Cricket Protective Gear: Importance and Selection Guide
While cricket is not a ‘contact’ sport, that doesn’t mean it cannot be dangerous.
As a batter, you can be hit with hard leather cricket balls coming at you at speed, both in the nets and on game day. As such, you need to ensure that you have all the right protective gear to help prevent serious injuries. While those at the crease normally wear the most protective gear, wicketkeepers and fielders also need some. Here’s what you need to know:
Why is protective gear important in cricket?
Protective gear is not optional in cricket – it is essential. Without it, any number of cricket ball-related injuries can occur, including:
- Broken bones
- Bruises
- Major head trauma.
Things like pads, helmets and gloves help absorb the impact of the ball if it hits you, reducing the risk of serious injury. Knowing you are properly protected can also help improve confidence and performance at the crease or behind the stumps.
Types of protective cricket gear
1. Helmets
When it comes to protective gear in cricket, nothing is more important than investing in a high-quality helmet. Helmets help protect your head from impact injuries, including concussions.
They are not only worn by batters but are essential for wicketkeepers who are also at high risk of being struck in the head by the ball. Some fielders – including those close to the batter at silly mid-off or short leg – might also wear helmets for extra protection.
2. Gloves
Our fingers and thumbs aren’t made to withstand hard hits from cricket balls and the small bones within them can easily break. Therefore, it is a must to wear padded gloves when you are batting, while wicketkeepers need a pair of speciality wicket keeping gloves.
Batting gloves are heavily padded on the outside of the hands, providing full protection when you are gripping a cricket bat. Wicket keeping gloves also have some padding, along with featuring webbing between the thumb and index finger to assist in catching the ball.
3. Abdominal Protector
Also known as a ‘box protector’, this item is predominantly worn by male batsmen to protect their vulnerable groin area from fast-moving cricket balls. Usually made of high-grade plastic with softer edges for comfort, they come in junior and adult sizes.
4. Pads
Before heading out to the crease, all batters need to strap on some batting pads. Highly important pieces of protective gear, pads shield a batter’s legs from being directly hit by the cricket ball, helping to prevent impact injuries to the shins, knees and thighs.
5. Other protective items
Besides the above essentials, many cricketers choose to use some additional protective gear:
- Thigh pads – Help provide protection for a batter’s upper leg area, including the thighs and hips.
- Armguards – Used to protect the forearm from being hit by a cricket ball when batting.
- Chest guards – Help shield the chest and upper abdomen.
Need some new protective gear?
If you are looking for some new protective gear – or a new kit bag to put it all in, you have come to the right place.
Check out our online store, which has a wide range of quality protective gear from all the leading cricket brands. Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect yourself from serious injury!
