MCC bats for helmets on bowlers

LONDON: Bats to power shots in the shorter formats have raised an alarm to such an extent, the day is not far when a bowler would run in wearing a helmet.

The MCC World Cricket Committee, the guardian of cricket’s rules, has backed discussions between the Lord’s-based MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) and the England and Wales Cricket Club to launch a design project for manufacturers to develop “head protection” for bowlers. The MCC panel, chaired by former England skipper Mike Gatting and including former India skipper Sourav Ganguly and ex-australia captain Ricky Ponting, “viewed footage of recent accidents involving bowlers who had been hit immediately after completing delivery by powerful straight drives, especially in T20 cricket.the incidents, including one involving Nottinghamshire’s Luke Fletcher last year, gave serious cause for concern,” a media release after the MCC panel’s meeting said on Tuesday.

The ECB increased financial support to provide assistance for players and umpires who suffer serious on-field injuries, after Fletcher was concussed last year after being hit on his follow through by Warwickshire’s Sam Hain during a T20 match.

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Tests

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Eng

Draw

India won the last Test they played at Lord’s, in 2014. Pacer Ishant Sharma, who picked up 6 wickets in the first Test of this series, was man of the match then. His career-best 7/74 came in the second innings of that match, which India won by 95 runs.

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