A Hampshire-based cricket helmet manufacturer have released a brand new design in the wake of the Philip Hughes tragedy.

Former Hampshire batsman Hughes tragically passed away last December after being struck on the back of the head in an Australian state game.

Hughes was wearing an original design helmet by Winchester-based Masuri, a company founded by Hampshire Cricket legend Robin Smith.

Masuri have now revealed the StemGuard, a clip-on application providing additional protection from fast bowling for a batsman’s vulnerable neck.

Following the death of Hughes, which sent shockwaves through the sporting worlod, Masuri have invested over 240 hours of research and development time into the design of the StemGuard.

It has been tested at the Progressive Sports Technologies laboratory in Loughborough University.

The StemGuard attaches to existing Masuri Vision Series helmets with moulded clips, giving batsman free movement, while offering new protection to the region where Hughes was hit.

Masuri have a patent pending for the StemGuard.

Masuri Managing Director Sam Miller said: “Masuri extensively studied all information available in order to develop this solution.

“We have designed an extension to our Vision Series helmets, which provides new protection to the vulnerable area below the shell of the helmet.

“We have worked closely with cricket’s international governing bodies in the development of the StemGuard.

“We worked alongside top designer Alan Meeks [Visitech] to take this from concept to patent pending within three months and the testing has been very promising to this point.”