Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams is the first county player to agree to trial the new Masuri StemGuard helmet safety attachment, designed in the wake of the Phillip Hughes tragedy.

Adams will be using the new safety attachment during training in the build-up to the county’s friendly against Surrey on March 28.

Hampshire-based Masuri unveiled last month the clip-on StemGuard - made of honeycomb plastic and foam - which offers additional protection to the exposed back of the head and neck, the area where Australia batsman Hughes was hit last November.

Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara became the first player to wear a StemGuard in a competitive match, at the ICC World Cup .

Adams said: “It is great that Masuri have dedicated so much time and effort into developing the StemGuard, and to get it into players’ hands so quickly.

“An attachment that provides batters with extra protection has to be a good thing. And it didn’t stop Kumar getting two hundreds in succession!

“I’m looking forward to trialling the StemGuard, and I’m sure the other lads will be looking to get their hands on one, too!”

Masuri Managing Director Sam Miller said: “Masuri has worked tirelessly to develop a safety attachment for its helmets since the Phillip Hughes tragedy.

“Masuri is providing several of the world’s cricketing governing bodies with StemGuards for players to trial.

“Our objective for the last three months has been to make available, as quickly as possible, a guard that offers players extra protection for the vulnerable area at the back of the head and neck.”

The ICC Member Cricket Boards have recently agreed that the new British Safety Standard should be the international standard for cricket helmets.

Miller added: “International players from around the world have expressed an interest in trying the StemGuard, including several England players.”

The StemGuard is not yet available to purchase.