Cricket helmet safety in the spotlight after death of Phil Hughes
Manufacturers say the development of safer headgear is being held back by the fact that many elite-level players refuse to wear them
Former Australia cricketer Bryce McGain wore a new, safety-conscious helmet for a series of televised one-day matches a few years ago - and quickly found himself the butt of commentator and player jibes.
"They explained the technology and I liked the idea that it was safer," McGain said of the futuristic-looking helmet he wore in 2009. "The commentators had a go, saying 'he looks like Darth Vader', 'he looks like Robocop'.
"It didn't bother me too much, but only a couple of other players wore it and if you don't have the players at the top, the ones on TV, wearing them, they won't sell."
The commentators had a go, saying 'he looks like Darth Vader', 'he looks like Robocop'
They didn't. Sports manufacturer Albion Sports pulled the helmet after poor sales.
Helmet safety is in the spotlight after the death of Australia's Phillip Hughes yesterday.
Manufacturers say Hughes' accident was unusual and nothing on the market would likely have prevented it. But they also say advances in helmet technology are being stymied by a lack of enforcement of international safety standards and the reluctance of elite-level players to adopt new styles.
Investment in new designs has gone instead to other sports such as cycling and baseball, which have been more open to radically different designs.
A number of players, including West Indies batting great Brian Lara, say the incident was a rare but unavoidable reminder that the game is a dangerous one.