“We set about designing an extra grille to fix at the back of the helmet”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Ireland pace bowler John Mooney has discovered a new protective feature for cricket helmets from medieval history.

The 33-year-old designed a new attachment, which is called a “gorge”, to protect the neck at the back and side of the head.

According to medieval history, a “gorge”, which is the French word for throat, was a vital part of suits of armour worn in the Middle Ages since it protected the neck and throat.

Mooney added that attachment to his own helmet following the tragic death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes last November.

Hughes passed away at the age of 25 when he was struck on the side of the neck by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match in Sydney.

“It’s a very simple idea and it’s designed to attach to existing helmets,” Mooney told the Irish Independent. “It’s something myself and my father-in-law were working on. He’s an architect and pretty useful with his hands too and we set about designing an extra grille to fix at the back of the helmet.

“Safety is something I was very aware of before what happened to Phil.”