Cricket Australia makes neck guard mandatory despite David Warner’s and Steve Smith’s reluctance

Those players who won't abide by the rule will face sanctions for breaching CA's code of conduct.

Cricket Australia makes neck guard mandatory despite David Warner’s and Steve Smith’s reluctance

Steve Smith (Image via ABC)

A week after Australia star all-rounder Cameron Green got hit by a bouncer off South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada which led to the Aussie’s substitution with concussion, Cricket Australia came up with a rule to protect the neck by making neck guard mandatory in all domestic matches and CA-sanctioned international matches for the 2023-24 season.

Those players who won’t abide by the rule will face sanctions for breaching CA’s code of conduct. The players need to wear the neck protectors while facing medium-fast and fast bowlers but it’s not mandatory to wear them in front of spinners.

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“The neck protector product has come a long way in recent years and the decision to make them mandatory comes off the back of a lot of advice and consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders,” CA’s Head of Cricket Operations and Scheduling Peter Roach told cricket.com.au.

Related: “Dangerous to write off based on their age,” Joe Root says Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should not be underestimated 

Cricket Australia introduced neck guards in 2015

Cricket Australia makes neck guard mandatory week after Cameron Green suffered concussion despite David Warner and Steve Smith's reluctance
Steve Smith during Ashes (Image via X)

This is not the first time Cricket Australia recommended using neckguards. In 2015, following the tragic death of Phillip Hughes who got hit by a bouncer off Sean Abbott during a session of the Sheffield Sheild match between South Australia and New South Wales, CA recommended using neck guards.

However, former Aussie skipper Steve Smith expressed his reluctance toward not wearing a neck guard, saying that he felt “claustrophobic” during the 2019 Ashes. Former Aussie vice-captain David Warner in 2016 said that he does “not and will not wear” a neck guard because it distracts him and “digs into” his neck.

The Australia team are currently in South Africa, participating in the five-match ODI series. Mitchell Marsh and Co. are leading the match by 2-1. The fourth ODI will be played on September 15.

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