HELMET sales have increased in Port Macquarie since the tragic events that eventually claimed the life of Phillip Hughes last Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Amart Sports department manager Matt Bayes said the shop had received a lot of inquiries since that fateful afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
"Helmet sales have been steady all year, but there have been people ringing us up since it all happened asking if we've got helmets on sale," Bayes said.
"We have had a couple of sales because of the accident, but it is mandatory in juniors for batsmen to wear them.
"When I played I didn't worry, but we have had mums and dads come in and ask about them."
Bayes said the store had limited stock still available, despite having only half the season remaining.
He thought the way the game is played could change in coming years, but was hopeful it wouldn't.
"I used to be an opening bowler and you'd bowl a bouncer to sort of scare a batsman before you'd pitch one up on his toes," Bayes said.
"But these days bowlers might start to think twice about it now, but I hope not." Sportspower manager Ian Gorton said his store had seen a spike in helmet sales in the past couple of weeks, but could not say if it was just a coincidence with Christmas around the corner.
"We've had a couple of orders in the last two weeks, but it's difficult to tell if it's because it's Christmas and parents think helmets are a good Christmas present," he said.
Gorton said parents of junior players were now more aware of the importance of getting the correctly fitted helmet for their children.
"It's important especially in juniors to have a correctly fitted helmet because they usually only have two in the kit and they may not necessarily fit and flop all over the place and expose the skull when they avoid bouncers.
"We've sold about 15 in total which is more than we'd sold previously."
