Australian cricketers will have to wear neck protectors on helmets when facing fast or medium pace bowling from October as part of changes to playing conditions for the 2023\/24 domestic and international seasons.<\/p>\n
Governing body Cricket Australia had recommended the use of neck protectors since the death of Phillip Hughes in 2014 but a number of top batsmen, including David Warner and Steve Smith, have resisted wearing them.<\/p>\n
They will now have to wear them from Oct. 1 when playing at home or in international cricket overseas or face sanctions under rules to be introduced by CA.<\/p>\n
“Protecting the head and neck is extremely important in our sport,” CA’s Head of Cricket Operations & Scheduling Peter Roach said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“The neck protector product has come a long way in recent years and the decision to make them mandatory comes off the back of a lot of advice and consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.”<\/p>\n
The mandate comes a week after Australia all-rounder Cameron Green was struck by a Kagiso Rabada bouncer on the neck guard fixed to his helmet and was substituted out of the first ODI against South Africa with concussion.<\/p>\n
It was one of a raft of changes to playing conditions, which include scrapping the automatic six runs given to batters who hit the roof of Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium during Big Bash League matches.<\/p>\n
Umpires will now decide to award a six if they judge the ball would have cleared the boundary.<\/p>\n
The use of COVID substitutes, who replaced players testing positive for the coronavirus, has also been scrapped.<\/p>\n