Alastair Cook strides out to bat at Chelmsford wearing his old helmet

England are wary of being dragged into an unwanted power struggle with Alastair Cook ahead of the summer Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan after he ignored new regulations by wearing an old-style helmet that fails to conform to new safety standards.

Nevertheless, Cook's insistence that he must be the ultimate judge of his own safety puts the ECB in a delicate position as it seeks to enforce the adoption of a modern helmet design across the whole of the first-class game.

All eyes will be on Essex's next Championship game against Sussex at Hove, beginning on Sunday and, as long as England's captain remains true to the old design, it is likely that the rebellion will be extended to more batsmen possessing similar misgivings.

Cook ignored the stipulation during Essex's opening Championship match against Gloucestershire at Chelmsford - preferring to stick an Essex badge over his old England helmet, which dates back to the 2013 design and does not comply with the latest British Safety Standard BS7928:13.

I am a bit torn by this one.

I think he should wear what makes him comfortable but the administrators know something has to be done following Hughes' untimely demise.

Personally I would have adopted the new safer design.

Jonathan Trott has become the latest batsman to demonstrate the virtues of vision over armour as he made his first half-century since July in Championship cricket.
Trott, who endured a tough return to domestic cricket after announcing his international retirement in May 2015, resisted an impressive Middlesex attack with some assurance to keep Warwickshire's head above water on day two of this match. And, despite facing Steven Finn charging in from the Pavilion End, he did so in an old-style batting helmet that no longer complies with British Safety Standards or ECB stipulations.

[quote author=Mail link=topic=103784.msg689642#msg689642 date=1460812058]
I am a bit torn by this one.

I think he should wear what makes him comfortable but the administrators know something has to be done following Hughes' untimely demise.

Personally I would have adopted the new safer design.
[/quote]
I'm with you on this, too. It is a tough one though as being comfortable at the crease is extremely important. Cricket is made up of two components: the physical and the mental side. Being uncomfortable at the crease is setting yourself up for failure, so I can see Cookie's reluctance on switching to the newer helmets.

That said, I understand why the ECB want to adopt the newer, safer helmets. The Phil Hughes tragedy and the nasty blows suffered by Broad, Morgan and Mitchell McClenaghan in recent years drive home the importance of player safety. You just can't take those risks in this day and age.

May I suggest an ulterior motive by the ECB? Do you guys think there might be money changing hands here as there is probably only one manufacturer that complies with the regulations completely and they will be supplying helmets for the county teams and England?

[quote author=Noreht link=topic=103784.msg690097#msg690097 date=1461068975]
May I suggest an ulterior motive by the ECB? Do you guys think there might be money changing hands here as there is probably only one manufacturer that complies with the regulations completely and they will be supplying helmets for the county teams and England?
[/quote]

Cynical Old Fruit but clearly the manufacturers benefit now and will so do in the future.

Hughes' incident was one of those things as Shiv had a similar blow, was floored, out for the count but survived.

I would expect a compulsory use of new equipment from Colts upwards.

I am not sure, but would be surprised if existing helmets cannot be upgraded accordingly.

Dilly do you know if there is a price differential?

[quote author=Noreht link=topic=103784.msg690097#msg690097 date=1461068975]
May I suggest an ulterior motive by the ECB? Do you guys think there might be money changing hands here as there is probably only one manufacturer that complies with the regulations completely and they will be supplying helmets for the county teams and England?
[/quote]
I don't think this is the case. There are more than 20 helmets from seven different manufacturers that meet the new standard. The full list of helmets meeting this standard can be viewed at www.ecb.co.uk/helmets

England players use a variety of helmet manufacturers including Masuri, Gray Nicolls and Gunn & Moore, all of which meet the new safety requirements.

[quote author=Mail link=topic=103784.msg690117#msg690117 date=1461071794]
I would expect a compulsory use of new equipment from Colts upwards.

I am not sure, but would be surprised if existing helmets cannot be upgraded accordingly.

Dilly do you know if there is a price differential?
[/quote]
Correct, Mail. These new helmets are mandatory for all under 18s.

The Masuri vision series are in the £120-£250 range. IIRC, Gray Nicolls helmets are much cheaper in the £50-£100 range

Thank you mate. I did not realise there are so many options for the new regulations. I want the sport to be as safe as possible, but like Cook said, it might be less safe with the new regulations as you can't trace the ball as well as with the old design.

Sussex opener Chris Nash has credited the new helmet with saving him from a broken nose after getting hit with a bouncer during a county championship match.

Quote:Nash was hit when trying to hook a Jamie Porter bouncer at the start of his second innings. The ball struck Nash on the peak of the helmet, leaving him with a scratch on the bridge of his nose, but he was able to continue after a few minutes' treatment, eventually making 92.

"The new helmet definitely helped as they claim the grille is immovable and it proved that today," Nash said. "I was very fortunate to get hit and be able to carry on so all credit to the new helmet.

"I think it would have gone through with the old-style helmet because there is a bigger gap in the grille so I wouldn't be looking quite so pretty now. I'm pretty sure it would have broken my nose."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-crick...00709.html

Meanwhile, in that same match, Cook complied with new helmet regulations. He was dismissed for one in the first innings but responded with a century in the second innings, though aided by being given a second chance after he was dropped on one.

[quote author=Noreht link=topic=103784.msg690282#msg690282 date=1461150906]
Thank you mate. I did not realise there are so many options for the new regulations. I want the sport to be as safe as possible, but like Cook said, it might be less safe with the new regulations as you can't trace the ball as well as with the old design.
[/quote]

If he is not comfortable at the crease then he has lost his game.

Making the new design compulsory from colts onwards would mean the next generation of cricketers will see the new design as normal.

Well done to the ECB.