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[19reading87]

Having got hit on the head by a beamer the other week and suffering with constant headaches since I went for a CT scan last week to see what the issue was .... Just got my results and I fractured my skull!! The pitch was slow and low so thought a helmet wasn't needed! ALWAYS LID UP!!

[ajmw89]

Ouch.  That's nasty.  Always worn a lid and have no intention to not wear one

[PedalsMcgrew]

Wait..........you were playing cricket, outdoors, in October? Do you not live in the UK anymore? 


Sorry about the head thing! Hope the headaches pass soon....

[Vantage_Cricket]

I've never been one to use a helmet, but I'm going to make myself wear one in all formats next season.

[uknsaunders]

was this that game in September where the little kid beamed you?

[procricket]

I have a 2 inc scar from a top edge spinner on my eyebrow line

Always wear one since

[Ryan]

I wear mine 90% of the time. Good job too, took a bouncer in the lid in our cup final from a top edge. just deflected and went for 4 over gully 

[19reading87]

was this that game in September where the little kid beamed you?

Little kid or not a leather ball still comes tight! Any danger of u texting back???

[uknsaunders]

which text? If it's the one about the club dinner then I should be ok and I'll have curry buffet. Any plans on the drinks front?

I got hit in the jaw in a Wetherby League game about 2 years ago and that prompted my Ayrtek purchase. Some rank 2nd XI bowlers who hadn't played in months slipped in a beamer. 2 weeks after with my Ayrtek on, some moron bowled 3 beamers in 10 balls. I said to the skipper "aren't you going to take him off", he replied (showing his observation skills) "what for". Even the league umpires in the WCL don't care. One cup game they bowled nearly a dozen beamers in the space of 10 overs and I asked why they didn't call no ball, the reply was " you should've smacked it for 4". Easy to say if it's not you getting a 60 mph deliver thrown at your head when you least expect it. In fact they only started calling them once somebody got hit, probably fearing a complaint, and then carried it through our bowling innings. It's a bug bear of mine and I'd like leagues to adopt a 2 dangerous beamers and you're off policy.

That said old habits die hard as I was wearing my cap when redders got clonked. The problem is when the pitch is as low as Ashorne and you know bar a top edge it's never getting up above waist high, then the temptation is to leave the lid off.Then what happens is when you aren't playing against proper bowlers (ie. people who know what they are doing and have the ability to control a ball) you run the risk of some joker slipping a beamer in. The lower the standard the more likely the beamer. Never had this problem in TVL Div 3/4/5.

[tim2000s]

We play with a guy, who 5 years ago was lethal. You could guarantee that one of the first 6 balls would be a beamer. Problem was he was left arm and they would be coming at about 70mph. Having been on the receiving end of one, I learned to always wear a lid...

[Canners]

Ever since a broken jaw from a quick Asian overseas I always wear one... Gotta protect the boyish good looks

[petehosk]

I never used to wear one, and even when standing up to the stumps in my (part time) keeping role.
I got a couple of beamers and a couple of bouncers directed at my head in various matches this season, so I figured someone up there is trying to tell me something!!!
Also with the likes of Boucher and others wearing one, I figure that they are countless times better than me! And if they can't avoid every ball, then what chance do I stand! Helmets every time now!

[uknsaunders]

I'm sure it's a recent thing as well. I never remember having to worry about beamers in the 80's/90s, maybe it was just a better standard and players knew what they were doing with it. Remember talk a while back about less proper bowlers being around than there use to be. More recreational bowlers who don't play often or part timers doing full time bowling stints. At the time in the TVL things weren't helped by the wickets being like roads and nobody wanting to bowl.

[trypewriter]

I play at such a low level that I've never felt the need to wear a helmet. However, since reading through this thread from obviously wiser heads than mine, I am having a serious re-think! 

[ca_gold]

i had a near boucher incident 3 years ago - but the seam of the ball cut my eyebrow as opposed to my eye - i would have lost vision in the eye most likely. ended up with 5 stiches on my eyebrow from a top edge...that was the last day with no helmet.....