Protective gear is essential for many roles on the cricket pitch. This guide shows you the do’s-and-don’ts of cricket gloves, and the many types out there.

Cricket Gloves — Type Breakdown & Size Guide

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. But it’s also a surprisingly dangerous one. With sprains, strains, fractures, heavy bruising and a dozen other injuries all possible, you must have the appropriate padding and protection, your hands included.

Add to that improved performance and play, and getting the right cricket gloves isn’t just ideal. It’s essential!

In this guide, we’ll break down not just the different glove sizes and types available, but also how to pick the best gloves for yourself!

Types Of Cricket Gloves

The first thing you’ll need to know is that there is more than one type of cricket glove you can get.

The fact that there’s more than just one type of cricket glove might come as a shock to some newcomers. However, while they do share some similarities, each type is tailored to its own niche.

Cricket Batting Gloves

In case the name wasn’t clear enough, cricket batting gloves are almost exclusively used by batsmen.

These gloves provide both extra support and protection. But alongside those basic features, they’re also made for shock absorption, as well as preventing blisters from forming in the palm or joints. Throw in an improved grip, so your cricket bat doesn’t slip out on a stroke, and you have a perfect batting glove!

There are a few different designs that you can find when it comes to cricket batting gloves too:

• Sausage-Finger gloves — They use thick, continuous padding for extra protection, support, and grip on your bat.
• Split-Finger gloves — These gloves allow for greater flexibility and easier manoeuvring for players at the wrist.

Wicket Keeper Gloves

While cricket gloves are strictly optional for most batters and fielders (more on that in just a minute), they are essential for wicketkeepers.

The biggest difference you’ll notice between batting and wicket-keeping gloves is the type of padding used. Wicketkeeper gloves have a lot more webbing between the fingers, especially the forefinger and thumb. Not just that, you’ll also find a lot more padding in the palm area, as well as caps for the tips of a wicketkeeper’s fingers.

With this, you have the perfect mini net in your hand to catch speedy pitches coming your way, and little-to-no chance of them slipping through your fingers!

Inner Cricket Gloves

So, if wicketkeepers and batters have their own gloves, who exactly are inner gloves for?

Well, the clue’s in the name: They’re for inside your regular glove!

Inner gloves are usually put on first, before putting on the main glove, acting as the main shock-absorbing layer for your gloves.

These types of gloves are typically made of a more flexible/elastic material, as well as a moisture-absorbing/managing material. After all, no one wants clammy fingers at the end of a long match!

Are Cricket Gloves Allowed?

There’s actually a debate among cricket enthusiasts about whether or not it’s even worth including cricket gloves in your main kit. After all, depending on the role you’re playing on the field, cricket gloves might not even be allowed!

To get a proper answer, we need to turn to the Laws of Cricket 2017 Code.

(Don’t worry about the fancy name, it’s just the modern-day cricket rulebook!)

In this code, we can find the official rulings for wearing gloves under law 28.1:

‘No fielder other than the wicket-keeper shall be permitted to wear gloves or external leg guards.’

In other words, unless you’re the wicketkeeper, no one on the fielding side of the match can wear cricket gloves.

This rule goes on to say that protection for the hands/fingers can only be worn if the Umpire allows it. So even if you’re a batsman, you’ll need to check with the match umpire first.

Still, batters are often allowed to wear gloves and other protective padding, since they’re in the line of fire (well, delivery, anyway).

It’s a classic conundrum: Better to have something and not need it than to not have it and need it later!

Cricket Glove Sizes

Luckily for us (and you, the aspiring cricket player), cricket glove sizing is pretty straightforward.

Glove sizes are checked using two measuring points:

• Height, from the tip of your middle finger, down to the wrist.
• Width, from the thumb side of the palm to the opposite.

Final Notes

So, there you have it!

As we’ve already explained, there’s a decent chance that you’ll never even need to wear gloves as a fielder. Unless you’re the wicketkeeper, of course!

Still, if you’re a batsman (and remember, every player in a cricket team is a potential batsman), then it’s definitely worth investing in a good pair of gloves to absorb that impact shock.

Luckily, with this guide on hand, you’ll be more than prepared to pick out your own set!

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