Gear This Week: Helmet Safety Changes Ahead For Cricket
Helmets may have revolutionised cricket as we know it, but as a growing number of on-field injuries in the last year has shown, they are far from ball-proof, and now a recent scientific study has found that improvements are needed in helmet design to prevent more bloodshed.
Following a number of high-profile cases in which batsmen have suffered injuries after being struck on the helmet,
the investigation focused on four specific points of contention:
- The ball being able to penetrate the gap between the faceguard and the peak
- The faceguard being forced onto the face and temple on ball impact
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Batsmen being struck on the back of the helmet and occipital area
- The proximity of the grille to the temple
Changes to the regulations will see updates in the tests conducted to pass helmets fit for production, moving from outdated methods to projectile-based testing that better represents the impact of a cricket ball on the helmet in real life situations.
Of the 35 injuries analysed, nine occurred after the ball struck the helmet faceguard and peak, and a further nine injuries occurred after the ball struck the faceguard alone. Particular concern lies with the fact that 10 injuries occurred following penetration of the gap between helmet peak and faceguard, four of which were sustained without the ball touching either part of the helmet. “The gap was wider than the ball width,” the study asserts.
The findings will affect all cricketers. New regulations will cover all forms of cricket, from international standard right down to junior club cricket. It also means that all helmets sold on the market will need to have passed the new safety tests.
Will this affect the prices of helmets to the average club player? Brendan Denning, managing director/CEO of helmet manufacturers Albion, believes the changes are a good thing. “The consumer’s not going to lose out of this. I think they’re going to get better helmets across all manufacturers. I don’t see manufacturers being in a position to go and increase prices dramatically as a consequence of the new standards.”
Jon Hardy, founder of Masuri, says the regulations have highlighted the fact that helmets need to first and foremost protect batsmen. “It’s hard on us but I see it as a big positive. People rely on their helmets, playing these Twenty20 shots, people don’t really duck and weave anymore and there have been much higher instances of facial injuries. If they wear a helmet they expect to be protected.”
However, Hardy believes helmet prices may have to increase with the change in materials used in the new products. “I don’t think helmets have improved in the way they should have done over the last 20 years and prices have stayed very low. I think there will be a bit of an increase purely because people are going to have to use better materials. The cheapest materials certainly won’t survive deliveries at that speed.”
The unconventional Ayrtek helmet with its protruding peak jutting out in front of the grille was designed with these kind of safety regulations in mind, says company director Tom Milsom. “We identified that a 90-degree angle is going to cause flexion of the peak. That’s why the helmet is such an odd shape, we’ve gone for deflection. If the ball hits at a 45-degree angle it’s going to ramp it up and over.”
All three manufacturers believe that the option for each batsman to set the gap themselves should be reduced. “Why we’re making helmets that allows the user to set it up incorrectly is beyond me,” says Denning. “We made that change probably 12 months ago and I would expect others to follow because it’s just logical. Why buy helmets that are potentially not going to work?”
Despite the tougher regulations there are no signs that in the future all batsmen at club cricket level will be forced to wear one. “I think there has to be a choice,” says Jon. “Though it’s correct that if you do wear a helmet you should expect to be protected.”
Ayrtek are producing a new range of youth helmets at a cheaper price in order to compete at the lower end of the market, says Milsom. “We’re looking to produce a cheaper model which uses an EPS liner [stiff expanded polystyrene] as our competitors do, and looking to launch a helmet for the youth range at about a £55 retail price.”
Despite the challenges now set for the helmet manufacturers, consumers will benefit from the new changes and be protected as they should be from the impact of the ball. These regulations should reduce the amount of injuries caused from being hit in the head whilst batting at all levels, and is an overdue step in the right direction. Now there really is no excuse not to perfect the Dilscoop.
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