Bipin Dani
Cricket Australia’s decision to make neck guards compulsory for players at the domestic and international levels has received accolades from the fans around the world. It was introduced last year in England also.
Considering Warner was with his friend Phil Hughes on the field when he died, his decision to not wear the protective guard was unfathomable. It should have been compulsory after Hughes died from a hit on the head and there have been too many players being hit and suffering with concussion in cricket lately.
However, David Warner does not favor the invention. “I do not and will not wear them”, he is reported to have said. “Wearing a StemGuard, it impedes my neck when I turn around to face bowlers. I have tried a StemGuard and it digs into my neck. It is uncomfortable and is a distraction”, he says.
“With safety, the helmets are getting heavier. As a player, it is what you feel comfortable with. I go with being able to see better, and being able to move my neck”.
Sri Lanka-born physiotherapist, who is a PhD researcher on head, neck and facial injuries and now serving in Australia has made another interesting point here.
Speaking exclusively over the telephone, he said, “there are only a few helmet manufacturers approved by the ICC that offer laboratory-tested neck protectors. This could present a real-world challenge at the elite level. especially if the ICC were to mandate neck protectors for all cricket-playing nations participating in the elite level”.
