ICC says clampdown on bouncers unlikely despite Phillip Hughes' demise

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson revealed that a clampdown down on bouncers is unlikely despite the passing of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes last Thursday.

The cricket world was in shock after Hughes passed away on Thursday last week, two days after being struck on the neck by a short-pitched ball in a domestic fixture.

Richardson said that the ICC needs to try and keep their perspective, in light of moving further to restrict the use of the bouncer. He said that it's a bit early to determine, but his initial reaction is that that's unlikely, Sport24 reported.

Richardson also said that people have died by being struck on the heart before, adding that he doesn't think cricket needs to over-react, but do what they could.

Current regulations permit two bouncers per over in Test matches and ODIs and one per over in Twenty20 cricket.

Hughes was wearing a helmet when he was struck, but the ball delivered by Sean Abbott hit him on back of the neck, just underneath the headguard.

Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said that bouncers were all part of the game but that modifications could be made to helmets. He said that he guesses they could extend the helmet a little bit further down the back of the neck.