REDLANDS club cricketers will need to ensure they have a compliant helmet ahead of the 2019/20 season as a new safety policy comes into effect.
All senior and junior cricketers will be required to wear a British standard helmet when wicket-keeping, batting or fielding close to the batter during matches in specified competitions.
The new helmets are characterised by a fixed, non adjustable grille and reinforced peak.
The changes, handed down by Cricket Australia, come nearly five years on from the Phil Hughes tragedy at the Sydney Cricket Ground and amid concerns for the health of former Australian captain Steve Smith following a blow to the head in the second Ashes test.
The policy changes are being enforced around Australia at various levels of cricket, with Queensland's major club competitions, Premier Grade and Warehouse Cricket, among those where umpires and officials will be required to ensure participants are wearing compliant helmets.
Redlands Tigers Cricket Club at Wellington Point, who take part in the Premier Grade competition, bought more than 40 British standard helmets two seasons ago in anticipation of the new policy.
Club president Darren Wallis said the club had almost exhausted their original order of Masuri branded compliant helmets and had ordered 40 more to meet the ongoing demand.
"We've known the Bristish standard helmet would be the helmet Cricket Australia would settle on so we decided to purchase them," he said.
"Last year it was an opt-in event whereas now the policy statement from Cricket Australia is strongly recommended which we have adopted.
"We anticipated that across a three year period we would have to sell in the vicinity of 80 helmets to cover off the majority of our players.
"From the start of the season players have been advised that to play cricket at Redlands Tigers they'll need to be wearing a British standard helmet and that includes training and being selected for games."
Players will not be required to attach a neck protector to the helmet under the new policy despite a 2014 inquiry into Phil Hughes' death recommending that cricket authorities consider the merit of a protective device if found to be satisfactory in providing additional safety.
Up until this season players were still allowed to bat without a helmet.
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