Helmets

[Sillypoint]

I know they’ve been mandatory in junior cricket for nearly 20 years now but I am
Surprised to see how many still
Don’t use them in senior cricket, and more surprising seeing “kids”get to over 18 and then stop wearing them

Now I know in places the pitches don’t bounce above waist height but your never far away from a loose Beamer or a top edge of your own bat which is what I saw the other week, lad had a very close call skimmed his forehead, could have been much worse

even when spinners bowl the England teams are categorically not allowed to remove them,

And I don’t seem to remember seeing many bat without them in domestic cricket recently either

Should they mandatory across the board in league cricket, personally it should be and even more so in the development leagues which is designed to guide kids from junior to senior cricket, seniors should be setting an example not seeing the “big lads” get to 18 19 and see them stop or the old veterans think they don’t need one

 

[Hetty]

There was a game a few weeks ago i can't remember which one that the batsmen had helmets on and then the spinners came on. So it took about 10 minutes for them to take helmets off and pass them to the drinks guy who brought on their caps to wear

I know they’ve been mandatory in junior cricket for nearly 20 years now but I am
Surprised to see how many still
Don’t use them in senior cricket, and more surprising seeing “kids”get to over 18 and then stop wearing them

Now I know in places the pitches don’t bounce above waist height but your never far away from a loose Beamer or a top edge of your own bat which is what I saw the other week, lad had a very close call skimmed his forehead, could have been much worse

even when spinners bowl the England teams are categorically not allowed to remove them,

And I don’t seem to remember seeing many bat without them in domestic cricket recently either

Should they mandatory across the board in league cricket, personally it should be and even more so in the development leagues which is designed to guide kids from junior to senior cricket, seniors should be setting an example not seeing the “big lads” get to 18 19 and see them stop or the old veterans think they don’t need one

How expensive are helmets these days?

They're trying to make cricket cheaper so many more can participate in it

 

[Dexter]

I think a lot of people who play at local level would simply stop playing if they were made to wear a helmet. As much as I agree wearing one is sensible and you can always top edge a ball into your face, there’s simply too many people who have gotten too used to it not wearing one for years and years.

Maybe introducing a rule wear anyone born after a certain year from has to wear one would be better.

 

[Sillypoint]

I think a lot of people who play at local level would simply stop playing if they were made to wear a helmet. As much as I agree wearing one is sensible and you can always top edge a ball into your face, there’s simply too many people who have gotten too used to it not wearing one for years and years.

Maybe introducing a rule wear anyone born after a certain year from has to wear one would be better.

That’s kind of what I’m getting at really. There’s blokes now must be in their 30’s who’ve had to wear one mandatory all the way through junior cricket, then decide nah not for me, and it must come from seeing the older blokes not wear them if that’s all you’ve know to bat from being a kid

You can get a masuri one now for about £50 maybe cheaper

 

[Eggman]

Outside of the NEPL, I don’t think the bowling is particularly fast, so while I understand the ‘top edge’ arguments, I still think batsmen feel more comfortable not wearing one

 

[PeteFTM]

Was playing as a spare in a high level game a few weeks back, bowlers 80mph+, really good players… some doofus about 60, but clearly good, comes in with nowt but an old tattered cap. Madness really.

Should have to wear them, partially for your own safety but also for the bowler who would have to mentally cope if something happened.

 

[Sillypoint]

im surprised after Phil Hughes it wasnt done, i thought with it being for Juniors for a long time now they'd be so used to it youd see nearly everyone at senior level do it, but theres still loads just in caps

 

[BatEleven]

Just let adults be adults and make their own decision. Everyone is aware of the potential consequences.

 

[Walter H. White]

Steve Smith

Edit - ah, didn’t read the post. Just the title.

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

Outside of the NEPL, I don’t think the bowling is particularly fast, so while I understand the ‘top edge’ arguments, I still think batsmen feel more comfortable not wearing one

There are some sharp bowlers outside the NEPL (who can be erratic) and there are some spicy pitches where a ball can take off a length.

Should be down to the individual but it’s a big risk.

I know they’ve been mandatory in junior cricket for nearly 20 years now but I am
Surprised to see how many still
Don’t use them in senior cricket, and more surprising seeing “kids”get to over 18 and then stop wearing them

Now I know in places the pitches don’t bounce above waist height but your never far away from a loose Beamer or a top edge of your own bat which is what I saw the other week, lad had a very close call skimmed his forehead, could have been much worse

even when spinners bowl the England teams are categorically not allowed to remove them,

And I don’t seem to remember seeing many bat without them in domestic cricket recently either

Should they mandatory across the board in league cricket, personally it should be and even more so in the development leagues which is designed to guide kids from junior to senior cricket, seniors should be setting an example not seeing the “big lads” get to 18 19 and see them stop or the old veterans think they don’t need one

Not sure if this is true is it? Fairly sure I’ve seen Root bat in the sub continent without a helmet.

Sorry, you’re absolutely right. Indian batsmen were, ours weren’t due to the regulations you mention.

 

[Sillypoint]

There are some sharp bowlers outside the NEPL (who can be erratic) and there are some spicy pitches where a ball can take off a length.

ive seen outfields so uneven youve gone to take it by your feet and it popped up and missed your head :

Not sure if this is true is it? Fairly sure I’ve seen Root bat in the sub continent without a helmet.

Sorry, you’re absolutely right. Indian batsmen were, ours weren’t due to the regulations you mention.

i could be wrong but is the CC the same rules

Masuri gave every single player a customer moulded helmet for this season

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Just let adults be adults and make their own decision. Everyone is aware of the potential consequences.

i get that but when its forced onto the pro's im surprised its not worked its way to grassroots

ive seen outfields so uneven youve gone to take it by your feet and it popped up and missed your head :


i could be wrong but is the CC the same rules

They do and have since 2015 by the looks of this

You must be logged on to see external links

Masuri gave every single player a customer moulded helmet for this season

You must be logged on to see external links

i get that but when its forced onto the pro's im surprised its not worked its way to grassroots

 

[Jap Stammer]

I retired six years ago, having only ever worn a helmet on two occasions in the previous forty years of playing cricket. To bat in, that is. I wore one regularly to field at short-leg once our club bought one - before that I was taught to duck and cover my head with my forearms. Better a broken arm, wrist or finger(s) than a broken head. At least that was the theory.

On the two occasions I wore a helmet to bat in - against a particularly nasty quick from Trinidad - I found them uncomfortable and felt disconnected from what was happening around me. My main memory is being irritated by the wind noise from the earpieces. Other lads reckoned it helped them focus - looking through the 'letterbox' between visor and grille - but I just found them alienating.

I'm from an era when they just weren't available and was taught to play hostile fast-bowling the old-fashioned way - duck and sway out of the way, unless you were confidant enough in your own ability to play hook and pull shots effectively.

I agree completely, however, with the rules that juniors should wear them, although I would say that during my team as a junior manager/coach I saw more kids hit on the head, season after season, than I can ever remember when I was a junior and batted without one. The helmets give them a false sense of security so they attempt to play shots that they really shouldn't, resulting in them getting their napper rattled on a regular basis. The helmet may save them from serious injury, but it's still a massive shock to the system to be hit on the head, helmet or no helmet. I would always try to impress on them that they should still be prepared to duck and sway out of the way, but it was like talking to a brick wall in many cases.

 

[Sillypoint]

I agree completely, however, with the rules that juniors should wear them, although I would say that during my team as a junior manager/coach I saw more kids hit on the head, season after season, than I can ever remember when I was a junior and batted without one. The helmets give them a false sense of security so they attempt to play shots that they really shouldn't, resulting in them getting their napper rattled on a regular basis. The helmet may save them from serious injury, but it's still a massive shock to the system to be hit on the head, helmet or no helmet. I would always try to impress on them that they should still be prepared to duck and sway out of the way, but it was like talking to a brick wall in many cases.

I agree that playing has changed, and your right i seem to see more kids hit than i remember seeing too

but thats more of worry then when you see the lads turn over 18 ditch them as they arent coached to play it

 

[Jap Stammer]

I agree that playing has changed, and your right i seem to see more kids hit than i remember seeing too

but thats more of worry then when you see the lads turn over 18 ditch them as they arent coached to play it

I agree but, to be fair, I don't know of many young cricketeers in the North-east leagues who do that. The vast majority seem to stick with the helmets as it's what they are used to - they don't even remove them, or swap them for caps, when the spinners come on.

I always wore a cap - even in the indoor nets. My excuse was that you should always try to mirror what you do on the grass pitches otherwise the training/practice means nothing. Plus, I suffer badly from glare - whether it's overhead lighting or sunlight.

The reality probably lies somewhere between that and one of those irrational superstitions that all cricketers seem to have.

 

[Sillypoint]

I agree but, to be fair, I don't know of many young cricketeers in the North-east leagues who do that. The vast majority seem to stick with the helmets as it's what they are used to - they don't even remove them, or swap them for caps, when the spinners come on.

Oh its Definitely a minority im talking about, its maybe 4 or 5 players ive seen over a few 2nd team games and a couple of hetton lyons league over the last couple of seasons,

but one last weekend that made me think about it, stuck out to me because i thought youve played all your life with a lid on why take it off now, i get the old veterans still putting their caps on but not young lads in their late teens early 20's

 

[Lumley End]

I wore one for around 10 overs when I first played a game in NYSD Div 4 because I didn’t know what to expect. Never worn one other than that. Just can’t get comfortable. I appreciate the purpose they serve but I’ve not really faced anyone at my level that warrants one. I’m half decent pulling and the lack of helmet often brings the short ball which I don’t mind!

 

[3.142]

I retired six years ago, having only ever worn a helmet on two occasions in the previous forty years of playing cricket. To bat in, that is. I wore one regularly to field at short-leg once our club bought one - before that I was taught to duck and cover my head with my forearms. Better a broken arm, wrist or finger(s) than a broken head. At least that was the theory.

On the two occasions I wore a helmet to bat in - against a particularly nasty quick from Trinidad - I found them uncomfortable and felt disconnected from what was happening around me. My main memory is being irritated by the wind noise from the earpieces. Other lads reckoned it helped them focus - looking through the 'letterbox' between visor and grille - but I just found them alienating.

I'm from an era when they just weren't available and was taught to play hostile fast-bowling the old-fashioned way - duck and sway out of the way, unless you were confidant enough in your own ability to play hook and pull shots effectively.

I agree completely, however, with the rules that juniors should wear them, although I would say that during my team as a junior manager/coach I saw more kids hit on the head, season after season, than I can ever remember when I was a junior and batted without one. The helmets give them a false sense of security so they attempt to play shots that they really shouldn't, resulting in them getting their napper rattled on a regular basis. The helmet may save them from serious injury, but it's still a massive shock to the system to be hit on the head, helmet or no helmet. I would always try to impress on them that they should still be prepared to duck and sway out of the way, but it was like talking to a brick wall in many cases.

That's similar to the idea that cyclists also shouldn't wear helmets as it gives them a false sense of security and reduces their perception of danger and can result in more accidents.

This is all about habit. Make everyone wear one at all times and they'll get used to it.

When I played as a kid 25-30 years ago they were barely worn. I still have the scar under my eye to prove it. Top edge off a spinner. Another player in the team hit the same week and his eyesight was never quite the same.

 

[Sillypoint]

That's similar to the idea that cyclists also shouldn't wear helmets as it gives them a false sense of security and reduces their perception of danger and can result in more accidents.

This is all about habit. Make everyone wear one at all times and they'll get used to it.

When I played as a kid 25-30 years ago they were barely worn. I still have the scar under my eye to prove it. Top edge off a spinner. Another player in the team hit the same week and his eyesight was never quite the same.

I get that theres still a fair few blokes playing whove never worn one at all so will be totally alien to them, but if its been Policy since 2000 i think if your born after that and grown up knowing nothing else you should have to wear it....

 

[mackem1989]

I’ve always worn one to be honest sometimes in the nets I don’t but in games I do

I once broke a lads nose bowling when he didn’t have a helmet on and I felt sick meant to get it up to his stomach but mis calculated the ball and bounced higher than it should have with a shit pitch and how he tried to play his shot ended up onto his nose.

 

[Jasper]

My eldest is a keeper and he keeps saying he can't wait to be old enough not to wear one to pace. I've told him over my dead body.