Concussion expert calls for bouncers to be banned in youth matches

A leading specialist on concussion in sport has called for cricket to consider banning bouncers for all under-18 players to prevent longterm brain damage.

Cricket’s lawmakers are analysing how concussive blows from short-pitched deliveries can leave batsmen with lasting side-effects, with a call to ban them from all youth matches when young players are at their most vulnerable.

“You want to avoid concussing the adolescent brain while it’s still evolving,” said Dr Michael Turner, of the International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation.

“You want to avoid concussions at any stage, but it’s particularly bad for youngsters. If stopping concussion in this age group means changing the rules to ensure that there are no short deliveries in junior cricket, this should be a serious consideration by those in authority.”

Turner warned that if concussions were sustained by under-age cricketers, it would pose a particular long-term risk to players. “The outcome is likely to be more severe in younger brains,” he said. “Your brain is still developing up until your early twenties.”

Turner said that the need for action was particularly great given that many leading youngsters play with older players, often in adult league cricket.

He suggested that, when underage players are playing in matches with those over 18, they would need informed consent from their parents. “Under the age of 18, an adult has to take responsibility for the welfare of the people taking part,” Turner said. “Once you have had a concussion, the long-term outcome cannot be assessed or reversed. Your fate is sealed as soon as the concussion occurs.”

Turner suggested that banning bouncers at youth level could be trialled in some regional leagues and, if the trial proved successful, then instituted across the game.

“I don’t see how a trial could do any harm – that’s how we tend to try these things out. You try it out for a season, and you see whether it makes a fundamental difference to the problem that you’re trying to sort out.”

A raft of sports have moved to reduce the risk of concussion at youth level in recent years. Heading the ball was banned for footballers aged 12 and under in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland last year.

Turner warned that wearing helmets is not sufficient to stop the risk of concussion.

“Helmets are designed to prevent skull fracture, but do not stop concussion,” he said.

“The way forward is to prevent concussion taking place – by changing the rules if necessary.”

Turner’s comments come as the MCC, the guardians of the sport’s laws, have begun a consultation process to discuss the short-pitched delivery. The work is part of continuous efforts to safeguard the welfare of players. At this stage, a huge raft of options are considered possible, including no modification of the laws on the bouncer at all.

The topic of bouncers is not currently on the ICC cricket committee’s agenda, but the body are monitoring the MCC’S work.