[PICTURE] Protective bowling masks and helmets for bowlers

[Abdullah719]

Warren Barnes caught the eye at Seddon Park today – and not because of his three wickets.

The Otago Volts fast bowler was charging in while wearing protective headgear, specifically designed to protect him in his follow-through.

The contraption is part helmet and part mask, with Barnes' face partially covered, and the crown of his head well protected – an important distinction for the 25-year-old due to his unique follow-through.

Barnes's bowling action sees him follow-through with his head down and eyes off the ball after he has released his delivery, and Otago Volts coach Rob Walter explained that Barnes felt that his action left him vulnerable to a line-drive hitting him on the head.

Walter and Barnes combined to design the headgear, which Barnes had worn once before this afternoon's Twenty20 clash.

Barnes is one of the quickest bowlers on the New Zealand domestic scene, and has proven to be a handy asset in short-form cricket. The former Auckland seamer is a late bloomer who could push for higher honours if he can avoid injuries, which have plagued his career to date.

Thus, the added protection is a sound choice, and the extra safety was a smart decision against the big-hitting Northern side, who splayed 12 sixes in their imposing total of 212-9.

Anton Devcich (42 from 21), Daniel Flynn (47 from 26) and Daryl Mitchell (41 from 24) shone for the hosts, while Brett Hampton hit some of the biggest sixes seen in recent times at Seddon Park on his way to 44 from 20 balls.

Fellow Volts seamer Neil Wagner nearly faced the same danger Barnes was hoping to avoid, with the Black Caps test bowler having a Mitchell shot clatter into his leg.

In Otago's turn at bat, Wagner then accidentally returned the favour, with a straight drive clanging his batting partner Brad Wilson in the thigh.

Fortunately, the only lasting damage was to Wagner's figures, as he went for 1-33 from three overs, while Barnes finished with the repetitively pleasing figures of 3-33 from three.

Otago could only muster half ND's total in response, rolled for 106 to lose by 106 runs.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11965274

 

[Amirforpresident]

I understand why they might wanna introduce this, but it looks ugly as hell

 

[Railu Katta]

I understand why they might wanna introduce this, but it looks ugly as hell

Agreed! I hate seeing the umpires in BBL wearing a helmet and holding a shield. It cracks me up every time )

 

[Proactive_]

Better be safe than sorry. I'm sure there was a time when batting helmets also looked funny and out of place, can't imagine batting without it today.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Agreed! I hate seeing the umpires in BBL wearing a helmet and holding a shield. It cracks me up every time )

It may look funny to us, however umpires are sometimes at the risk of getting hit. Remember Aleem Dar incident when Tendulkar hit straight pass him? I think its about time ICC also introduce safety protocols for on-field umpires. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Madplayer]

About time this was introduced for bowlers.

 

[gazza619]

How many times have bowlers been hit in their follow through?
My guesstimate is 0.000000000001%

It seems totally unneccessary.

This is a sport and people can get hurt. How about then all footballers wearing helmets or metallic trousers to protect their knees and legs...

 

[troodon]

All close in fielders, bowler, umpires have to wear this.

Modern day batsmen are power hitters and the ball can come at bullet speed at them.

Hopefully some kind of super light weight chest guard is also introduced that protects the vital organs.

 

[troodon]

How many times have bowlers been hit in their follow through?
My guesstimate is 0.000000000001%

It seems totally unneccessary.

This is a sport and people can get hurt. How about then all footballers wearing helmets or metallic trousers to protect their knees and legs...

Once every few matches, we see narrow misses.

 

[Mueez]

Hahaha it looks so ugly

 

[troodon]

Hahaha it looks so ugly

Safety is more important than looks.

 

[troodon]

Do not laugh at them. If it serves the purpose of safety, it should be used. Nobody should die or get severely injured in any sport.

If it minimizes the risk of injury, it should be used.

 

[Hamad_H]

I think he is right to wear one despite how ugly it looks. He has been very smart in knowing the fact that he looks downwards in his follow through and he wouldn't be quick enough to react if the ball was hit back at his head so to lessen the risk of losing his life he has designed his headgear so he is confident bowling at his quick pace. Instead of changing his follow through he designed this headgear.

 

[UN talkz]

This is necessary and has to be done. Safety comes first and is must.
But i think the front part of the protection he is wearing is made of glass.. how is glass supposed to save him, it will cause even more damage.
Or maybe it is made of some plastic material

 

[hadi123]

It looks really weird but safety is more important than anything. But I can't see this catching on in Internationals. Chances of injury like this are highly unlikely, and when they do happen it's just a matter of very bad luck.

 

[Abdullah719]

Australia To Develop Protective Headgear For Bowlers By End Of Year

Cricket Australia (CA) has fast-tracked its move in the development of protective headgear for bowlers with the product likely to be ready by the end of this year.

With the growing nature of power-hitting especially in the shortest format of the game, bowlers have limited to no scope of leeway if the ball is hit straight back at them.

There have been widespread concerns surrounding this and the issue was brought back into focus last month when a net bowler suffered a fractured skull after he was hit by a David Warner straight drive.

Bowlers from all across the cricketing circuit have urged authorities to look at potential headgears for bowlers and it has now emerged that CA have been working closely with a sportswear manufacturer to put the thought into action.

"CA has been leading testing on a newly-designed, Australian-developed helmet for players in contact football codes, which is hoped can help protect cricketers as well," read a report in cricket.com.au. "Testing has shown the helmet can reduce the likelihood of concussion by up to 55 percent for football players."

New Zealand fast bowler, Warren Barnes had in 2017 hit the headlines for wearing a similar protective gear in a domestic match.

"The way I follow through once I deliver the ball, my head stays really low down and I don't actually see the ball until the batter has hit it," Barnes told the BBC at the time. "I had quite a lot of close calls in the nets and previous games being hit in the chest, but thankfully nothing in the face.”

There have been plenty of previous instances where bowlers have been hit in the face or suffered skull damage. Australian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed required surgery on his jaw, front teeth and lip after being struck in the Pakistan Super League earlier this year.

Australian pacer Joe Mennie suffered a skull fracture and minor brain bleeding after being hit during a net session in early 2017. Nottinghamshire bowler Luke Fletcher had to be rushed to the hospital after a sickening blow to the head during a T20 Blast game in 2017. He suffered a concussion but was later declared fit.

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...r-bowlers-by-the-end-of-the-year-2233167.html

 

[rhony]

It may look funny to us, however umpires are sometimes at the risk of getting hit. Remember Aleem Dar incident when Tendulkar hit straight pass him? I think its about time ICC also introduce safety protocols for on-field umpires. Better to be safe than sorry.

After the world cup final, I say there is no need for two umpires on the field. There should be one at square leg just to calm people down. 3rd umpire should take care of decisions

 

[dhump]

Why not safety before anything and the last thing we want is players getting injured on the field. I am sure when helmets were introduced for the batsman, they also looked funny or ugly, and now everyone uses them.

I remember it was also uncommon for Wicket Keeper to wear helmet when coming up to the stumps but likes of Dhoni uses helmet all the time when they are near the wicket.

 

[Pakistanian]

Good measure, I've always feared what would happen if a fast bowler was hit directly in the head by a shot. It could possibly be fatal.

 

[topspin]

I don't see the swag with these helmets