Cricket Australia’s Neck Guard Rule: Before the World Cup 2023, Cricket Australia has made it mandatory for all batsmen playing international and domestic cricket to wear a neck guard while facing pacers and medium pacers. Many Kangaroo batsmen including Steve Smith and David Warner have been avoiding using neck guards, but now according to the new rules everyone will be required to wear them.
cricket.com.au. According to the report, under the new rules issued by Cricket Australia, wearing a neck guard or neck protector will become mandatory from October 1. If any batsman were to back out from using it, he would have to face difficulties as per the new rules of Cricket Australia. Due to changes in playing conditions from the 2023-24 season, neck guards will become mandatory. The neck protector will be fitted or fixed to the back of the helmet.
Australian team all-rounder Cameron Green, who was on the South Africa tour, was hit by the ball of African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada while batting, after which he had to retire. This incident happened during the first ODI played between the two. Only a week later, the neck guard rule was issued.
In 2015, Australia started recommending the wearing of neck guards following the death of domestic cricketer Phillip Hughes after being hit by a ball. However, many batsmen have been protecting themselves from this till now. In such a situation, it has now been made mandatory.
Smith had said that using a neck guard made him feel ‘claustrophobic’. Smith was hit very fast by a bouncer from English fast bowler Joffra Archer in the 2019 Ashes. Smith compared the neck guard to an MRI scan machine. He had said, “I compare it to being trapped in an MRI scan machine.
Apart from this, Warner had said in 2016 that he neither wears it nor will wear it because it pricks his neck, which distracts him.
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