This hesitancy will affect the Australian fast bowlers more than the Indian attack," Chappell wrote in a column for ESPNcricinfo.
"The bouncer was expected to be a prime weapon of an Australian attack better equipped to dish out intimidating deliveries. With no bowler wanting to hit a batsman in these circumstances, this will have a greater effect on the Australian attack," he said.
Chappell said the players will have to nonetheless get on with the job. The series has already seen some rescheduling due to the tragedy with the first Test, originally planned from December 4, postponed to allow the grieving players to attend Hughes' funeral on December 3.
"The cricket at the Gabba won't be played with the usual intensity but it will probably be the best therapy for all the players. The bouncers won't stop. They will still be unleashed to put some doubt in the batsman's mind. However, I doubt they will be delivered with the same venom in the immediate aftermath of the SCG calamity," Chappell said.
Chappell went on to say that batsmen will not be mentally affected by the death of Hughes. "Batsmen have always known they could be hurt but they usually shrug it off with the thought that "it won't happen to me". Still, there will be apprehension, but the best players have an amazing ability to compartmentalise things and concentrate purely on the job at hand. They will be the ones who cope best
