The most essential part of protection when you’re batting or wicket-keeping will be head protection. Everything else is secondary after the head protection. Quite a lot of times, young cricketers compromise to get a cheaper helmet and fall into various injuries. This is really a concern for the parents who are letting their kids get into cricket academies as they need to be advised to get the best possible quality cricket helmets, which must be compliant with the British Standard (BSI) created by ICC after the unfortunate passing of the Aussie Cricketer Phil Hughes.
As we proceed, we will be extensively talking about Cricket helmets, their types, their functions, a few brands, and various other takeaways.
The Functions and Usability of a Cricket Helmet
Whether you’re batting, wicketkeeper, or a close catcher, if you’re not wearing a helmet, you’re putting your life at risk, as oftentimes even wearing a helmet isn’t enough. Our brain is the most essential part of our body; the functions of our other body parts cannot be done with the brain, not at capacity. So, get the best quality Helmet first, then you may have opportunities to compromise your expenses on Cricket pads, Cricket abdominal guard, and other protection gear.
But, now the cricket helmets are made under the strict protocol of BS 7928; 2013 + A1:2019, where the grill is immovably placed where the grill cannot be adjusted along the helmet having neck padding.
Brands like Masuri and Shrey are known for making the best possible helmets out there in the market, along with the very best players wearing them.
The Types of a Cricket Helmet
The shell of the helmet varies depending on the quality and price of the helmet. Cheaper helmets usually come with a bare plastic shell coated with paint, and as you get a better quality, you’ll see that the helmets have a cloth cover. The key function of the cloth cover is that it can keep the helmet cooler when batting in hotter conditions.
- But, the significant things that you should cover when it comes to getting a perfect helmet should be to get a helmet that is atleast stainless grill, the ones with ear pads and neck pads, and lastly, the one that has a head adjuster.
Mild Steel Grill
These are the cheapest out of the lot, not to mention the heaviest weighing helmets as well. I totally do not recommend getting a mild steel grill helmet, as these lack the quality and are also quite uncomfortable. Some of the mild steel grill helmets don’t even have enough padding, ventilation, or the knob behind to adjust your head.
Also, a mild grill helmet is unsafe because any sort of medium pace might penetrate through the grill and can cause accidents. If money is your concern, then please try to spend 300-400 rupees more as you’ll get a lighter and comfier helmet.
Stainless Steel Grill
Stainless steel grills are in the mid-tier section of helmets, as they’re neither the worst nor the greatest. The stainless grill helmets are lighter than mild steel grills and are also more protective. These helmets also have shells that come in premium padding and comfortable ventilation, but the cheaper ones may have less padding and no head adjuster.
If you’re someone who’s new to cricket or looking to have a helmet for 2-3 years, then you could get a stainless steel grill helmet for around 2000-5000 rupees.
Titanium Grill
Now, this is the most premium line of helmets. All the international and first-class level cricketers wear titanium grill helmets as these are the lightest and the strongest out of all the helmets. The titanium grill is around 200-400 grams lighter than the Stainless grill helmets, making it significantly comfier than all the helmets you have previously worn.
The latest innovation when it comes to helmets has been by Shrey, which is their Koroyd Helmets. Shrey collaborated with Koroyed in making these lightweight absorption technology helmets that are lighter, safer, and more amazing ventilation for the heated air to get out.
Koroyd says, “Koroyd features the world’s thinnest walled tubes, resulting in a structure that is 95% air. This reduces weight and enhances comfort without compromising on safety.”
Criteria in choosing the right Cricket Helmet: Brands and Quality
Now that we have know what the are things to look for when it comes to helmets as well as the types of helmets, let us now talk about the criteria for choosing the right cricket helmet.
Getting the right size
Unless you’re getting the Shrey Koroyd helmets, which are created for all kinds of head shapes, you might need to do some research to find the right size and brand for you.
The first thing you should do is measure your head shape. To do that, simply measure the circumference of your head with a measurement tape. Then, based on your measurements, you can get your preferred size with the brand size chart.
Now if you’re in a dilemma in choosing the right shape, if your size is in the middle of the two sizes, then try to get the larger size as during sunny conditions, your head would prefer more breathable space.
Also, to understand if the helmet is the right fit for you or not, make sure to move around your head with the helmet on and see if the helmet wobbles. If the size is the right it then it will not wobble and to make the helmet comfortable for your head, make sure that you walk around and move a bit for a couple of hours before practice and match days.
Getting the right brand
Shrey and Masuri are at the top of the food chain in terms of creating the best helmets; you’ll see most top-level crickets wear a Shreya and Masuri, and then there are brands Ihsan Gray-Nicolls. If you’re not getting a titanium grill helmet, then you can adjust to other brands as they might be cheaper for Stainless Steel helmets, but if you’re getting a titanium grill, then I’d suggest nothing but Shrey and Masuri, especially the Shrey Koroyd ones.
Ihsan International, Next Generation, Protex-U Sport, Protech, and Shrey are some of the listed brands that fall under the British Standard compliant helmets and neck protectors
Getting the right quality
Quality, as I’ve spoken in the types that it should be, is, at the bare minimum, a stainless steel grill helmet, as these will serve you a long time with maximum protection. If you’re playing consistently at a high level, you should invest in a titanium grill helmet.
Also, if you’re struggling with vision after wearing a helmet, then I’d suggest getting the masuri helmet that has the eye-line grill system, which has grills at close, one of the front and one slightly behind, which prevents the grill from obstructing your vision.
To Conclude!
Thus, I hope you have found enough clarity in choosing the right helmet and gaining insights on helmets. The importance of head protection must be balanced, and compromising quality may lead to severe consequences. Cricket helmets must adhere to the rigorous standards set by organizations like the ICC, with compliance to BS 7928:2013 + A1:2019 ensuring the utmost safety. The market offers different types of helmets, ranging from mild steel to premium titanium grills. While stainless steel grills provide a balanced option, titanium grills, especially with innovations like Shrey’s Koroyd Helmets, offer unparalleled comfort and safety.
Choosing the right size, brand, and quality is crucial, with Shrey and Masuri standing out as top-tier brands. Investing in a high-quality helmet is an investment in one’s well-being and longevity in the sport, ensuring a secure and enjoyable cricketing experience. But please ensure that you prioritize your physical safety in other body parts, especially through Cricket pads and Cricket abdominal guards.
