Last Update on: September 14th, 2023 at 03:20 pm
Cricket Australia (CA) has introduced a new rule mandating the use of neck guards for players in both domestic and international cricket starting from October 1. As per the new regulations, players will face sanctions if they oppose wearing neckguards during matches.
The CA has taken this step to enhance player safety by making it mandatory to wear neck guards, which are usually attached to the helmet. Earlier, players could make their own decisions about whether to use neck guards, but now it is mandatory for them.
Players like David Warner, Steve Smith, and Usman Khawaja resisted wearing neck guards, but they will now be required to wear them on their helmets. Notably, Steve Smith experienced a concussion from a bouncer from Jofra Archer in the 2019 Ashes series.
The board’s decision to make neck guards mandatory came after all-rounder Cameron Green was hit by a bouncer during an ODI match against South Africa. Despite wearing a neck guard on his helmet, Green had to be substituted due to the concussion.
Protecting The Head And Neck Is Extremely Important – Peter Roach
Peter Roach, CA’s Head of Cricket Operations and Scheduling, emphasized the importance of protecting the head and neck in cricket. Roach mentioned that the decision to make neck protectors mandatory came after consulting with experts and stakeholders.
“Protecting the head and neck is extremely important in our sport,” Peter Roach said.
“The neck protector product has come a long way in recent years and the decision to make them mandatory comes off the back of a lot of advice and consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.”
“We’ve certainly seen over a period of time players wearing them and becoming accustomed to wearing them.”
I Just Feel Claustrophobic – Steve Smith
In 2019, Steve Smith expressed discomfort while wearing neckguards, describing the sensation as feeling claustrophobic.
“I’ve tried them before and I tried them the other day when I was batting [in the nets] and I reckon my heart rate went up about 30 or 40 straight away. I just feel claustrophobic. I compare it to being stuck in an MRI scan machine,” Smith said.
“They’re probably going to become mandatory, so I’m going to have to get used to them. I’m sure the more I wear them, the more I practice with them, my heart rate will come down and everything will be okay,” he added.
