Investing in perfect cricket gloves equipment makes a huge difference as it enhances your cricket skills and fearless playing style.
If you’re a dedicated beginner or a seasoned cricketer, it’s important to equip yourself with the essential cricket accessories like gloves and pads that ensure your on-field safety and increase your confidence levels.
This guide reveals how you should choose the most appropriate gloves and pads by understanding their different types to elevate your level of playing the sport.
Main Types of Cricket Gloves
If you’re a batter or wicketkeeper, these three types of cricket gloves offer better hold and minimize your risk of injuries, thereby allowing you to deliver your best performance without facing any discomfort:
1. Batting Gloves:
The main purpose of the batting gloves is to offer protection to your fingers against the hard cricket ball as well as provide double-sided support to your wrists. These gloves are made of either leather or synthetic palms, or a combination of both, to provide high durability and affordability. The inner layer of gloves consists of a highly dense foam paired with plastic linings to ensure adequate comfort for palms through ventilated mesh and soft cotton linings.
While looking for the best cricket gloves, you need to evaluate the basic factors such as the materials used, cushioning, finger design, ventilation, shape, and dimensions.
2. Wicketkeeping Gloves:
The wicketkeeping gloves are heavier than the batting gloves, which provide extra cushion to hold any type of tough catches safely. Mainly, your hands are protected from hard hits or sudden bounces.
There is a deep layer between the thumb and index finger that allows you to position your hands in a cup shape to hold the ball better. This provides an extra cushion to your fingers to reduce injuries.
3. Inner Gloves:
The inner gloves made of cotton or coated material can be used by both batters and wicketkeepers to shed away sweat and provide support to the main gloves under hot and humid conditions.
Main Types of Cricket Pads
The cricket pads play a pivotal role in protecting your legs from getting injured against the deliveries bowled by the pacers. Once a pad is well-fitted, all you need to do is to just focus on your batting and wicketkeeping skills rather than thinking too much about injuries.
Here are the three main types of cricket pads that are most often used in cricket:
1. Batting Pads:
The inner layer of the batting pads is thickly padded with stiff sticks in the middle and covered with light and airy material. As a result, extra protection is offered to the front part of your lower leg (called the shin), knee, and side areas so that even the slightest blows won’t cause any injuries.
You can fasten and unfasten the leg pads within seconds with the help of the Velcro straps provided.
The batting pads are made of a combination of cane sticks, leather or durable PVC, cotton, and highly dense foam. This not only facilitates easier cleaning but also allows the batters to run quickly between the wickets.
2. Wicketkeeping Pads:
In contrast to the batting pads, the wicketkeeping pads are lighter, shorter, and offer higher flexibility. Your reflexes become faster while squatting and moving left and right behind the stumps.
3. Fielding Pads:
Whenever fielders are placed closer to the batter, they wear specialized pads called fielding pads, which offer high protection to the thighs and inner legs. Using such pads, you can grab close catches and stop the ball instantly.
These types of pads are designed for faster reaction, particularly in highly competitive test matches.
How to Choose the Right Cricket Gloves?
While choosing the best cricket glove, always keep in mind that the materials used are high-quality leather or synthetic materials for extra durability.
Rather than purchasing online, it is advisable to visit a reputable sports store, so that you can wear the gloves and check if they fit well enough and provide adequate comfort without compromising on flexibility.
Additionally, you need to check for these protective features such as:
- Supportive layers of foam and plastic so that each finger and thumb is provided with superior protection and enhanced durability.
- Designed with a sweat-absorbent inner lining that keeps your hands cool and dry in extreme humid conditions.
- Guards should be placed strategically such that they increase defense in highly impact areas to keep your fingers and palm protected.
Also Read: T20 Cricket Shots Tricks: A Complete Guide to Play Ramp, Reverse Scoop, and Reverse Pull
How to Choose the Right Cricket Pads?
To select the proper cricket pads, ensure that the size fits well, such that it should shield your knees and shins without being excessively loose or tight.
Check for lightweight pads that are prepared using durable materials and well-ventilated fabrics that help you stay comfortable throughout the gameplay.
You need to evaluate the most important protective features, such as:
- Triple fastened, wide Velcro straps for a safe fit
- Strong knee roll for additional padding at the most sensitive joint.
- Broad side panels like wings that surround the outer and inner part of the leg for full coverage and protection.
A Hygienic and quick dry interior with detachable antibacterial lining to ensure freshness and fast drying.
