On Thursday, Australian batsman Phillip Hughes died in a Sydney hospital, days after being hit by a bouncer from bowler Sean Abbott during a Sheffield Shield match.
As the news broke on Thursday morning, there were expressions of shock and grief from all over the cricketing community, fans and even the general public.
However, horribly, Sean Abbott, the bowler was immediately typecast as a 'murderer' by some unscrupulous elements on social media. Though this began to trend, Twitterati immediately hit back, expressing empathy for the beleaguered bowler and slamming the mischief going around. Abbott for his part, is said to be in shock and depression.
You know the world is done when people are calling Sean Abbott a murderer.
— Code Architect (@codeArchie) November 27, 2014
I don't know Sean Abbott, but I want to give him a hug. Still cant shake how he might be feeling. Sometimes life's rough. #RIPPhillipHughes
— Tyrone (@TyThwaites) November 27, 2014
I feel for Sean Abbott ! It is just a freak accident we All know in the cricketing world it is not your fault! #staystrong
— Muzza (@mwgoodwin3) November 27, 2014
The fact there's a trend called 'Sean Abbott murderer' goes to show there are some very horrible people on Twitter and in this world
— Shani Abbasi (@ShaniQayum) November 27, 2014
Prayers now for Sean Abbott. I sincerely hope he can find the strength to get through this. Praying that he accepts this is not his fault.
— Peter Dickinson (@pete_dicko) November 27, 2014
How can people possibly suggest that Sean Abbott should be charged with manslaughter? Absolutely ludicrous! People need their head testing.
— Tony Bickley (@Bickers92) November 27, 2014
The fact that I'm reading stuff saying Sean Abbott should be charged with manslaughter/murder makes me feel physically sick.
— Samuel Knott (@SamuelKnott) November 27, 2014
a customer at work said she thinks that sean abbott should be arrested for man slaughter. i have never wanted to feed someone tampons so bad
— please luke? (@lukewahballs) November 27, 2014
Suggesting Sean Abbott be charged with murder is ridiculous. So any bowler that's bowled a bouncer is to be charged with attempted murder?
— Castaway (@Nuclear__Banana) November 27, 2014
However, there are some insensitive tweets still doing the rounds. For example, this one is wrong on many levels:
Respect to Sean Abbott. Sometimes part of a fast bowler's job is to probe the limits of a batsman's courage.
— Burton Leonard (@BurtonLeonard) November 27, 2014
And this one. Thank you, Sir:
I'm just wondering.... what will be going on in batsman mind when they face Sean Abbott hereafter
— ????????? (@mokrasu) November 27, 2014
This one is quite unclear in its meaning:
Everyone have to die some day one way or another. Hughes died. The real problem is Sean Abbott. That's what I really fear about. #StayStrong
— Waleed Fazal (@mwaleedf) November 27, 2014
This tweet sort of falls into the 'lack of sense of occasion' problem:
Yet another EPIC picture on the Philip Hughes incident! Will leave you Teary-eyed. Take care of Sean Abbott. pic.twitter.com/WcKQjk5Dcn
— BuraNaManoKohliHai (@BuraNaManoVKHai) November 27, 2014
'Nish' does not understand why one must spare a thought for the bowler. Education, please?
even if abhishek singhvi mistook hughes for someone else, why is he sparing a thought for sean abbott? :s pic.twitter.com/HxthGofYSw
— Nish (@RootKanal) November 27, 2014
Finally, 'anonymous' rubs it in:
Sean Abbott would spend the rest of his life in http://t.co/rIHgFWEl6o would he ever deliver a bouncer now to anyone:(
— anonymous (@weirdoeness) November 27, 2014
The lack of sensitivity for Abbott may simply come from a lack of understanding of the game. However, one must attempt to be quiet in such tragic circumstances, and at least provide the benefit of doubt to Abbott in the wake of one's own ignorance about the game of cricket.