| When you are just starting out playing cricket it is | | | | next most important thing that you need when you |
| not always easy to decide what you need to buy. If | | | | are starting to play (often you should be able to |
| you go into a sports store and ask them what you | | | | borrow them from your team mates or club if you |
| need, you will end up getting a lot of equipment. So it | | | | can't buy them). Cricket pads will protect your legs |
| is best to work out what you need before you go | | | | and if you get a good pair they will make you much |
| shopping. That way you are more likely to get what | | | | more comfortable on the pitch. When you are buying |
| you need, rather than what the store owner thinks | | | | pads, it is also better to go to the store to make |
| you need. Below, is more or less a comprehensive | | | | sure that you get a pair that fit you and are easy |
| cricket equipment list, you don't need everything on | | | | for you to wear and to play in. Even if you see a pair |
| this list, as many clubs will lend you equipment | | | | that look good at an online, you would be better to |
| especially at junior level: Cricket whites, cricket bat, | | | | pay a bit more in the store so that you make sure |
| ball, helmet, gloves, batting (wicket keeping) inner | | | | that you get a pair that is right for you. Cricket |
| gloves, wicket keeping gloves, batting pads, wicket | | | | batting gloves are also important to protect you |
| keeping pads, box, chest pad, arm guard, inner thigh | | | | hands when you are batting, as fingers can be easily |
| pad, cricket boots (bowling boots; batting boots), | | | | broken when hit with a hard cricket ball. If you are |
| box (groin guard), stumps and bails. For most games | | | | young player it is a good idea to buy a helmet to |
| that you play you will need your own set of whites. | | | | keep your head safe from any high balls or balls that |
| Cricket whites consist of white cricket trousers and | | | | deflect off your bat towards your face. Regulations |
| cricket shirt. Make sure that you get a proper pair of | | | | now mean that young players under 18 have to |
| cricket trousers and also a good white cricket shirt | | | | wear helmets when batting (or if you're a wicket |
| and jumper as it can get cold if you are standing out | | | | keeper if you are standing up). You might be able to |
| on the field for a long time especially if you are | | | | borrow a helmet from your team mates or club but |
| playing in England (the start and end of the season | | | | if you are serious about your cricket it's definitely |
| are the coldest). If you can not borrow equipment | | | | worth investing in one. Serious cricketers should also |
| from your club the other most important items of | | | | invest in a pair of cricket boots. As it is very |
| equipment are a cricket bat and box. A good cricket | | | | important to buy these as your feet can suffer if |
| bat is essential if you intend to score lots of runs and | | | | you do not have the right shoes. Having the cricket |
| is a very personal piece of equipment, spend some | | | | ball hit your toes when batting is very painful and |
| time choosing your bat, ideally you should go to a | | | | good pair of cricket boots will provide more |
| shop and pick one up beofre you buy so you know | | | | protection than a simple pair of trainers. You do not |
| how it feels to play with. (Once you know what you | | | | need a huge amount of gear to play cricket, as often |
| want you can often buy bats online cheaper). You | | | | you can borrow gear from your team mates or club, |
| need a good box to protect your groin from the ball, | | | | plus if you invest in high quality cricket equipment |
| as getting hit 'down below' is extremely painful (I | | | | then it will last you a very long time as well. |
| know from experience), so investing in a good box | | | | Do you want a brand new cricket bat? Browse and |
| before you start is a must - you can't bat without | | | | buy hundreds of high quality cheap cricket bats online |
| one. Cricket batting pads and batting gloves are the | | | | and score lots of runs in your next match. |