Item 2026-12E App K Helmets

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT
Following another fatality in October last year Cricket Australia and Premier Cricket is making neck guards compulsory for helmeted batters in 2026-27.

DISCUSSION
Why are neck guards a good idea?

The cases of Phil Hughes in 2014 and 17yo Ben Austin in 2025 who both died after being struck in the neck by a ball are what makes this necessary. Both these guys likely suffered a carotid artery dissection following a blow from a cricket ball at the base of the rear of the skull.

The carotid arteries are major arteries in the neck which supply a significant amount of blood to the head. Their location in the neck is a significant injury vulnerability. 

The worst symptoms of "fast cricket ball in the back of the neck" are a rapid loss of consciousness. Death can follow quickly.

Traditional cricket helmets have a "missing piece" which is anything that protects the back of the neck from impacts. 

Presumably the original designers of cricket helmets did not envisage that batters/fielders/wicketkeepers would flinch or turn away from an incoming blow by a cricket ball. Which is not a good assumption, I think.

Fortunately, there is an available modification which can prevent a lot of the chance of back of the neck injury. It's called a Neck Guard or a Neck Protector. 

Like any piece of personal protective equipment, it can fail. It is not 100% effective, 100% of the time. No PPE safety measure ever is or can be expected to be.

But PPE offers a significantly improved chance of safety when in place and used correctly. 

That's where Neck Guards come in.

You'd be mad not to use 'em.

Additionally, there is a strong legal argument for making neck guards mandatory now.

In summary, it's this. If there's a safety measure that we decline to support and following this there's a legal action about a serious injury (anything up to a fatal head knock) then there would a more serious liability on the Association or maybe individual officers. If it were found we declined to support/promote an available safety measure then culpability beckons.

By not adding the safety measure (failing to make neck guards mandatory) or failing to ensure they are used (not enforcing the rules) the Association or its members or its officers face serious legal liability. Insurance is unlikely to cover it.

So the Management Committee urges the association members to support making Neck Guards standard for all helmet wearers in QSDCA cricket. 

STOP PRESS: Some debate has occurred about the discomfort neckguards may cause Wicketkeepers and fielders. So a carve out exempting close wicketkeepers and close fielders from the neckguards requirement has been included.

Neckguards remain at recommended for all helmet wearers. Close fielders and close wicketkeepers will continue to use a helmet as before. Batters are mandated to use neckguards under this proposal.

 

PROPOSAL

Note: "Neck Protector" = "Neck Guard". Means the same thing.

This is the "Pac-Man" diagram. Add to the Diagrams Appendix.

OLD REGULATIONS	What does this mean?/ Why does it need change?	PROPOSED NEW REGULATION
Appendix K PLAYING CONDITION – HELMETS Applies to All Competitions		Appendix K PLAYING CONDITION – HELMETS Applies to All Competitions
In all Association competitions and training sessions the following regulations will apply:		No change
KB Batting		No change
KB1 A batter must wear a British Standard 7928:2013 compliant helmet at all times when batting.	All batters wear a helmet with a neck guard, all bowlers, all the time.	KB1 A batter must wear a British Standard 7928:2013 compliant helmet with a neck protector at all times when batting.
KK Wicketkeeping		No change
KK1 At all times when wicket-keeping up to the stumps, the wicketkeeper must wear a British Standard 7928:2013 compliant helmet.	All wicket-keepers are exempted from wearing a helmet with a neck guard.  When up to the stumps.WK's must wear a helmet.	KK1 At all times when wicket-keeping up to the stumps, the wicketkeeper must wear a British Standard 7928:2013 compliant helmet.
KJ Junior Wicketkeepers Playing in Senior Competitions		No change
KJ1 Any wicket-keeper who is eligible to play junior cricket (under 18) must wear a British Standard 7928:2013 compliant helmet at all times when wicket-keeping within 7 metres of the stumps.	U18 wicket-keepers are exempted from wearing a helmet with a neck guard, When within 7m of the stumps junior WK's must wear a helmet.	KJ1 Any wicket-keeper who is eligible to play junior cricket (under 18) must wear a British Standard 7928:2013 compliant helmet at all times when wicket-keeping within 7 metres of the stumps.
KJ2 The umpire(s) are the sole judges of the distance from the stumps in this clause.	Umpires decide the distance.	No change
KF Fielding Inside arc from gully to leg gully		KF Fielding Inside arc from gully to leg gully
KF1 Any fielder in a position closer than 7 metres of the stumps from the batter’s position on the popping crease on a middle stump line must wear a British Standard 7928:2013 compliant helmet at all times when fielding, with the exception of any fielding position behind the stumps between the accepted position of off side gully to the accepted position of leg side gully.	Close fielders must wear a helmet when standing in any position within 7m of the bat as shown on the "Pac-Man diagram." Is it stumps to fielder or bat to fielder? It’s bat to fielder. Close fielders are exempted from neckguards also.	KF1 Any fielder in a position closer than 7 metres to the stumps from the batter’s position on the popping crease on a middle stump line must wear a British Standard 7928:2013 compliant helmet at all times when fielding, with the exception of any fielding position behind the stumps between the accepted position of off side gully to the accepted position of leg side gully.
KF2 The umpire(s) are the sole judges of the distance from the stumps in this clause.	Umpires decide the distance.	KF2 The umpire(s) are the sole judges of the distance in clause KF1.
KF3 The exchange of protective equipment between members of the fielding side on the field of play is permitted provided that the umpire(s) do not consider that it constitutes a waste of playing time.	Don't waste time fetching helmets.	No change
KF4 Note: For the avoidance of doubt, any fielder within the prescribed distance regarded to be fielding wider than a standard “gully” or “leg gully” must wear a British Standard 7928:2013 helmet. But fielders fielding finer than gully or leg gully e.g. any slip or leg slip are not required to wear a British Standard 7928:2013 helmet.	Slips do not need to wear a helmet	KF4 Note: For the avoidance of doubt, any fielder within the prescribed distance regarded to be fielding wider than a standard “gully” or “leg gully” must wear a British Standard 7928:2013 helmet. But fielders fielding finer than gully or leg gully e.g. any slip or leg slip are not required to wear a British Standard 7928:2013 helmet .
KE Responsibility and Enforcement		KE Responsibility and Enforcement
KE1 In a match with official umpires, the umpire(s) is (are) responsible for ensuring that a helmet is worn when required by clauses KB1, KK1, KJ1 and KF1 but are not responsible for ensuring that the helmet being worn by the batter, wicket-keeper or fielder is compliant with British Standard 7928:2013.	Umpires are responsible for the wearing of helmets with neck guards not whether they comply with standards.	KE1 In a match with official umpires, the umpire(s) is (are) responsible for ensuring that a helmet with a neck protector is worn when required by clauses KB1, KK1, KJ1 and KF1 but are not responsible for ensuring that the helmet being worn by the batter, wicket-keeper or fielder is compliant with British Standard 7928:2013.
KE2 In a match with official umpires, the umpire(s) must not allow the match to continue during any period in which a batter, wicket-keeper or fielder fails to wear a helmet when required by clauses KB1, KK1, KJ1 and KF1.	Umpires will stop the game until helmets are on.	KE2 In a match with official umpires, the umpire(s) must not allow the match to continue during any period in which a batter, wicket-keeper or fielder fails to wear a helmet with a neck protector when required by clauses KB1, KK1, KJ1 and KF1.
KE3 In a match without official umpires, the captains of both batting and bowling teams are responsible for compliance with these clauses.	If there is no official umpires it's up to the captains.	No change
KE4 In a match without official umpires, the captains of both batting and bowling teams will not permit the match to continue during any period in which any batter, wicket-keeper standing up to the stumps or fielder within the prescribed area fails to wear a helmet.	If there is no official umpires, captains will stop the game until helmets are on.	KE4 In a match without official umpires, the captains of both batting and bowling teams will not permit the match to continue during any period in which any batter, wicket-keeper standing up to the stumps or fielder within the prescribed area fails to wear a helmet with a neck protector when required by clauses KB1, KK1, KJ1 and KF1..
KE5 If any player plays in a match in contravention of clauses in Appendix K the Management Committee may impose on that player's Club a penalty in accordance with Playing Regulation 46 and 47.	Apart from in game penalties such as penalty runs or timed out, players or teams can lose points, forfeit or be fined.	No change
KA For the avoidance of doubt		KA For the avoidance of doubt
KA1 Caught: A batter can be out caught where the ball rebounds or ricochets directly or indirectly off the helmet worn by any player.		No change
KA2 Run Out: A batter can be out run out where the ball rebounds or ricochets directly or indirectly onto the stumps off the helmet worn by a fielder.		No change
KA3 Stumped: A batter can be out stumped where the ball rebounds or ricochets directly or indirectly onto the stumps off the helmet worn by a wicketkeeper.		No change
KA4 Replacement helmets: Helmets should be replaced immediately in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations following a significant impact.		No change
KA5 7 metre distance: Research shows that the minimum distance for a fielder to react to a batter hitting the ball is 7 metres.		No change

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