The governing body of cricket in Australia, Cricket Australia has made it mandatory for the batsman to wear neck protector on their helmets when facing fast or medium pace bowlers for the 2023-24 cricketing season.

Australia became the first country in the world to make wearing of neck protectors mandatory for batsmen against fast or medium pace bowlers.

During a match played in Sydney in 2014 , Australian batsman Phillip Hughes was killed after a bouncer hit him in the neck.

The rule does not apply for batsmen when facing spinners or for wicket keepers and close-in fielders.

Australian star batsmen like Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and David Warner had resisted wearing them but neck protectors will be mandatory in men’s and women’s matches when the new season starts in early October.

The decision comes a week after Australian all-rounder Cameron Green had to leave the field with concussion after a bouncer hit the side of his helmet during his team’s win over South Africa in a one-day international match.