With the Ozzies arriving on South Africa’s shores ahead of a four-test series, you can be sure that the Proteas lower-order is getting ready for a barrage of short-pitched bowling.

Time and time again in the recent Ashes series Down Under, the Ozzie quicks blew through the English middle and lower order with some sweet chin music.

What you don’t expect when you’re charging in to bowl, though, is the ball cannoning off your own noggin. Not just that, but flying over the boundary for a six.

That’s exactly what happened to Canterbury bowler Andrew Ellis in New Zealand, after a shot by Jeet Raval came back his way. The umpire was even confused, initially signalling four before correctly calling it a maximum.

If you pay close attention, you can see the ball flick up off Ellis’ head:

According to Stuff, he emerged unscathed:

Andrew Ellis says he has had no ill-effects after being struck on the head by a boundary-bound six but he wants New Zealand Cricket to be “proactive” about player protection…

Ellis told Stuff he “couldn’t believe it went for six” was more “annoyed at conceding the runs” than worrying about his knock…

Ellis, 35, said he would consider adopting “some of the innovations that Warren Barnes from Otago brought into the game” this season.

Barnes [below] and Otago Volts coach Rob Walter combined to design the headgear, which resembles a baseball umpire’s visor and a track cyclist’s helmet.

“For guys like me who tend to bowl at the death and try to bowl yorkers, it’s probably a prudent move,” Ellis said.

“I think it’s a wider discussion for New Zealand Cricket and the Players Association to be proactive about things.”

Ellis said it would be better for Kiwi cricket authorities to get on the front foot and “be the world leader around this issue” rather than being wise after the event following a serious injury.

One thing you can bet on is a no mercy approach from the Ozzie pace bowlers during the course of the test series.

Then again, with KG, Morne and Lungi Ngidi (and Dale Steyn once fit), we can also dish it out.

[source:stuff]