ECB Helmet Guidance
Players over the age of 18
The ECB strongly recommends that all adult recreational cricketers should wear helmets for certain activities, preferably which meet the most recent British Safety Standard (see below). This recommendation applies to batting against all types of bowling, wicket-keepers standing up to the wicket (who may as an alternative wear face protectors) and fielders fielding closer than eight yards from the batsman's middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side.
Under 18s
The position in relation to u18s currently remains unchanged, and is governed by the 'ECB Guidance on the Wearing of Cricket Helmets by Young Players' - here. In essence, batsmen and wicket-keepers standing up to the stumps must wear head protection when playing or practising. That Guidance should be referred to in full for the position in relation to u18s.
British Safety Standard
The latest British Safety Standard is BS7928:2013 (for both adults and juniors). The full list of helmets meeting this standard is listed below. For wicket-keeping face protectors the relevant British Safety Standard is BS7929-2:2009 (again, for both adults and juniors).
The list of known head protectors that have met BS7928:13 as of 18 April 2016 is as follows:
Tested against men's balls
Ayrtek :
Premier Tek with Steel faceguard
Gray-Nicolls :
Atomic Helmet /
Test Opener Helmet /
Omega XRD /
Gunn & Moore :
Icon Geo Senior Large /
Icon Geo Senior /
Icon Geo Senior Small /
Purist Geo Senior /
Zona Geo Senior Large /
Zona Geo Senior /
Zona Geo Senior Small
Kookaburra :
Pro 400 Senior /
Viper Senior /
Pro 800 Senior
Masuri : Vison Series Elite Titanium /
Vision Series Elite Steel /
Vision Series Test Titanium /
Vision Series Test Steel /
Vision Series Club Senior
Reader :
Sovereign Senior
Shrey :
Master Class AIR Titanium /
Pro Guard AIR Titanium /
Master Class AIR Stainless Steel /
Pro Guard AIR Stainless Steel /
Armor Senior Steel /
Performance Senior Steel
Slazenger : International (senior)
Tested against both men's and junior balls
Gray-Nicolls : Atomic Helmet /
Test Opener Helmet /
Omega XRD Helmet
Gunn & Moore :
Icon Geo Senior /
Icon Geo Senior Small /
Purist Geo Senior /
Zona Geo Senior /
Zona Geo Senior Small
Masuri : Vision Series Elite Titanium /
Vision Series Elite Steel /
Vision Series Test Titanium /
Vision Series Test Steel
Shrey :
Armor Senior Steel /
Armor Junior/Youth Steel /
Performance Senior Steel /
Performance Junior / Youth Steel
Tested against junior balls
Gray-Nicolls :
Atomic Helmet /
Test Opener Helmet /
Omega XRD Helmet
Gunn & Moore :
Icon Geo Senior /
Icon Geo Senior Small /
Icon Geo Junior /
Purist Geo Senior /
Purist Geo Junior /
Zona Geo Senior /
Zona Geo Senior Small /
Zona Geo Junior
Kookaburra :
Pro 400 Junior /
Pro 400 Mini /
Pro 800 Junior /
Viper Junior
Masuri :
Vision Series Elite Titanium /
Vision Series Elite Steel /
Vision Series Test Titanium /
Vision Series Test Steel /
Vision Series Club Boys /
Vision Series Club Youths
Reader :
Sovereign Junior /
Sovereign Mini
Shrey :
Armor Senior Steel /
Armor Junior/Youth Steel /
Performance Senior Steel /
Performance Junior / Youth Steel
Slazenger : International (junior)
When a new helmet meets the BS7928:2013 standard, and are certified (CE) to be in conformity with Council Directive 89/686/EEC and associated amendments relating to personal protective equipment, manufacturers are asked to provide documentary evidence of this compliance to helmets@ecb.co.uk, so that the helmet can be added to the list.
The ECB understands that there is currently no specific women's helmet and as a consequence no specific standard for women's cricket helmets. As the size of the standard women's cricket ball is between the standard men and junior balls, it is recommended that women use helmets that have been tested against both the men's and junior sized ball, or at least against the junior size ball (as that could potentially get through the gap above the face guard on a men's helmet).
What do Leagues and Clubs need to do?
Whilst it is strongly recommended that all adult recreational cricketers wear helmets in the on-field circumstances detailed above, it is not mandatory for them to do so. For the avoidance of doubt, Leagues or Clubs do not need to go above and beyond the ECB's recommendation by forcing their cricketers to wear helmets.
However, Leagues and Clubs in recreational cricket should ensure that their cricketers are made aware of the ECB's above recommendation in relation to helmets, including the need to check that any newly purchased helmets meet the latest British Safety Standard. The ECB recommends that Leagues and Clubs bring this link to the attention of their cricketers and encourage all cricketers to carefully consider their own health and safety regarding helmet use.
