Neck guard mandates at the local level have been called for since Ben Austin's death in October last year. Photo: Megan Fisher, Masuri
Neck protection is back on the radar of cricket associations across the nation, including Cricket Shepparton, but despite the tragic event that has led to the latest calls for change, senior cricketers are still opposed to stricter laws.
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The implementation of neck guards on cricket helmets has been a case fought persistently for more than a decade, but the conversation would ignite internationally again late last year, when junior cricketer Ben Austin died after being struck on the neck by a cricket ball.
Austin’s death was caused by a side arm throwing device – a ‘wanger’ – in the training nets, in a near identical hit to the neck that Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes suffered from a bowled delivery in the Sheffield Shield in 2014.
Hughes’ tragedy sparked research into development of neck protectors on helmets and, by the 2023-24 season, the usage of neck guards was mandated for Cricket Australia sanctioned competitions.
However, at junior and senior club level, the utilisation of neck guards remains an oversight.
While compulsory for Australia’s international superstars, even for Tatura’s Michael Archer when he padded up for the Big Bash League’s Melbourne Renegades, neck guards are only “strongly recommended” under the current guidelines at community level.
But that could be up for change, with Cricket Shepparton president Narelle Claney confirming the league is “in consultation” with the sport’s state body about potential updates to the neck protector guidelines.
“It’s not officially put into anything yet, but it’s something at our level where we’ll see what we want to do going forward,” Claney said.
“We can’t change anything mid-season, but we have been in consultation with Cricket Victoria to see where things are.”
But despite the positive safety outcomes for neck guard usage, Cricket Shepparton senior club figures are still hesitant to buy in to the additional helmet equipment.
Cricket helmets, let alone neck guards, are a “hot topic” yearly for senior Cricket Shepparton players, and until Cricket Victoria or Cricket Australia mandate the use of neck protectors at community level, it is highly unlikely clubs will advocate for neck guard implementation, even if league executives push its case.
Current helmet laws, let alone neck guards, are contentiously viewed already by many of the senior cricket cohort.
“Helmets are always a hot topic for seniors, it’s something raised each year,” Claney said.
“But it is up to the clubs at the end of the day, executives come with the idea and clubs will vote for or against it.”
The News surveyed senior club coaches, players and staff from Cricket Shepparton about their views on neck protectors, with the data evidencing the claims that neck guard mandates will be contentious for the Goulburn Valley’s top cricketers.
Already within club land, estimations of players in the senior teams using neck guards ranged from zero to 25 per cent, with a median figure sitting at about 10 per cent of players.
Survey data of percentage of Cricket Shepparton senior players that use neck protectors.
All survey respondents answered that they did not personally use a neck guard, with more than three quarters stating its non-compulsory requirement was the main factor.
Other factors included inconvenience to install a neck guard or buy a helmet with a fitted neck guard, as well as lack of comfort when worn.
When it comes to club-provided neck guards as shared equipment, low demand was primarily the reason for not doing so.
That data reinforced the opinion that providing club helmets fitted with neck guards was viewed as a ‘three out of 10’ in terms of priority for the team – cost constraints and other equipment taking priority were also heavily listed as challenges to provide club-available neck guards.
Survey data on challenges clubs face to provide neck guards.
Notably, no respondent advocated that neck guards should be mandatory, however, more than half agreed they should remain strongly recommended.
About a quarter of surveyed clubs raised the debate in house following Austin’s tragic death and went on to informally encourage their players to think about installing a guard on their helmets, but Claney stated no clubs had come forward to the league to propose stricter neck guard protocols since the incident made international headlines.
The progressive views of the league and hesitancy from senior players presents an intriguing friction point for the off-season and for 2026-27’s competitions, should any change in laws be put forward.
How the dynamic evolves as Cricket Shepparton continues its consultation with Cricket Victoria will warrant close attention, as the neck guard and head safety debate continues to linger following Austin’s death.
