Published: Apr 20, 2016, 07:07 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 20, 2016, 07:07 PM (IST)
Cricket is set for witnessing some revolutionary change when it comes to safety in the game. It is believed that we will soon see umpires wearing helmets. England Cricket Board (ECB) is all set to make wearing of helmets compulsory for all batsmen and even close fielders. However, there are a few English cricketers who are opposing the new helmet rules brought by ECB. Nick Compton has expressed his anger about the same whereas Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott have rejected these new helmets. Only time will tell how things will shape up. On one side is a cricketer’s liberty and on the other the importance of safety. LIVE SCORECARD: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challenges Bangalore at Mumbai
Nick Compton was quoted by telegraph.co.uk saying, “For me there are so many rules and regulations now. Health and safety and all these regulations – they do my head in. You look at the Phil Hughes incident. It was well publicised that he was one of my best friends and I’m always thinking of him, but what happened was a freak accident. Those helmets have been used by thousands of players in the past and have done very well. All these new regulations takes away the freedom that sport is associated with.” READ: Alastair Cook refuses to wear better designed helmet in County cricket
“The whole point of sport for me growing up was freedom, and being away from rules and conforming. Sport should be about going out there and expressing yourself, but it seems that everything around you is everything but. It’s so conforming and restricting and I just hope that we don’t take away from natural game.” READ: Phil Hughes paid musical tribute titled ‘Forever Unbeaten’ by Jack Biilmann
Talking of Trott, he has both new and old helmets but it is believed that the batsman is finding the grille of the new helmet slightly difficult as he feels that it hinders his vision. It was for this reason that he came to play with the old helmet in his last county cricket match. He faced the likes of Steven Finn with the old helmet. Earlier, Cook was forced to wear helmet against his will.
