Did an 'old helmet' end Phil Hughes' life?
The incident of Australian cricketer Hughes has shocked the global cricket community
Sydney: Australia cricketer Phillip Hughes was wearing an older model helmet when he suffered a serious head injury which led to his death on Thursday and the latest version released about a year ago 'might have offered better protection', the equipment manufacturer has said.
Hughes, who was fighting for his life in a Sydney hospital, was wearing Masuri's 'Original Test' helmet, which offers less protection than the newer 'Vision Series' model, Masuri managing director Sam Miller told British media.
Batting for South Australia in a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday, Hughes was struck by a short delivery from fast bowler Sean Abbott.
It was unclear from footage just where the ball struck Hughes, but Miller said it appeared the batsman was hit on the back of the head, just beneath the helmet and behind his ear.
He said the difference between the new and older helmets' protection at the back was "a matter of centimetres" and that batsmen needed a certain amount of free space in that region to allow them to move and bat with comfort.
The 25-year-old Hughes died at Sydney hospital after he could not recover from the head injury.
The incident has shocked the global cricket community and provided a reminder of the dangers inherent in the so-called 'gentlemen's game'.