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This Is What Made umpire John Ward To wears helmet during ODI





 It may have looked alarming to onlookers, but Australian umpire John Ward knew fully well what he was doing when he took his mark behind the non-striker's stumps during the ongoing fourth ODI between Australia and India at Manuka Oval on Wednesday with a helmet on his head.

This is the first instance of an umpire putting on a safety helmet at international level, but it comes amid a collective effort from cricket administrators to improve safety standards following the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.

After all, it was Ward who struck on the head during a Ranji Trophy fixture between Punjab and Tamil Nadu on December 1, a sickening blow that concussed the 53-year-old Victorian match official. Hit on the head by a firmly struck shot from Punjab's Barinder Sran - a part of the current Indian squad in Australia - while officiating the match in Dindigul as part of the umpires exchange programme between the BCCI and Cricket Australia, Ward slumped to the ground but then gathered himself and walked off the field and to a waiting ambulance on his own. He was rushed to a local medical centre before taken to a hospital in Madurai, about 40 kilometres away.

Following Ward's concussion, later last month Gerard Abood became the first Australian on-field official to wear a helmet while umpiring during a Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium. Wearing a black batting helmet from Masuri's Vision Series model - one used by the majority of Australian players - Abood said he had decided so win to the increasing power in modern cricket, where the bats are getting heavier by the day.

"I've had close shaves in the past, a couple have been real tight and they weight on your mind," he had told cricket.com.au. "I thought, 'What needs to happen before we do put one on?' I'd rather put one on just before I get hit than just after.

The T20 game has evolved to the stage where guys are practising specifically whacking balls as hard as they can and it's just coming off faster and faster. As far as I'm concerned it's just reached the point where it makes sense on every level, we're only 24 yards from the bat and if it's coming back at us pretty quickly there's not a helluva lot of time to move."

It remains to be heard what Ward says following the fourth ODI in Canberra. Incidentally, his fellow on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough was forced to leave the field after being struck on the shin off a ricochet from a fierce drive by Aaron Finch.

The ball deflected off Ishant Sharma's fingertips and cannoned into the Englishman' shin at the nonstriker's end. Initially Kettleborough laughed it off, but after 17 overs he hobbled off the field and received treatment from the Australian team's medical staff. The TV umpire Paul Wilson had to take Kettleborough's place as he was not able to return.

In November 2014, umpire and former captain of Israel's national team, Hillel Awaskar died after being hit by a ball during a match in Ashdod.

In England, the ECB has considered making helmets mandatory for batsmen and close fielders. It was reported by the Guardian last year that discussions were started between baseball and cricket authorities about future safety equipment after domestic umpires raised concerns to the ECB.



source:Timesofindia
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