Cricket helmets get safety upgrade following accident

Cricket helmets made from thermoplastics have undergone a safety upgrade following the death of Australian cricketer, Philip Hughes.

The manufacturer of the helmets, Masuri, has revealed the StemGuard, a clip-on application, which provides additional protection from fast bowling for a batsman’s vulnerable neck.

The UK-based company has invested over 240 hours of research and development time into the design of the StemGuard, which has been tested at the Progressive Sports Technologies laboratory at Loughborough University. 

The StemGuard is made from thermoplastic and dense foam and attaches to existing Masuri Vision Series helmets with moulded clips, giving batsman free movement, while offering new protection to the region where Hughes was hit.

The military specification foam is arranged in a honeycomb formation, like in the main body of the helmet, in order to offer the maximum protection to the wearer. 

Masuri Managing Director, Sam Miller, said: “We have designed an extension to our Vision Series helmets, which provides new protection to the vulnerable area below the shell of the helmet.”

The “next-generation” cricket helmets are the first to use thermoplastics to replace fibreglass. They benefit the wearer thanks to their lighter weight, protection and comfort.