India tour of Australia 2014: Knocked out but still standing, the story of Rick Darling

As it turned out, he would be remembered more for the times he was struck by a bouncer than the number of runs he made. Not one but four. The fourth had in fact for all practical purposes ended his rendezvous with cricket. A quick bouncer from Queensland pacer John Maguire had smashed into his right eye, debilitating him. It was a blow that ensured that till date the 57-year-old experiences discomfort whenever light goes into that eye.

For years, Darling has had to deal with not just the tag of being a failed prodigy but someone who was literally knocked out of the game, and as it turns out with post-career ordeals like that of a boxer. But it wasn’t until three weeks ago that the rotund former right-hander realized how lucky he was.

Darling had never known Phillip Hughes personally. He had seen him bat on TV though. But as news floated in about the late left-hander being hit by a Sean Abbott bouncer, Darling couldn’t help memories of his own trysts with fate come back to life and realize how he’d dodged a potential bullet. Two days later, Hughes was declared dead.

“I was lucky but then Phillip was really unlucky,” he tells The Indian Express, “Phillip’s was probably one in 10 million. Not too many people die on the cricket pitch at first-class level.”

At his pomp, Darling was the first among a series of blonde-haired dashing batsmen produced by South Australia. But by 23, his Test career was over. Today, he works as a gardener at Rest Haven Retirement Villages. The tag on the tweed shirt he dons gives it away. The hairline has begun receding, but not to a great extent. He still remains heavy-set with a broad chest. The first time he was hit by a cricket ball was at a Test at the Adelaide Oval, his home-ground. It was this broad chest that took the blow.

“All I can remember is, Bob Willis with his in-dipping action, the ball pitching well outside off-stump. And it was characteristic of Bob to bowl this big in-swinger. Once it swung it in, it also cut in further, I was caught in no man’s land. I was caught out of position, and hit in the chest, and that was the end of it. Unfortunately, at the time, I was chewing a chewy, and I swallowed my tongue and chewy as well. That caused me to black out,” he recalls.

Returning from hits

“John Emburey was quick to thump me in the chest and the chewy popped out. I was taken to hospital and discharged the same night. I even went home and was back at the crease at the fall of the next wicket the next morning,” he says.

The second blow came in Mumbai when a Kapil Dev bouncer struck him square on the head. Rushed to the nearby Bombay Hospital, the legend goes that Darling was refused treatment till the time he would sign autographs. But he clarifies that it was nothing more than a myth that has over time gained notoriety.

“There were a number of autograph books waiting for me I agree. But they were very kind to me and treated me very well,” says Darling.

That Test at the Wankhede would end up being Darling’s last as the Packer boys returned to the fray. He continued to play ODIs for a few more years. But then came the Maguire delivery that sealed the deal.

The aftermath of the Hughes disaster was felt close to home for Darling, whose 21-year-old son now plays Grade A cricket in Adelaide, facing state-level bowlers. And he is quick to express his concern for the well-being of his son when he has to face the likes of Shaun Tait at club level.

“As any parent I am worried about him. But what do you do? But what do you do? Do you walk away from the game or take that chance?” he explains. If anyone, Darling should know.