New Zealand batter Kane Williamson has launched a new line of protective gear inspired by a severe on-field injury. The "Cover" brand offers "premium alloy" boxes designed to shield athletes' groins, a critical piece of equipment in sports where deliveries can exceed high speeds.
Williamson revealed his motivation stemmed from a 2012 incident where a delivery from Dale Steyn cracked his existing protective box. "My box split, and that made it pretty clear that the protection players were relying on wasn't up to the demands of the modern game," Williamson stated.
Co-founder Jason Low highlighted that the new alloy shell can withstand ball speeds over 200 km/hr and provides protection for various hard ball sports, including hockey, lacrosse, and baseball. The launch comes amid ongoing concerns for player safety, with recent incidents like Australia's T20 captain Mitchell Marsh missing games due to testicular bleeding after being hit.