RECENTLY I was reading your report on the Lancashire Cricket League's AGM.

I think the decision by the Lancashire League that all players under the age of 18 must wear helmets when batting is ridiculous.

As a junior player myself, and have been for the last eight or nine years, I believe that players should have a choice on whether they wear helmets especially when reaching the age of 16-17 years.

Many junior players at the age of 15 are playing third, and some second eleven cricket and don't feel the need to wear a helmet.

Does Mr Murray think that parents are going to pay £40 to buy their child a helmet? Or is the Lancashire League going to subsidise the move?

During a game some bowlers get a psychological boost, when a batsmen comes to the crease wearing a helmet. I have never personally played against a bowler in junior cricket fierce enough to injure a player.

But I do agree that wicketkeepers standing up to the wickets, may need to wear helmets.

Fielding in a cricket match brings the same amount of risk to injury as batting. In the future are junior players going to wear glove and helmets, shin pads etc, whilst fielding?

PAUL COLLIS (aged 17), Mercer Crescent, Helmshore, Rossendale.

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