Cricket Australia (CA) is set to implement new playing conditions for international and domestic players from October 1, 2023. The new rules will mandate the use of neck protectors for batters when facing fast or medium-pace bowling. The decision to make neck protectors mandatory comes after a series of incidents in recent years where batters have been hit in the neck by bouncers, including the tragic death of Phillip Hughes in 2014.
CA’s Head of Cricket Operations and Scheduling, Peter Roach, said that protecting the head and neck is extremely important in cricket and that the decision to make neck protectors mandatory was made after consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.
“The neck protector product has come a long way in recent years and we’re confident that the players will be able to adjust to wearing them,” Peter Roach said.
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The new rules will apply to all Australian domestic competitions, including the Marsh Sheffield Shield, Marsh One-Day Cup, Women’s National Cricket League and both the men’s and women’s Big Bash. CA will also require players to wear neck protectors in international cricket when representing Australia both home and away.
Cricket Australia mandates wearing neck protectors from 1st October. Players will face sanctions if they don’t obey the new rules.#FC24 #Jawan #Hitman #ShreyasIyer #Nayanthara #Atlee #JioCinema #AppleEvent #ShahRuhKhan #ViratKohli #RohitSharma #BallonDor #Messi #AsiaCup2023… pic.twitter.com/eFwTJDaNF3
— Honest Guy (@JeebanTosh) September 14, 2023
Although international umpires won’t enforce the regulation like in domestic cricket, penalties will apply under CA’s code of conduct for non-compliance. The regulation does not apply to batters facing slow or spin bowling, along with wicketkeepers and close-in fielders. However, keepers standing up to the stumps and close-in fielders have long been required to wear helmets.
Some players have expressed concerns about wearing neck protectors in the past, with some saying that they find them uncomfortable or claustrophobic. However, CA is confident that the benefits of wearing neck protectors outweigh any potential drawbacks.
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“We believe that the benefits of wearing neck protectors far outweigh any potential risks,” Peter Roach said. “We’re confident that the players will be able to adjust to wearing them and that they will help to keep our players safe.”
The introduction of mandatory neck protectors is a significant step forward in terms of player safety in cricket. It is a decision that has been made after careful consideration and consultation with experts and stakeholders. CA is confident that the new rules will help to keep players safe and reduce the risk of serious injury.
