Steve Smith finally caved and opted to wear a stem guard on his helmet as he returned to the Australia team for the fourth Ashes Test against England.
Smith missed the third Test at Headingley with concussion after being struck on the neck by a Jofra Archer bouncer in the second match at Lords.
Stem guards attached to the base of helmets were introduced following the tragic death of Phillip Hughes in 2014 but are not mandatory under ICC rules.
Former Australia captain Smith had opted against wearing the helmet accessory, previously calling them claustrophobic, but has had a change of heart in recent weeks.
Speaking ahead of the fourth Ashes Test, Smith said: I tried… Ive been wearing them in the nets.
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The thing that got to me is I wear my collar up when I bat… and it sort of touches it. It just wobbles around a bit.
Theyre going to become mandatory at some point so Ive just got to get used to it and get on with it. I think Ill be wearing it out here.
Smith did indeed bat using a steam guard and helped Australia recover from 28-2 to reach lunch on 98-2.
The 30-year-old, who scored twin centuries in the first Test at Edgbaston, scored 28 in the morning session and shared a 70-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne (49*).
Englands Stuart Broad had removed Australia openers David Warner and Marcus Harris but SmRead More – Source
