4 players to wear a face shield while bowling in cricket

Cricket, among many other sports, is a game where the players have to be very protective of their bodies and the body parts, be it during the game, or during the net sessions. While the batters, umpires, and wicket keepers keep themselves protected using a helmet or any device, the bowlers are the ones who are most prone to the risk as there are high chances of the ball being hit towards them.

Thus, there have been very few instances where the bowlers have used a face-protecting shield to protect themselves from being hit on the face. Their move came in after they suffered bruises and injuries on their face while bowling, and started using face shields to be on the safer side when exposed on the field.

Four instances when bowlers used a face shield in the game:

Andrew Ellis: In February 2018, a concerning event occurred in New Zealand, when Auckland’s Jeet Raval hit Canterbury bowler Andrew Ellis on the head, and the ball went for a six after striking his head. As a result, he had to walk off the field and a concussion substitute replaced him. Though he returned to the game later to finish it off, he did not bear any risk in the next game as he donned a protective headgear.

Warren Barnes: Warren Barnes, a bowler from Otago, New Zealand, and Rob Walter had devised a working prototype for a bowler’s helmet that would protect them from being struck by the ball. During a game between Otago and the Northern Knight in the Super Smash T20 championships, he conducted the experiment and became the first bowler to do so.

Deandra Dottin: Deandra Dottin, the West Indies all-rounder, used protective face masks at the 2017 Women’s World Cup. Her cheekbone had to be mended with titanium following a collision with Laura Harris, her Brisbane Heat teammate, in the second season of the Women’s Big Bash League. The mask was essential back then to safeguard her cheekbone, which was still healing following the surgery.

Rishi Dhawan: Playing an IPL game after a gap of five years, Rishi Dhawan wore a face mask during the game against the Chennai Super Kings after he recovered from the injury that he faced during the Ranji Trophy this year. He was hit on his face and was immediately rushed to the hospital, and underwent surgery on his nose. When he returned to the Punjab Kings camp, he was seen donning the face protection even during the nets session.