New Helmet Rules

Wearing British Standard compliant helmets will be mandatory when batting, keeping and close-in fielding for senior players from 2019-20 and for junior players from 2020-21.

From the commencement of the 2019-20 cricket season, a new Queensland Cricket Playing Condition requires senior club cricketers and representative cricketers of all ages to wear helmets which are compliant with British Standard BS7928:2103 at all times when batting (to fast or medium pace bowlers), wicket keeping up to the stumps and fielding in close.

Players will not be able to use non-compliant helmets. Refusal to wear a complying helmet when instructed to do so by the umpires will incur penalties, up to forfeiting the match. Details of the QC helmet playing rules are in the document linked below.

MSW Junior cricketers playing Stage 2 and Stage 3 cricket must wear a helmet at all times when batting and wicket keeping. (Junior players are not permitted to field in close, so this aspect of the new helmet rules does not apply.) Stage 1 cricketers (playing soft ball cricket) are strongly encouraged to wear a helmet while batting and keeping. For the 2019-20 season, the use of British Standard compliant helmets is recommended but not mandatory, but from the 2020-21 season onward, MSW will mandate the use of BS-compliant helmets.

The new playing condition means that many junior and senior players will need to upgrade their current helmets with new gear that meets the new standards.

Many currently used helmets (including some still available through retail outlets) do not meet the new standards, and club members should verify when purchasing new helmets that they comply with the new requirements.

Advice about determining helmet compliance is provided in the documents linked below. An adjustable face grille (with easily removable nuts where the grille joins the helmet) is an immediate indicator that a helmet is non-compliant, however there are other features which also determine compliance.

This change in helmet rules requirement is not being driven by Wests – it is being mandated by Queensland Cricket and the MSW junior cricket association. It’s happening as a result of policy changes being implemented by the ICC, Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket to improve the level of protection provided by helmets (click on the link document below to read about the details). Cricket Australia’s FAQ document regarding its helmet policy is linked below.

The change is a good thing – safety is important, and there’s not much point wearing a helmet if it won’t keep your scone intact!

Queensland Cricket Helmet Policy – Premier Grade Cricket
Cricket Australia Helmet Policy FAQs