Cricket garb has come a long way since Sir Vivian Richards would come to the wicket with little more protective equipment than a cap, chewing gum and a twirling Duncan Fearnley bat.
Even in the unlikely event that you are fortunate enough to see the red cherry like a beach ball in the manner of the Antiguan legend, having the right protective equipment has become a prerequisite to getting the most out of your time in the middle.
The usual young batter coming to the wicket may well be donning a helmet, chest guard, thigh guard, forearm protector, in addition to the usual gloves, box and pads even Richards deigned to wear.
Long gone are the cricket steel toe-capped boots (which might as well have taken off a road workman and dipped in white paint) or the sight of a fast bowler cutting a hole in the top of his shoe.
Modern equipment has better protection and allows players to move easily, while being tailored for all too.
Former England cricketer and current commentator Lydia Greenway has been a key mover in this space, setting up The Female Cricket Store to promote equipment which cater to the 1m+ school-age girls who now enjoy the sport.
“You used to wear small adult pads and never question it: you’d have a big strap hanging down from your pads, would struggle to run and on occasion, the ball would flick it on the way to the keeper and give you out,” Greenway said.
“For young girls, the main benefit is pads being slightly narrower and lightweight to suit women’s calves, with straps shorter on gloves as well to fit wrists better.”
The choice now is so plentiful, that finding out where to start can be the challenge. As Daniel Inkpen from equipment specialists Kent Cricket Direct explains, nowhere is this a bigger issue than in choosing your lid.
“There are 13 different types of helmet shapes,” Inkpen says. “They all meet the specifications. The main difference is what fits you.”
Best protective gear at a glance
- Best overall: Masuri Legacy Helmet – £56, Pro:Direct
- Best girls’ entry batting pads: SM HK Special Pads – £24, SM Cricket
- Best for women’s footwear: Me+U Women’s Cricket Shoes – £89, Cricket Direct
- Best budget arm guard: Gunn & Moore Cricket Wrist Guard – £9.95, Amazon
- Best chest protector: Kookaburra Pro Guard 500 Upper Body Protector – £22.99, Discount Cricket Outlet
- Best thigh guard: Valkyrie Combo Thigh Guard – £44, The Female Cricket Store
- Best wicket keeping gloves: Gunn & Moore Original – £150, Kent Cricket Direct
- Best mid-range batting gloves: Gray Nicolls GN200 – £28.74, Amazon
- Best girls batting gloves: SM SK111 – £54, The Female Cricket Store
- Best box: Fortress Abdo Guard – £4.99, Amazon
With this in mind, we wade through the crowded market to find you the gems.