A bowler wears helmet for first time
The 26-year-old Barnes, who was born in South Africa, had also used the helmet last week in a match against Northern Knights.
Mumbai: It is rare to find a bowler wearing helmet while delivering the ball. On Tuesday, however, Warren Barnes put on a specially designed helmet when he bowled for Otago against Canterbury Kings in New Zealand’s Super Smash league.
Otago coach Rob Walter, who had a hand in designing the helmet, said: “We developed it from a field hockey postman mask and added a section on the top to protect the top of the skull and face when the ball gets hit back at the bowler during his follow through.”
The 26-year-old Barnes, who was born in South Africa, had also used the helmet last week in a match against Northern Knights. “Warren is blinded for a split second during his follow through, so we wanted to make sure that he was protected from the ball if it is hit straight back at him. Last year a player from Nottinghamshire was hit on his head in his follow through,” the coach added.