The purpose of a cricket helmet is to protect the player’s head from injury, particularly from fast-moving cricket balls. Cricket helmets are essential safety gear for batsmen facing bowlers who can deliver the ball at high speeds, sometimes exceeding 90 miles per hour (140 kilometers per hour). The cricket world was shocked by the tragedy of Phillip Hughes Australian cricketer at the age of 25. Hughes sustained a fatal injury when he was hit by a bouncer on the side of his head, below his helmet, during a Shield game in Sydney. The impact occurred as he missed an attempted hook shot, leading to a cerebral hemorrhage. After the accident, the helmet consists of a hard outer shell made of materials like fiberglass or carbon fiber, along with padding inside to absorb and distribute the force of impacts. This protective gear reduces the risk of head injuries such as concussions, skull fractures, or other serious trauma that could result from being hit by a cricket ball. 

ICC published a guideline regarding helmets for cricketer’s safety. According to the ICC regulations: Clothing and Equipment Regulations a regulation that stipulates that if any player elects to wear a helmet while batting in international cricket, it must be compliant with the British Standard (BSI) – BS 7928; 2013. In 2019, the standards were updated to BS 7928; 2013 + A1:2019 to include specifications for neck protectors. Key features of the specification, BS 7928; 2013 + A1:2019

• 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).
• Coverage and impact attenuation drop test for neck protectors to reduce the frequency and severity of localized injuries to the base of the rear of the head and upper neck.