BENDIGO Bank District Cricket Association president Wayne Walsh says it's unlikely the Phil Hughes incident will prompt the league to consider making it compulsory for all senior players to wear helmets.
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The BDCA has a rule whereby it's mandatory for all junior players batting and wicket-keeping to wear helmets, but at senior level it's the players choice.
South Australian batsman Phil Hughes is in a critical condition in Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital after being struck by a bouncer against New South Wales at the SCG on Tuesday.
Hughes was wearing a helmet, but was hit on an unprotected area behind his ear.
"The topic of helmets with what has happened over the past 24 hours is obviously an interesting discussion, but we wouldn't want to go jumping to any conclusions," Walsh said on Wednesday.
"We have helmets that are compulsory for juniors, but where Phil Hughes has been hit is below the helmet.
"It's believed all over the cricket world that there is decent protection for all players, it was just an unfortunate accident where he was hit on an unprotected part of the body.
"With it being compulsory for our juniors to wear helmets, it then becomes a part of their natural cricket attire."
While helmets aren't compulsory in BDCA seniors, it's rare to see a first XI player batting without one.
One of the few first XI players who bats without a helmet is Golden Square veteran Grant Connelly.
"It's just personal preference... plus I struggle to see out of them," Connelly said.
"I got hit (in the head) when I played Country Week a couple of years ago and it shook me up a bit and wasn't pleasant, but thankfully, there was no major damage.
"But the main thing is it's just my preference not to bat in one."
The Ballarat Cricket Association has indicated it's likely to look at making it compulsory for all senior players to bat in a helmet.
"It's interesting when you talk about something like that because there's freedom for the player now to make the choice of whether they want to wear a helmet or not," Walsh said.
"But if we were to make it compulsory, what happens when you're facing a spin bowler and don't believe there's a need to be wearing one?
"Will it only be compulsory when you're facing a quickie... they are the sort of guidelines that would need to be looked at.
"Right now, I don't think the BDCA would look at it at this stage unless there was a direction from Cricket Victoria."
Meanwhile,11-year-old Corey Butterworth from Long Gully rallied behind Hughes on a Fairfax Media support wall for Hughes.
"I know I'm only 11, but mate, you are star, you little beauty. I reckon that every person that knows what cricket is is grieving right now for you. Hold on and stay with us, Australia needs you," Corey wrote.
