The International Cricket Council's cricket committee last week debated whether change was required, as complaints mount that bowlers are at too much of a disadvantage.

If there is change, it's almost certain the length of the bat (no longer than 96.5cm) and width (10.8cm at its widest part) won't be adjusted. Rather, it will be the depth allowed, for this is central to the "sweet spot" and thick edges – the latter often leaving bowlers and supporters bemused when innocuous edges fly over the boundary for six.

Fairfax Media has been told that committee members argued players and umpires were at increasing risk of injury with the ball being bludgeoned off bats at high speed, often with a simple flick of the wrist.

Fieldsmen close to the bat are particularly at risk of serious head knocks, including concussion, while bowlers in their follow-through have less time to prepare for a catch or get out of the way of what was once a defensive bunt.

It's understood the cricket committee, having received a research paper on the issue from the sport's lawmaker, the Marylebone Cricket Club, discussed whether a "bat gauge" could be introduced to measure the allowable dimensions of the bat.

In a public statement, the ICC said: "MCC sought the committee's guidance on the desirability of making changes in order to redress the balance between bat and ball. The committee received a research paper from MCC citing a wealth of scientific and statistical evidence showing bats have become more powerful in recent years, primarily due to having larger 'sweet-spots'.

"The committee's view was that MCC should strongly consider limiting the dimensions of cricket bats to help achieve a better balance between bat and ball."

Highlighting the added power of bats, team scores in one-day internationals increasingly surpass 300, although that could also be attributed in part to boundaries being shortened and the flashier shots honed in the high-tempo Twenty20 arena. Individual batting records have tumbled in the past two years, with the fastest ODI  century (AB de Villiers, 31 balls) and Test ton (Brendon McCullum, off 54 balls) being recorded.

The MCC said it was unable to make public its report but this could change next month after more meetings had been held.

Bats have changed dramatically through the years due to technology, with manufacturers drying out the wood to provide greater rebound. This has meant the bats are bigger but comparable in weight – with the sweet spot more evenly spread – to those used decades ago.

South African great Barry Richards has long called for change. Richards, a former member of the ICC cricket committee, said last summer the balance between bat and ball has been "out of whack", while he also fears "there is going to be some serious injury" to fieldsmen, a bowler in his follow-through and umpires unless change is embraced.

He said his bat during World Series Cricket weighed 2lb, 7oz. The bat David Warner brandishes weighs 2lb, 10oz.

Other safety issues were also debated by the cricket committee, including the use of new helmets, which some players still have issues with.

"The committee considered the matter of helmet safety following a presentation on injury surveillance trends by ICC medical consultant Dr Craig Ranson," the ICC said.

"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 (BSS).

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