Batsmen still at risk despite new helmets

The cricket world has been united in shock by the sickening injuries sustained by South Australia's Phil Hughes in a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales but safety has never slipped down the agenda at organisations such as the Professional Cricketers' Association.

Porter, the organisation's chief executive, has been involved with an initiative to raise the bar in terms of protective equipment and expects to see helmets meeting the new standard as soon as next summer.

"We have been working hard for several years with the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the International Cricket Council, to improve protection for batsmen," Porter said.

"There is a new British safety standard which is in the process of being implemented that will hopefully offer a greater measure of protection.

"The standard is now live and the manufacturers are working with testing houses on designs that will pass.

"The first batch of helmets are coming through now which would pass the test and we're hopeful we will see them used in professional cricket next season."

But Porter also cautioned against complacency, warning that the sheer physical dynamics involved in elite cricket carried inherent danger.

"It's difficult to know exactly what difference the standard might have made in this precise circumstance because there will always be an element of risk in cricket," he said.

"The balls are hard and they travel fast. No design will eliminate risk completely.

"While we haven't had life- threatening injuries for some time in this country we have had a number of serious injuries.

"It is a matter to take very, very seriously indeed."

Porter stressed that 90mph bowling at the elite level was not the only circumstance where a cricketer might find themselves in trouble.

"I don't think we can forget about recreational cricket," he added.

"We must understand the issue of safety and that you can still be hurt at slower speeds."