Other useful cricket equipment
Knocking-in mallet
Your bat will need to be “knocked in” for at least 6 hours before you use it. Many people just use an old ball in a sock, but this hard work. Far better to get a specialist knocking-in mallet.
Essential Cricket Equipment: What kit do you need to play cricket?
But if you're looking to join a cricket club and play competitive games, you'll need to invest in some proper cricket kit. Here's our list of the most essential cricket equipment.
Cricket is the second biggest sport in the world. Why?
Because you can play it in the garden, the park, the beach, the street, the sports hall. You can play cricket anywhere. All you need is a bat and a ball.
But if you're looking to take the sport to the next level and join a club, you'll need to invest in some proper cricket kit. We're talking cricket bats, pads, batting gloves and more.
Here we talk about the most essential cricket kit.
Cricket Bat
Perhaps the most essential bit of kit (if you're a batter, anyway).
Investing in a quality cricket bat is vital for consistent performance. If you're constantly borrowing from your club or a teammate, you can't connect with the bat properly - whether it's the backlift or knowing where the middle is.
We sell a variety of Kashmir and English willow models from various brands, including GM, Kookaburra and DSC. English willow is the best quality.
Batting Gloves
Fingers are delicate, and the ball is hard. So trust us, you’ll want some serious padding around them.
Good batting gloves offer plenty of protection, but also allow ventilation (your hands will get sweaty) and easy movement.
We offer a range of batting gloves suitable for beginners, intermediates and experienced players.
Batting Pads
There are generally two types of batting pads– cane-cored pads covered in low-density foam, or pure, high-density foam pads.
If you want lightness (to make it easier to run between creases) go for the foam sort. If you want extra protection(perhaps if you're an opener facing quicker bowlers), go for thicker pads.
When you place the notch at the bottom of the pad over your shoe and buckle the strap around the top of your calf, the knee roll should be touching your knee and should allow it to bend easily.
Cricket Spikes
Unless playing on an artificial wicket, your trusty trainers aren’t really up to the job here.
For competitive matches played on grass, you need a pair of proper cricket spikes that give you protection, support and decent grip for explosive acceleration when both running and batting.
Besides, how else are you going to take your guard when batting? "Middle please!"
Cricket Bag
You’re going to need a big bag to haul all this gear around – one that you can fit your bat, pads, helmet and spikes. Not to mention a towel and change of clothes.
You can buy them in all shapes and sizes, including rucksacks, holdalls and wheelie bags – but take our advice when you’re starting out: buy bigger than you need.
You’ll soon fill it.
Cricket Whites
If you’re going to turn up at a club, you’re going to need a full set of whites. A white shirt and white trousers.
It's also worthwhile to get a knitted cricket sweater for the chillier days at the beginning and end of the season.
However, you may want to check with your club about this before buying one, as they have their own official kit with their club sponsor and logo on. You don't want to upset the passionate club-people.
Cricket Helmet
Regulations say anyone under 18 must wear a helmet, but we’d suggest everyone does anyway.
The most important things to consider (after safety, which should be a given) is vision and size. Try it on. Take your stance. Visualise the bowler coming in.
The last thing you need is to be fiddling with your helmet when at the crease. It's a surefire way to take you out of the zone.
Cricket Box (groin protector)
As you may have guessed, ‘groin’ is just the manufacturers’ polite way of referring to your crown jewels.
You don’t even want to think about the consequences of not wearing one. But if you've ever been struck there even with a box, you'll never even consider not wearing one again.
We promise you that.
Thigh Pad Combo
The Kookaburra Players Pro Guard is a combination thigh and inner thigh guard featuring lightweight protection, additional hip coverage and adjustable design.
Rather than strapping on your thigh guards individually, just slip this on and you're ready to go. No rushing when padding up means more time to focus on your innings and get in the zone.
This kind of kit really is a must-have for serious batters.
Optional body protection
Chest guards, arm guards, even mouthguards (especially if you’re keeping wicket) are all things you might consider when you’re facing faster bowlers.
Base layers
Thermals and base layers can wick sweat away from your body on warm days and maintain your body's heat on cooler days.
