A push by Cricket Australia to allow the use of concussion substitutes in first-class matches in response to the death of former Test batsman Phillip Hughes has been rejected by the International Cricket Council's influential Cricket Committee.

But the Committee, chaired by former India captain Anil Kumble and including Australia men's team coach Darren Lehmann, has called for the ICC to mandate the wearing of protective helmets that meet the stringent British Safety Standards in line with recommendations contained in the Hughes Review.

And it has also advised the Marylebone Cricket Club, founder and keeper of the game's laws, to "strongly consider limiting the dimensions of cricket bats to help achieve a better balance between bat and ball".

The 15-person Committee met at Lord's this week to examine and consider a number of issues including the women's game, the use of technology, day-night Test matches and concerns about the practice of home countries "overtly" preparing Test pitches to benefit their own teams.

While most of these discussions resulted in recommendations being made or input being noted, the proposal from CA to enable the game's playing conditions to be amended to allow the use of concussion substitutes was rejected.

In releasing an independent review into the death of Hughes who died after being struck on the neck while batting in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG in November 2014, CA Chief Executive James Sutherland announced plans to allow concussion substitutes in Australia's domestic competitions.

Quick Single: CA pushes for concussion substitute trial

But he pointed out that while CA was able to introduce this measure into list-A, limited-overs and other domestic matches over which it held authority for playing conditions, approval from the ICC was needed to implement it in four-day matches in order for them retain their first-class status.

Under current first-class playing conditions, substitutes are allowed to replace injured or ill players but are not permitted to bat or bowl, a restriction that some medical experts believe might lead to players who have been concussed remaining on the field so as not to disadvantage their team.

CA's current concussion policy, which was updated in the wake of Hughes's death, dictates that team medical staff wield sole discretion as to whether any Australia player at national, state or elite pathway level who has been struck in the head can continue to take part in the game.

And, if concussion is diagnosed, their return to the field is ruled out on the day that the injury is sustained – which effectively denies his or her team the services of a batter or bowler.

However, the ICC Committee decided that the existing safeguards that allow an injured player to be examined on the field and then seek further treatment off the field as required and then return to take an active part in the match once given a medical all clear did not require amendment.

"The committee considered a proposal from Cricket Australia for a 'concussion substitute' to be trialled for two years in domestic first-class cricket," the ICC said in an end-of-meeting media statement.

"The committee acknowledged the seriousness of the issue of concussion in cricket, and stressed the need for consistent concussion policy to be implemented in all countries.

"But its view was that the current laws and playing conditions allow players to receive the best possible medical treatment, and further change to the regulations in this area is not required at present."

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In response to the Committee's decision, a CA spokesperson said tonight it would push ahead with a trail of concussion substitutes, but that would not extend to the Sheffield Shield.

"The ICC Cricket Committee have rejected our concussion proposal and we respect their decision," a CA spokesperson said.

"We'll continue to trial the substitute in Cricket Australia sanctioned matches, except the Sheffield Shield, and provide any learnings back to the ICC for their consideration."

However, a recommendation from the independent review into Hughes's death conducted by Melbourne barrister David Curtain QC that the highest standard of protective helmets – deemed to be the British Safety Standard – become mandatory for a number of specified activities could be adopted at international level.

WATCH: Curtain Report recommends mandatory helmets

In Australian matches, those activities relate to batsmen facing fast and medium pace bowling, for wicketkeepers standing up to the stumps and for any fielders within seven metres of the batter on strike, except those fielding behind square on the off side.

This view has been endorsed the Committee after it received a presentation on injury surveillance trends by the ICC's medical consultant Dr Craig Ranson, which in turn follows an edict by the England and Wales Cricket Board last year that all players in professional matches are required to wear helmets that meet the BSS.

A move that was criticised by a number of current and former players who complained the game was becoming over-regulated.

Quick Single: ECB criticised over helmet regulations

"The committee expressed concerns that there were still too many instances of international cricketers wearing helmets which did not meet the latest British Safety Standard," the statement said.

"It recommended that the ICC should enforce the wearing of the latest BSS compliant helmets in all international cricket."

The Committee also received a research paper from the MCC which is examining the laws to ensure an appropriate balance between bat and ball is maintained in all formats of the game.

That paper contained "a wealth of scientific and statistical evidence showing bats have become more powerful in recent years, primarily due to having larger 'sweet-spots'".

As a result, the Committee has advised the MCC that it should "strongly consider" introducing restrictions on the size of modern bats to help narrow the widening imbalance between batters who can hit the ball vast distances in almost any circumstances and bowlers who are increasingly powerless to curb them.

Kaboom! Barry Richards with his bat from 1970-71, and David Warner's // Getty

The two-day Committee meeting also included a lengthy discussion about the use and the merit of technology employed as part of the Decision Review System used to assist umpires in most international fixtures.

It included a presentation by engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who have been engaged to examine the efficiency of tools used in the DRS process, a study that focused on edge-detection systems (hot spot and snicko) as well as ball-tracking mechanisms.

Following the presentation, the Committee called upon the ICC to take a more prominent role in managing the various DRS technologies currently employed around the world (except for India which has refused to employ DRS or allow it to be used in bilateral series that it contests).

This includes devising more structured protocols and stricter processes in approving the introduction of new technologies and also by ensuring that these systems are more consistently applied across all international matches around the world.

As a result, the Committee plans to finalise a list of recommended changes to existing DRS protocols in coming weeks and present it to the ICC Chief Executives and Board Meetings that will take place later this month.

In other matters before the Committee, it voiced its "strong support" for the concept of day-night Test cricket that was pioneered in Australia last year and which is now being actively pursued by governing bodies in a number of Test nations.

"It stressed, however, that day-night Test cricket needs to be delivered to a consistently high standard across all member countries if the concept is to be successful, noting that the combination of ball, pitch, lighting levels and environmental conditions needed to allow for an even contest between bat and ball at all proposed day-night Test venues," the statement said.

"The committee also discussed a number of other issues relating to Test cricket, believing a coordinated approach to the marketing of Test cricket was needed, and also expressing concern about the quality of Test pitches, and in particular the common practice of home countries overtly preparing surfaces to suit their own teams."

However, no resolutions or recommendations emanated on these subjects.