In a startling turn of events that could have come straight out of a sports action film, Fox Cricket host and commentator Mark Howard found himself in a real-life drama that left him hospitalised. The incident, which occurred during a promotional shoot in Sydney, was as unexpected as it was shocking, involving none other than cricket legend Brett Lee.
The day was set for a routine promo shoot, with Howard donning the wicketkeeper’s gloves to face a delivery from the fast-bowling maestro Lee. However, the scene quickly escalated from a simple cricket challenge to an emergency situation. As Lee unleashed one of his signature deliveries, the ball clipped the top of the off stump, sending the bail flying at an alarming speed. In a freak accident, the bail struck Howard in the head, resulting in a scene that left onlookers stunned.
The impact was so severe that Howard was left with a bail ‘impaled’ in his head, causing a ‘massive, bloody mess’ that even the seasoned fast bowler Lee found unsettling. ‘I’ve never seen a bail travel that quick or that fast,’ Lee recounted to Code Sports, expressing his disbelief at the one-in-a-million chance of such an accident occurring.
The Fox Cricket team, accustomed to capturing the highs and lows of the sport, found themselves documenting a very different kind of drama. With cameras rolling in high-definition 4K, the incident was captured from every angle, ensuring that the shocking moment would be preserved in astonishing detail.
Despite the severity of the injury, Howard’s spirits remained high, and his sense of humour intact. He was rushed to the nearby Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he received prompt medical attention. The quick-thinking medical staff, including a cricket fan doctor, treated Howard’s wound with stitches, and he was soon patched up, ready to return to the commentary box.
Howard’s resilience was likened to that of Rick McCosker, the Australian cricketer known for his toughness on the field. Lee praised Howard’s stoicism, stating that the commentator was ‘tougher than some of the batsmen I bowled to, 100 per cent.’
The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of sports, even in controlled environments like promotional shoots. It also highlights the inherent risks that come with being in close proximity to the action, even for seasoned professionals like Howard, who has a wealth of experience commentating on both cricket and Aussie rules football.
As Howard prepares to return to his hosting duties, albeit a bit ‘rough and ready,’ he can take solace in the fact that his eyes were spared from injury, a crucial asset for anyone in the business of play-by-play commentary. The incident will undoubtedly be a talking point during the Fox Cricket coverage, with Howard’s colleagues ready to offer their sympathy and perhaps a gentle ribbing about his newfound ‘badge of honour.’
We invite you to share your thoughts on this unusual event. Have you ever witnessed a freak accident during a sporting event? Let us know in the comments below, and join us in wishing Mark Howard a speedy recovery and a safe return to the cricket commentary we all enjoy.
Was he wearing a helmet, as all wicketkeepers do when keeping to bowlers of Lee’s pace? If not, why not? If not, he’s an idiot.
‘If not, he’s an idiot.’
Fair enough, @Bazbee! 😂