Helmets and Head Protectors
This is from the ICC – The International Cricket Council – The World’s Governing Body :
“Effective 1 January 2017, the ICC incorporated into the ICC Clothing and Equipment Regulations a regulation that stipulates if any player when batting elects to wear a helmet, in international cricket, that it must be compliant with the new British Standard (BSi) – BS7928:2013. Effective 1 January 2017, the ICC incorporated into the ICC Clothing and Equipment Regulations a regulation that stipulates if any player when batting elects to wear a helmet, in international cricket, that it must be compliant with the new British Standard (BSi) – BS7928:2013. ”
Of note is the ICC have said – The helmet – “that it must be compliant with the new British Standard (BSi) – BS7928:2013” across the World if the player wears a helmet.
- Yes I noticed the ICC don’t mention Junior’s – unlikely to as it is all Open Age Adult Cricket, however their safety is also equally paramount
I would add that All Under 18s should of course wear a Helmet they have no choice – rightly so.
I would also go further and recommend that Adults (over 18) also wear a helmet.
The wearing of a Helmet sadly does not make you immune, injuries can still be suffered. Therefore without a helmet the severity of injuries would be greatly increased and therefore the risk is too high to not wear a helmet.
Short Answer – WEAR A HELMET !!
BS7926:2013 : Key features of the new specification
- It now includes a facial contact projectile test that assesses for penetration of the ball through the faceguard, and contact of the faceguard onto the face, using realistic ball impact speeds and conditions.
- Head protectors have been tested separately against men’s and junior sized cricket balls (a five-and-a-half ounce ball and a four-and-three-quarter ounce ball, respectively).
The Following is a list of British Standard – BS7928:2013 & BS7928:2013 +A1:2019 – Compliant Helmets as of 5 May 2023
| British Standard (BS7928:2013) compliant helmets | |||
| Manufacturer | Model | Tested against | |
| Men’s balls | Junior balls | ||
| Ayrtek | Premier Tek with Steel faceguard | x | |
| Premier Tek with Steel faceguard youth | x | ||
| Dukes | Legend Senior | x | |
| Legend Junior | x | ||
| Ganador | Pro Small | x | |
| Pro Medium | x | ||
| Pro Large | x | ||
| Gray-Nicolls | Atomic Helmet | x | x |
| Test Opener Helmet | x | x | |
| Player | x | x | |
| Junior Elite | x | x | |
| Gunn & Moore | Icon Geo Senior Large | x | |
| Icon Geo Senior | x | x | |
| Icon Geo Senior Small | x | x | |
| Icon Geo Junior | x | ||
| Diamond Geo Junior | x | ||
| Diamond Geo Senior | x | x | |
| Purist Geo Senior Large | x | ||
| Purist Geo Senior | x | x | |
| Purist Geo Junior | x | ||
| Purist Geo Junior Small | x | ||
| Purist Geo II Senior Large | x | ||
| Purist Geo II Senior | x | x | |
| Purist Geo II Junior | x | ||
| Purist Geo II Junior Small | x | ||
| Zona Geo Senior Large | x | ||
| Zona Geo Senior | x | x | |
| Zona Geo Senior Small | x | x | |
| Zona Geo Junior | x | ||
| Zelos Geo Junior | x | ||
| Zelos Geo Senior | x | x | |
| Neon Geo Small | x | x | |
| Neon Geo Medium | x | x | |
| Neon Geo Large | x | ||
| Incredible Cricket Company | Xero Senior | x | |
| Xero Junior | x | x | |
| Kookaburra | Pro 400 Senior | x | |
| Pro 400 Junior | x | ||
| Pro 400 Mini | x | ||
| Pro 600 X Small/ Small | x | x | |
| Pro 600 Medium | x | x | |
| Pro 600 Large/ X Large | x | x | |
| Viper Senior | x | ||
| Viper Junior | x | ||
| Pro 800 Senior | x | ||
| Pro 800 Junior | x | ||
| Pro 1200 X Small/ Small | x | x | |
| Pro 1200 Medium | x | x | |
| Pro 1200 Large/ X Large | x | x | |
| Pro 1500 X Small/ Small | x | x | |
| Pro 1500 Medium | x | x | |
| Pro 1500 Large/ X Large | x | x | |
| Masuri | Legacy Series Senior | x | |
| Legacy Series Junior | x | ||
| Vison Series Elite Titanium Senior | x | x | |
| Vision Series Elite Titanium Junior | x | ||
| Vision Series Elite Steel Senior | x | x | |
| Vision Series Elite Steel Junior | x | ||
| Vision Series Test Titanium Senior | x | x | |
| Vision Series Test Titanium Junior | x | ||
| Vision Series Test Steel Senior | x | x | |
| Vision Series Test Steel Junior | x | ||
| Vision Series Club Senior | x | ||
| Vision Series Club Boys | x | ||
| Vision Series Club Youths | x | ||
| Original Series MKII Legacy Junior | x | ||
| Original Series MKII Legacy Senior | x | ||
| Original Series MKII Test Steel Junior | x | ||
| Original Series MKII Test Steel Senior | x | x | |
| Original Series MKII Test Titanium Senior | x | x | |
| Original Series MKII Elite Titanium Senior | x | ||
| Original Series MKII Elite Steel Senior | x | ||
| Original Series WK MKII Test Titanium Senior | x | x | |
| Original Series WK MKII Test Steel Junior | x | ||
| Original Series WK MKII Test Steel Senior | x | x | |
| C-Line Steel Junior | x | ||
| C-Line Steel Senior | x | x | |
| T-Line Steel Junior | x | ||
| T-Line Steel Senior | x | x | |
| T-Line Titanium Senior | x | x | |
| E-Line Titanium Senior | x | ||
| Buffalo Sports | Matrix Cricket Helmet – Junior | x | x |
| Matrix Cricket Helmet – Senior | x | ||
| MRP Sports | MAXED inferno senior | x | |
| MAXED inferno junior | x | x | |
| Protech | Forma Pro SRS Mild Steel Junior | x | x |
| Forma Pro SRS Mild Steel Youth | x | x | |
| Forma Pro SRS Mild Steel Small/Medium | x | x | |
| Forma Pro SRS Mild Steel Large/XL | x | x | |
| Forma Pro SRS Stainless Steel Junior | x | ||
| Forma Pro SRS Stainless Steel Youth | x | ||
| Forma Pro SRS Stainless Steel Small/Medium | x | ||
| Forma Pro SRS Stainless Steel Large/XL | x | ||
| Forma Pro SRS Titanium Junior | x | ||
| Forma Pro SRS Titanium Youth | x | ||
| Forma Pro SRS Titanium Small/Medium | x | ||
| Forma Pro SRS Titanium Large/XL | x | ||
| Forma Pro AXIS Mild Steel Faceguard– Small | x | x | |
| Forma Pro AXIS Mild Steel Faceguard– Medium | x | x | |
| Forma Pro AXIS Mild Steel Faceguard– Large/XL | x | x | |
| Forma Pro AXIS Titanium Faceguard– Small | x | x | |
| Forma Pro AXIS Titanium Faceguard– Medium | x | x | |
| Forma Pro AXIS Titanium Faceguard– Large/XL | x | x | |
| RAM | Protec Junior | x | x |
| Protec Senior | x | ||
| Reader | Sovereign Senior | x | |
| Sovereign Junior | x | ||
| Sovereign Mini | x | ||
| Shrey | Master Class AIR 2.0 Titanium | x | x |
| Master Class AIR 2.0 Stainless Steel | x | x | |
| Pro Guard AIR 2.0 Titanium | x | x | |
| Pro Guard AIR 2.0 Stainless Steel | x | x | |
| Armor 2.0 Steel Senior | x | x | |
| Armor 2.0 Steel Junior | x | x | |
| Performance Steel Senior | x | x | |
| Performance Steel Junior | x | x | |
| Classic 2.0 Steel Senior | x | x | |
| Classic 2.0 Steel Junior | x | x | |
| Master Class AIR Titanium | x | ||
| Master Class AIR Stainless Steel | x | ||
| Pro Guard AIR Titanium | x | ||
| Pro Guard AIR Stainless Steel | x | ||
| Armor Steel | x | x | |
| Master Class AIR X Titanium | x | ||
| Pro Guard AIR X Stainless Steel | x | ||
| Stanford Cricket Industries | Platinum Senior | x | |
| Platinum Junior | x | ||
| Triumph Senior | x | ||
| Triumph Junior | x | ||
| Stealth Cricket Helmet | Junior | x | x |
| Senior | x | ||
| Slazenger | International (senior) | x | |
| International (junior) | x | ||
| Yonker | Protech senior | x | |
| Protech junior | x | x | |
| Matrix senior | x | ||
| Matrix junior | x | x | |
| British Standard (BS 7928; 2013 + A1:2019) compliant helmets | |||
| Manufacturer | Model | Tested against | |
| Men’s balls | Junior balls | ||
| Protex-U Sport | C&D Balance series – Junior Small (with ratchet rear adjustment system) | x | |
| C&D Balance series – Junior ((with ratchet rear adjustment system) | x | x | |
| C&D Balance series – Senior (with ratchet rear adjustment system) | x | ||
| C&D Balance series – Junior Small (without ratchet rear adjustment system) | x | x | |
| C&D Balance series – Junior (without ratchet rear adjustment system) | x | x | |
| C&D Balance series – Senior (without ratchet rear adjustment system) | x | x | |
| C&D Albion – Junior | x | x | |
| C&D Albion – Senior | x | x | |
| C&D Albion Z – Junior | x | x | |
| C&D Albion Z – Senior | x | x | |
| C&D Albion Ti – Junior | x | x | |
| C&D Albion Ti – Senior | x | x | |
| C&D Albion Z Ti – Junior | x | x | |
| C&D Albion Z Ti – Senior | x | x | |
| Shrey | Koroyd Small | x | x |
| Koroyd Medium | x | x | |
| Koroyd Large | x | x | |
The above update : 5 may 2023
Source : International Cricket Council @ https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/cricket/rules-and-regulations/helmets
Women’s Helmets for Cricket?
There is neither a pre-existing specific women’s helmet nor is there any BSi specification. However, as the size of the standard women’s cricket ball is between the standard men’s and junior’s balls, it is recommended that women use helmets which have been tested against both the men’s and junior sized ball or at least against the junior size ball (because the smaller ball could potentially get through the gap above the faceguard on a men’s helmet).
Please check for updates on their website – link further down this page
Things to look out for in purchasing a new head protector
The ECB and PCA (see link below under More Information) has issued guidance in order to heighten understanding, so that informed decisions as to which head protectors to purchase and use can be made by all cricketers.
Head protectors that have been tested against and comply with the new specification will be clearly labelled “BS7928:2013” and will contain clear labelling setting out whether the head protector has been tested against :
- a men’s standard ball size of 5 ½ ounces,
- a junior standard ball size of 4 ¾ ounces, or
- both men’s and junior size balls.
What should Parent’s do if offered a helmet that someone has already used
I understand that you may have or have been given a helmet that another youngster has out grown – and of course will be cheaper or even free.
If it is on the above list that is a start, but you don’t know it’s history so check it over thoroughly, making sure all those screws are present – as they will be key to you adjusting the grill so a Junior Ball Cannot Get through. (An Adult ball is larger so should also not get through. Both balls might get through at speed so adjust the grill so they cannot.
I have to be honest here – and would suggest a new helmet.
I appreciate they are not cheap. Your Cricket Club should have a few that would be on the above list for your youngster to use, as no Cricket Club would wish any one at any age not to be able to take part just because they do not have a helmet.
The Helmet that comply with the new specification will be clearly labelled “BS7928:2013” – this would be difficult with a used helmet as it will be missing or got rubbed so illegible.
When should helmets be worn?
Probably as soon as the Pad’s go on and using a hard ball in practice, training or a match. Any one Under 18 has to wear one – common sense though yes!! This could be U9 as the CLub are in a Junior League that plays U9 matches with a hard ball.
In Short any Hard Ball Practice or match
Further Information :
England & Wales Cricket Board – https://www.ecb.co.uk/concussion-in-cricket/helmets
International Cricket Council – https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/cricket/rules-and-regulations/helmets
this page was last reviewed and updated 22 July 2023
