Why Cricket Australia has made neck guards mandatory for batters?

From October 1, all Australian cricket players, both international and domestic, will be required to wear neck guards when facing fast or medium pace bowling. Failure to do so will result in sanctions.

This new rule change is part of Cricket Australia’s (CA) playing conditions for the 2023-24 season. It aims to protect batters from serious neck injuries, which can be caused by bouncers and other fast deliveries.

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The new rule change will affect several Australian international batters, including David Warner, Steve Smith, and Usman Khawaja, who do not currently wear neck protectors when batting. CA will make it mandatory for players to wear neck guards at all international training sessions and matches, as part of a change to its clothing and equipment regulations.