Helmets to stay optional
New helmet safety standards are set to be introduced in professional cricket in New Zealand next summer, but unlike in England, the wearing of helmets is set to remain optional.
Following in the footsteps of England and Australia, New Zealand Cricket is working through a wide-ranging health and safety review into all aspects of the sport. Professional players have been surveyed, while stakeholders in the community game, like clubs and schools, have also been polled about potential changes.
In the next couple of months NZC will announce their stance on the new regulations, which will come into play for the country’s domestic and international players before likely being adopted at lower levels down the track.
In the wake of the tragic death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes in 2014, safety measures have been ramped up.
Last year the England and Wales Cricket Board made it compulsory for all of their professional players to wear helmets, which have been modified to meet a new British safety standard. The helmets vary depending on the manufacturer, but are more sturdy and have a fixed grille, with players no longer able to adjust the gap.
The changes had caused controversy early in the English county season, with national captain Alastair Cook opting to wear an old-style helmet, before being ordered to change. Cook felt the new helmets obscured his vision of the ball, and he was not alone in his thinking that players should be allowed to use what they choose.
Fellow England test player Nick Compton and former international Jonathan Trott came out swinging about over-zealous health and safety regulations, while in last week’s first test against Sri Lanka, former England allrounder Ian Botham was highly critical on the TV commentary about professional players being forced to wear helmets.
A grandparenting-type rule had been suggested, where current players could use their old equipment and the law just comes in for the next generation.
The ECB have made the helmets mandatory against all bowling, along with for wicketkeepers standing up to any type of bowler, and for fielders closer than eight yards from the middle stump (except behind the wicket on the off-side).
In a similar take, earlier this month Cricket Australia released the findings of the in-depth review they ordered into Hughes’ death, with the 62-page report recommending that to minimise any similar incident, first-class players should wear helmets adhering to the new British standards while batting against fast or medium-pace bowling – both in games and in the nets.
The report also recommended the same as England for wicketkeepers and close-in fielders, while it said protection for umpires should be considered, a defibrillator must be available at all first-class matches and that substitute players for concussion could be a good idea – something CA have asked the International Cricket Council to consider.
NZC is mulling over all the changes, with chief executive David White saying the discussions had been ‘‘very positive’’, with ‘‘really good healthy dialogue, good debate’’.
‘‘We haven’t come up with our final position yet, but [are] certainly forming our view, and hopefully [will] take our position to the board in the next couple of months,’’ he said.
‘‘All organisations around New Zealand now, with the new legislation, health and safety is very important.’’
The professional players are surveyed on issues in the game every year by the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, and the organisation’s chief executive, Heath Mills, said the new helmet policies and concussion protocols were a big topic at their postseason players conference, which featured 19 domestic players.
They were ‘‘very vocal’’ in their view that all helmets worn in their games should adhere to the new British safety standards, Mills said.
In January, Black Cap Mitchell McClenaghan was forced into surgery after suffering a fracture above the eye after being hit by a delivery from Pakistan’s Anwar Ali when wearing an old-style helmet which didn’t meet the new standards. At the time NZC had recommended the newer helmets to the players, but nothing was enforced.
However, while upping the safety is being met with approval, Mills said the players were by no means keen on seeing the wearing of helmets being made compulsory. While it’s now uncommon for players to ditch the lid and bat in a cap, even against the spinners, it’s still a freedom the players want.