ICC World Cup: Kumar Sangakkara wears new helmet with neck and head safety features

Sydney: Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara became the first cricketer to wear the Masuri helmet with the new safety attachment for back of the head and neck.

Australian Phillip Hughes' death last November, after being hit on the back of his head by a bouncer during a domestic match, sparked off a debate on players' safety.

British manufacturer Masuri earlier this month unveiled the StemGuard - made of honeycomb plastic and foam. It offers additional protection to the exposed back of the head and neck.

Masuri has been providing StemGuards to ICC so that players can try it out. Sangakkara became the first player to wear it when he took to the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he scored a brilliant century in his side's World Cup game against Australia yesterday.

Masuri managing director Sam Miller said in a release: "Kumar Sangakkara is making a statement on player safety by becoming the first player to wear a StemGuard."

Cricket Australia (CA) high performance chief Pat Howard recently backed the use of the StemGuard.

Masuri further stated, "It's got impact protection and comes down (the side of the head). The International Cricket Council Member Cricket Boards recently agreed that the new British Safety Standard should be the de facto international standard for helmets."