The chief executive of the International Cricket Council said Sunday it was “unlikely” rules on the bowling of bouncers would be tightened despite the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.
Australia batsman Hughes died on Thursday, two days after he was struck on the neck and knocked unconscious by a bouncer from Sean Abbott while batting for South Australia against New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Apart from fighting sports such as boxing, cricket remains one of the few games where aiming at the head is considered a legitimate tactic.
Currently, bowlers are allowed to deliver two bouncers per over in Tests and one-day internationals, and one per over in Twenty20 internationals, with similar rules applying in senior domestic cricket.
David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, said it was too soon to say if there would be a clamp down on bouncers but that his first thought was that the current restrictions would remain in place.
