Australia cricketers test new helmet ahead of game with Scotland

Australian players have tested a new helmet safety attachment, which has been designed in the wake of the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.

However, Cricket Australia say the players will not be obliged to wear the attachment in matches.

Australia international Hughes died on 27 November last year, two days after he was hit on the head by a bouncer from Sean Abbott during a first-class match in Sydney.

And Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and George Bailey all wore the new Masuri StemGuard clip-on, made of honeycomb plastic and foam, while they practiced in the nets ahead of Saturday’s World Cup match against Scotland at Bellerive Oval.

Prolific Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara has used the helmet during the World Cup and Ireland’s John Mooney has designed his own version.

Cricket Australia Executive General Manager of Team Performance Pat Howard told cricket.au.com: “Masuri has worked very hard to bring this guard to market in a very short period of time and we appreciate and commend that.

"The players have now been given the guards to trial at training, before deciding whether they wear them in match conditions. It is very much a personal decision which we will respect."