Sydney: Sydney-based umpire Karl Wentzel has said the pink ball and super bats designed to hit the ball hard should force the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address the need for umpires to wear protective gear in order to prevent a fatality.

Wentzel is known as the "umpire who wears helmet" in Australia's domestic circuit. He lost five teeth in 2001 when a ball hit him in the mouth. He was knocked cold and required a series of operations that cost $44,000.