How to choose a cricket helmet

Today we spend a lot on clothes, food and other stuff but when buying protective gear for ourselves we hesitate and think twice before purchasing any product. Also, few people are aware and want to protect themselves from any injury while playing any sport, exercising, or for instance you are eating street food but you sanitize your hands first while having your food why? Because it will protect you from the germs entering into your body. 

Just like that while playing any sport you have to make sure that you are buying the protective gear of the particular sport you will be practicing. For instance, if you are willing to enter into cricket there will be a lot of things you will need to consider, and selecting an appropriate cricket helmet is one of them. A cricket helmet is one of the most crucial elements for your protection. 

During earlier days of cricket, legendary players like Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Viv Richards, Sunil Gavaskar and others used to play without a helmet and that too against the terrific fast bowlers of that era to name a few, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, Dennis Lillee etc. 

One instance was when Sachin Tendulkar was hit on his nose by a bouncer from Waqar Younis and broke his nose at that time helmets for cricket did not have a grill as we see today. 

Today you will find all helmets with a proper grill on them as there are continuous developments in the safety standards. 

• As per the new British standard guidelines, all helmets should pass the facial contact test which is required to check if any ball is penetrating through the grills. 
• All helmets should pass the head protection test, which is tested with a five-and-a-half-ounce ball and a four-and-three-quarter-ounce ball. 
• While buying a new helmet pay special attention to the safety standards. Tested helmets according to the guidelines will have ICC labels on them. Most of the major brands are offering their helmets, but Masuri and Shrey are some of the prominent and leading brands in this segment. 

How to choose the best helmet for cricket for you?

While selecting a head protection for you there are a few other things you should consider, 

1. The level of cricket you play or the standard. A village cricketer will need a basic helmet to suit his needs. On the other hand, the one who plays regularly will opt for a helmet with more protection and comfort. 
2. Top league cricketers will require the highest level of protection from their cricket helmets. 
3. Batters who spend a lot of time in the middle would be advised to spend more on high-quality helmet for cricket that would have a high level of protection and comfort for those long innings.

Grills 

Grills protect you from the ball hitting on your face. They are generally made of titanium or stainless steel. Titanium grills are more widely used and are recommended because they are lightweight, durable and offer more strength than stainless steel grills. Grills now come in a standard fix as it prevent the ball from penetrating from the grill, which also protects the face of the batter. Titanium grills are more expensive than the stainless steel grills. 

Shells

Shells on the helmets have two variations“Painted/hard or Cloth” finished. Hard shells will have more ventilation than cloth-finished helmets. 

Comfort 

The level of comfort in your helmet depends from brand to brand as each of them will have a different level of comfort. Best cricket helmets like Masuri and Shrey will have extra levels of padding and soft cushioning from inside the shell to offer maximum comfort while wearing. Chinstraps are also provided with soft cushioning which will perfectly fit on your chin. The entry-level and top-end helmets will both offer safety. Helmets with titanium grills, fibreglass shells and additional packing will be more lightweight, comfortable and costly. 

Sizing 

While selecting your helmet make sure it fits on your head perfectly, the chin strap must fit on your chin and not under it. There should be no front-to-back or sideways movement inside your helmet. 

Choosing the correct cricket helmet size is essential and it’s an individual process. Check the eyeline, weight and comfort before purchasing the helmet. 

There are two specialist cricket helmet manufacturers, Shrey and Masuri which offer aerodynamics and high-level comfort. On the other hand, GM and Kookaburra provide functional elements which cater to young and adult players. 

Here’s a best cricket helmet size chart just for your reference: 

Remember to prioritize your safety and “lid up” with a helmet to minimize your risk of serious injury in the unpredictable game of cricket.