If we ban bouncers at junior level then we have to ban it at elite level too: Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan, the former England cricketer, reckons that the young batsmen will be a higher risk at top level cricket if bouncers are banned below the age of 18. Recently, Michael Turner, a concussion specialist, urged the authorities to consider banning short-pitched bowling against players below the age of 18 to limit more complications in the future.

Turner, who’s also the media director of the International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation, put forth his suggestions after the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) began a process to discuss if bowlers should be allowed to bowl bouncers.

However, Vaughan, also a former Three Lions’ skipper, didn’t find any merit in the suggestion. The veteran termed the suggestion ‘ridiculous’ as the players won’t have it easy, playing at the highest level.

Michael Vaughan puts forth his opinion

“It is a ridiculous suggestion and yet another example of the world we live in these days where anything risky is deemed too dangerous.

“It would be much more dangerous for young kids to only be exposed to the short ball for the first time when they play men’s cricket at a high level. They just would not be equipped to face it,” Vaughan was quoted as saying in ‘The Telegraph’.

Vaughan said that if bouncers are banned at the junior level, then it needs to be banned at the highest level as well.

“I see kids coached at junior level and watch my son play. There is very little short-pitched bowling. The bowlers do not have the physical strength as kids to bowl bouncers and the pitches are too slow anyway,” he stated.

“It is in the nets where young batsmen can be pinned but they have to learn to play the short ball. If we ban it at junior level then we have to ban it at elite level too,” Vaughan added.

Rolling back the clock to 2014, Phillip Hughes’ demise rocked the cricket world. From there on, there has been plenty of talks regarding usage of protective gears. The concussion substitute also came to the fore with Marnus Labuschagne becoming the first in the 2019 Lord’s Test against England.