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[Jenko]

Back in Australia I would rarely wear a lid - both growing up as a junior and also playing senior cricket. The only times I have worn them are against genuine quicks who I felt I wouldn't be able to get out of the way of. Then the last few years I have been playing in North QLD where the standard isn't as good - no genuine quicks, pitches are hard and predictable - so I haven't worn one for years. The pull shot is my strongest shot so definately don't have confidence issues without a lid on.

Since coming over here and playing this year, I was told that a helmet is a must, mainly for the unpredictable nature of the wickets. I don't know if it's all in my mind or not, but I really struggle with the concept of wearing one. I find it harder to see (or at least that's what I tell myself!) and it just feels weird wearing one. (maybe I should've gone with an Ayrtek :-P). I reckon I am less confident with a lid on then without.

[Opener]

I wear a helmet off and on. I would not wear one if I played in contacts.

[langer17]

I've always had to wear a helmet. When I was younger my dad was playing cricket and he got hit in the mouth and lost his 3 front teeth, so my mum said if I didn't wear a helmet, I wasn't allowed to play. Now I'm 19 and I still wear a helmet even when there are 2 spinners on at each end, because I just feel less confident without the helmet on. So wearing a helmet doesn't bother me in the slightest.

[tim2000s]

As a bowler I've hit people in the face with a short ball and watched them crumple to the ground and then get carted off to hospital. I've also watched people sweep it and pull it into their face more frequently than being hit through a genuinely short ball.

I never gave it much thought until I went to the Caribbean and once I'd put it on to practice in it made a real difference. Such is life!

[Bez013]

 I never used to wear a lid....until I got hit by a short ball, tried to pull it and it was slightly quicker than I was expecting and got big on me, hit the outside of my left eye socket.  The Doctor at A&E was amazed nothing was smashed or broken or indeed that my eye was still okay.

I always wear a lid now and tell anyone who will listen that they should wear a lid, no matter who is bowling or if I am in nets. 

I have been hit on the lid only once in 6 years but that was by a guy who as been clocked in the low 80s....it went for 4 so was only a glancing blow but I was extremely thankful that I was wearing a lid!!!

[Liam-SCCC]

Brought up wearing a lid and will always wear one. Even converted my Dad to helmets. I have taken quite a few top edge sweeps to the grill on bouncy tracks so glad I wear one

[pacman75cricket]

Used to wear lid rerely think I wore one twice againt Radford + Co @ Banbury but started wearing helmet in nets this year as got bowling machine so decided to uae lid for nets + to help keep head straight + been wearing Ayrtek lid ever since

[Kaz092]

What about Boycotts theory

According to him more people get hit now with helmets as they dont tend to watch the ball as closely

Me personally I've never worn one to the spinners as I tend to loose it when its above my eyeline

With regards to the paceman only when someone real quick is playing, plus most of the wickets we play on nowdays arent as quick so dont really get peppered with the short ball

Having said that I dont wear a helmet so must be a good hooker always get that everytime I go in

[Rik]

I had a similar experience to Bez, top edged a ball into my left cheek and consider myself pretty lucky the damage wasn't more serious.

I've never worn a helmet in any match, but have recently purchased one to use. Having a bit of trouble getting used to it. I don't feel anymore confident wearing it really - I just don't wish to get hit in the face again!!!

[tommo256]

I don't think I will not ever wear one, having been pinned in nets a few nights ago, not on lid, but around that area I would feel safer wearing one always

[tim2000s]

So here's the thing from a bowling perspective. The best short ball isn't at your face. It comes up at your throat. Your grill may help against it, but it's much harder to see as it isn't level with your eyes. They're the ones to watch out for, and so far, no helmet helps protect against those!

[langer17]

Most of the time the batsmen top edge the ball into their faces. This is much worse than a dirct hit because the ball accelerates of the bat and you wear the full force in the face/head.

[Damo1583]

I have been playing cricket for 28 years now, after breaking my nose 4 times and a depressed fracture to my cheekbone I decided to start wearing a lid about 4 years ago. It took alot of work to get used to it (weight aswell as seeing through the grill). now i cant bat without one, recently I faced spinners from each end and called for the cap but after an over I called back for the lid (to much sledging lol). having said that I do keep and I just cant keep at all with a lid or a mask, in goes the gum shield and i rely on experience and quick hands lol

[Vic Nicholas]

Being an Aussie, we grow up on coir matting/synthetic pitches when playing junior cricket, so we all learn to play the hook and pull shot instinctively.

I got my mum and dad to buy me my first helmet back in 1983. It was a Duncan Fearnley helmet and it cost my parents $75, which equates to about $370 these days (about 240 pound), so it was far more expensive than these days. It had the perspex face guard which was damn heavy and damn hot compared to steel grills which came much later.

I wore that helmet only rarely, preferring to relying on my wits and my bat to survive. On matting, I got peppered with bounces, but other than once top edging a pull shot onto my chin in under 16's, I never ever got hit.

I made my cricket come back after 26 years out of the game two years ago and decided that as a bloke in my early 40's, I must have slower reflexes so I invested in a couple of helmets. I use an Albion Ti 22 with the bowling machine sessions and in the nets.

I play on turf now which is not as bouncy as coir matting, buts ome bowlers can still propel the ball at fantastic speeds.

I also purchased a Masuri Titanium which I wear only when I open the batting on weekend games (the first 5-10 overs) before it is discarded and on Wednesday comp I wear it at all times as this midweek 40 over a side competition attracts district cricketers who are out to have a second game for the week. District cricket is our equivelant to County Seconds - and we occasionally get first class players playing, as I got hit for the first time ever in the skull by a guy who plays for Trinidad Tobago when the ball somehow crashed through the space in the grill and the visor as I left the largest possible space for greater visibility.

I DO prefer to bat without a helmet...it is in the blood I guess, but I have bowed to the wishes of my wife who insists I wear one...so I do wear it if I feel it is necessary.