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What Is the Best Head Protection for Cricket Fielders and Bowlers?

For cricket fielders and bowlers, the best head protection is protection designed to reduce the rotational forces transmitted to the brain during head impacts [1, 2, 3]. That matters because cricket head injuries are not limited to obvious concussions or direct collisions; fast ball deflections, close-fielding incidents, and bowling follow-throughs can also expose players to meaningful brain stress [1, 4]. In roles that demand visibility, comfort, movement, and repeat use in training, lightweight brain protection that can be worn consistently is the most practical approach [1, 4].

Cricket head injury risk extends beyond the most visible moments in the game. England and Wales Cricket Board guidance notes that head injuries can occur in the field, especially in close fielding positions, while Cricket Ireland’s concussion guidance applies across both matches and training [1, 4].

Why cricket fielders and bowlers need brain protection

Cricket is often discussed as though head injury risk sits in only a narrow part of the game. In reality, fielders and bowlers can also be exposed to high-speed, unpredictable impacts. ECB guidance states that head injuries can occur in the field, especially in close fielding positions, during falls, or in collisions while fielding [1].

That matters in training as well as competition. Cricket Ireland defines concussion as a traumatic brain injury and makes clear that any player with a suspected concussion should be removed from play or practice immediately. Australian Cricket guidance similarly emphasises concussion recognition and management across the wider cricket environment, including training sessions [4, 5].

Cricket-specific literature supports the same point. A narrative review of head injury and concussion in cricket concluded that concussion remains a significant cause of injury in the sport and highlighted the need for better recognition, management, and prevention across cricket settings [6].

For bowlers and fielders, the problem is often not prolonged contact. It is fast reaction situations: a hard return shot, a close-fielding deflection, a follow-through incident, or a rebound in a confined net environment. These are the scenarios where players may have little time to react, but the brain can still be exposed to significant force [1, 4, 6].

A youth cricketer wearing Rezon Halos® concussion protection.
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Watch: Rotational forces are present in every head impact and are the strongly associated with concussion and traumatic brain injury in sport.

Why rotational force matters in cricket head impacts

Brain injury is not only about contact with the skull. It is about how force is transmitted to the brain. Biomechanics research shows that rotational kinematics are more predictive of traumatic brain injury risk than linear acceleration alone, because rapid head rotation generates shear strain within brain tissue [2, 3].

That is highly relevant in cricket because many impacts are glancing, angled, or unexpected. A deflected ball or sudden rebound may not always look dramatic, but it can still create injurious motion inside the skull. This is why brain protection should not be judged purely by whether something cushions the outside of the head [2, 3].

Repeated lower-level impacts also matter. A systematic review of sub-concussive head impacts in sport found evidence of structural, functional, metabolic, and neurophysiological change associated with repeated head-impact exposure, even in the absence of diagnosed concussion [7].

Common cricket situations where fielders and bowlers are at risk

  • Bowlers in follow-through: After release, bowlers continue moving toward the batter and may have very limited time to react to a hard return shot. This makes the bowling follow-through one of cricket’s most overlooked head-risk moments.

  • Close fielders often work at short reaction distances and can be exposed to hard, rising, or deflected balls. ECB guidance explicitly identifies fielding, especially close fielding, as a situation where head injuries can occur [1].

  • Net sessions are one of the most overlooked risk environments in cricket. Balls can ricochet, rebound, or deflect in unexpected ways, especially in indoor spaces or where support structures alter ball trajectory. Cricket Ireland’s guidance is useful here because it applies directly to training settings rather than match play alone [4].

  • Coaches and support staff: Throwdown specialists, coaches, and support staff can also be exposed to fast-moving balls in close training environments. Australian Cricket’s concussion guidance is directed at the wider cricket community, not only players [5].

  • Youth cricket: Youth and academy cricket deserve particular attention because these settings combine skill development, high repetition, and variable reaction time. A New Zealand injury analysis based on 12 years of Accident Compensation Corporation data found that players aged 10 to 20 years had the highest injury incidence, and concluded that injury-prevention programmes should focus on contact injuries including those affecting the head, face, and neck [8].

  • Professional Play: Cricket-specific research from Australia also shows that head impacts and concussion remain a meaningful issue at elite level. In one study of Australian elite male and female cricketers, there were 107 head impacts and 37 concussions recorded across the study period [9]. Video-analysis research has also shown that situational factors around impact direction and rebound behaviour can help identify concussion risk in cricket head impacts [10].

Important features for the best cricket head protection

The best head protection for these roles should meet five criteria.

Reduces rotational force

Because rotational acceleration is a major driver of brain tissue strain, cricket head protection should be designed to reduce rotational force transmission, not simply cushion the scalp [2, 3].

Stay lightweight and stable

Fielders and bowlers need vision, balance, and freedom of movement. Protection that shifts, distracts, or adds bulk is less likely to be worn consistently.

Work in training environments

Much of the overlooked head-risk in cricket sits in training, especially in nets. Protection needs to be practical during repeated drills, bowling spells, and fielding practice [4, 5].

Be comfortable enough to wear consistently

Protection only helps if players actually wear it. Sweat management, secure fit, and comfort all matter because they drive repeat use across long sessions.

Be backed by credible testing and certification

Protective claims should be supported by independent biomechanical testing and recognised safety certification, not appearance alone.

Why Rezon Halos® is a strong fit for cricket fielders and bowlers

Rezon Halos® is designed to reduce rotational force transmission during concussive and sub-concussive impacts using patented Rotection® technology [11]. Independent biomechanical testing has demonstrated a reduction of up to 61% in rotational force transmission and a 74% reduction in concussion risk using the Virginia Tech methodology. Halos® holds a Virginia Tech 5-Star safety rating and CE / UKCA Category II PPE certification [11, 12].

That matters in cricket because fielders and bowlers need protection that is light, secure, breathable, and wearable in real playing and training conditions. In these roles, brain protection must work without interfering with movement, visibility, communication, or comfort [11].

Watch: Ireland Cricket U19s wearing Rezon Halos® to train during their World Cup campaign in Zimbabwe.

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Case study: Ireland Under-19s Men’s Cricket and Rezon Halos®

One of the clearest cricket examples comes from Ireland Under-19s Men’s Cricket during the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026. After an accidental head injury to Gethin Kelleher while bowling in indoor nets before the tournament, the squad began using Rezon Halos® in training for fast bowlers.

This was a direct response to a real cricket risk: bowling in confined net environments where players can face deflections, rebounds, and reduced reaction time. It shows why brain protection matters not only in matches, but in the training settings where players spend so much of their time.

“All of our fast bowlers at the Under-19s World Cup have been wearing Rezon Halos®, and the feedback has been excellent. They are lightweight, secure, absorb sweat well, and have been particularly useful in net sessions, where balls can deflect unexpectedly.”

Pete Johnston | Head Coach | Ireland Under-19s Men’s Cricket

Who should consider brain protection in cricket?

Rezon Halos® is especially relevant for:

  • fast bowlers
  • close fielders
  • youth players in net sessions and fielding drills
  • coaches and throwdown specialists
  • support staff working in close training environments
  • parents looking for practical brain protection in youth cricket

Frequently Asked Questions About Head Protection In Cricket

Bowlers can face serious head-risk situations, especially during follow-through when reaction time is limited after release. That risk can increase in net sessions where rebounds or deflections are harder to predict [4, 5].

Yes. ECB guidance explicitly notes that head injuries can occur in the field, especially in close fielding positions, during falls, or in collisions while fielding [1].

No. Repetitive sub-concussive head impacts are also a concern because they expose the brain to cumulative stress even when no single impact causes obvious concussion symptoms [7].

Net sessions combine repetition, close distances, confined space, and the possibility of unusual ball deflections. That makes them one of the most important settings for practical brain protection in cricket. Cricket Ireland’s guidance is particularly relevant because it applies directly to training settings [4].

Head protection often refers to protecting the outside of the head from contact injury. Brain protection focuses more specifically on reducing the forces, especially rotational forces, transmitted to the brain and associated with injury mechanisms such as shear strain [2, 3].

Final takeaway

For cricket fielders and bowlers, the best head protection is protection designed to reduce the rotational forces linked to brain injury while remaining light, secure, and practical enough to wear consistently [1, 2, 3]. That is why bowling follow-through, close fielding, and net training deserve more attention in cricket’s brain-protection conversation [1, 4, 5, 6]. Rezon Halos® is a strong fit for this role because it combines brain-focused design, independent testing, and everyday wearability in the environments where these risks occur [11, 12].

Author: Alex Reily

Alex Reily, Rezon Director.
Alex Reily is Director of Revenue Operations at Rezon, where he focuses on reducing brain injury risk in sport. He is committed to increasing awareness of brain protection options, giving every athlete the choice of brain protection in sport and ensuring equitable access to safer sporting environments.

Read more articles by Alex Reily

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