To cricket outsiders, the "Gentleman's Game" often conjures the image of a slow-paced summer pastime, where players barely break sweat during matches that drag on for days.
The sickening head injury that left Australia batsman Phillip Hughes in critical condition on Tuesday, however, was a brutal reminder of the sport's ferocity.
Modern-day cricketers wear helmets and an array of protective equipment but the risks are real when players face up to balls that are roughly the same size as a baseball but harder and heavier, often travelling at speeds of over 140kph (87mph).
The extent of Hughes's injury may not be known for days, but there is a long list of cricketers who have suffered horrific injuries that have been career ending and sometimes fatal.
In the infamous Bodyline Series in 1932-33, the Australian wicketkeeper Bert Oldfield had his skull fractured when he was hit by a ball from English fast bowler Harold Larwood.
src:sify.com