If you are serious about your cricket game, it’s vital to know how to wear cricket pads and how they should fit you. Batting is great fun, but having the right equipment is crucial if you want to properly protect yourself and avoid injury. Getting the right cricket pads is one of the ways you can promote safety while playing.
Here, we look at how to know which cricket pads are right for you, if they fit you correctly, and why you should even wear them in the first place.
Why Do You Wear Cricket Pads?
Fully grasping why you wear cricket pads is crucial because it will motivate you to find a pair that fits and protects you properly. Cricket pads can stop you from getting a harsh lesson about what a cricket ball is made of — because each ball is exceptionally hard. If one hits your shin without protection, you may risk breaking a bone.
Even at local level, a ball hitting a batsman’s shin (or anywhere else for that matter) at even moderate speed can cause bumps, bruises or worse. Keeping in mind that a cricketer’s pads can be hit with a cricket ball multiple times an over, it is essential that they are not only worn in the first place, but they are worn correctly.
How Big Should Cricket Pads Be?
So, we know cricket pads are important to keep a player’s body safe, but how big should cricket pads be if a player is after the ultimate protection? When selecting a pair of cricket pads, it is essential to take a person’s size and height into account to find a pair that fits properly.
Taller adults will likely need pads that are between 44 and 48cm. That range should include the right amount of protection for many taller people, without inhibiting a player’s ability to move freely. The appropriate measurement will be reduced when trying to fit pads to a smaller adult or teenager. A size of around 36 to 38cm may be more suitable for a person with a smaller frame. An adult of average height is expected to need pads somewhere in between these two ranges of measurement.
When it comes to sizing cricket pads for children, it can be hard to keep up with their ever-growing limbs, and kids may require new pads more frequently as they grow. However, accurate sizing of cricket pads helps to ensure they will fit correctly and offer the most protection possible. Remember, the damage that a cricket ball can do to a grown adult is already considerable. It is even more imperative that you protect the vulnerable limbs of a growing child.
How Do You Select Cricket Pads?
It is highly recommended that you try on cricket pads at your local INTERSPORT store before you purchase them, whenever possible. If you do not test how well they fit, you run the risk that your cricket pads will not fully serve their purpose of protecting you. They could be too big, too small, too heavy, or too lightweight for your needs. As a result, they will not offer you the right level of protection you need to be able to play safely. They can also end up preventing you from playing at your best just because they are not the right size or shape for your body.
Try not to compromise on your protection by wearing the lightest fit so that you can run or play better. That being said, there is a balance to be had. If you find a pad too heavy or cumbersome to run in, you’ll struggle to wear them in a game. This is, again, another reason why you should try on cricket pads before purchasing. This helps you to ensure that they work for you, your anatomy, and your running style.
The dominant hand that you bat with can also have a bearing on what cricket pad you select. It could be that you find a set that is suitable for ambidextrous purposes. However, the majority of us have a preferred side to bat on. If you are right-handed, you will find that the left pad (labeled L) will have a wide wing to provide you with more side protection. The opposite is the case if you are a leftie.
How To Wear Cricket Pads
Pads are an essential part of any cricketer’s kit bag. If your cricket pads are too big, they do not offer protection over your knee, or they are too small to provide your legs with cover from the ball, you have a greater chance of getting injured. Knowing how to wear cricket pads so that they are comfortable, but offer you enough coverage is key. Remember that you may not immediately find a set of pads that fit you, so try on a few to see which suits you the best or speak to the cricket experts at INTERSPORT.
Comments