Cricket pads are an essential buy for any cricketer serious about the game. While they may add to the cost of a good cricket kit, that cost is well worth paying given that cricket pads can protect you from injury. Cricket balls are incredibly hard and are bowled to batters at a fast pace, so it’s important to consider beyond how cricket pads should fit.
For that reason, we are delving into the world of how to properly wear cricket pads to ensure that they provide a proper level of protection. Buying cricket pads should not be an onerous task, but it may take time trying on different sets to find the right pair for you. The cricket experts at INTERSPORT can certainly help with that! There is a balance to be had between a set of pads that is strong enough to give you the optimal level of protection, but does not affect your ability to play proficiently. Pads have to allow a batter to run quickly between the wickets and move forward to play the ball freely.
What Is The Right Way To Wear Cricket Pads?
Wearing cricket pads correctly is essential if you are to gain the necessary level of protection from them. The section of the pad with the horizontal panels needs to be directly over the knee. It is so tempting, especially on growing children, to try to extend the lifespan of pads by having this section above or below the knee. The fact of the matter is that this puts the knee in danger of injury, and it’s a joint that’s keenly susceptible to harm. So remember, the knee panel needs to sit on the knee, and the section above needs to be covering a batter’s lower thigh.
To attach them to your legs, pads have velcro straps to fasten behind the shin. Velcro means you can wear them tighter or looser, which can depend on physique as well as needed comfort. The ideal position is where the leg is covered for protection, and the straps are tight enough to allow free movement for running without being uncomfortable.
How Do You Soften Cricket Pads?
New cricket pads tend to be fairly stiff, but try not to be immediately put off by this. It is common and something that you get used to over time. Cricket pads can be worn-in so that batters find them more comfortable to play in. The key to softening them up is simply to play in them more. While this will not actually have any impact on their effectiveness in protection, it will get your body more used to how it feels to play cricket with pads on. At first, it can be an odd sensation, but that will lessen over time.
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.
BONUS: How Do You Put On Thigh Pads For Cricket?
Thigh pads are a different piece of equipment to the cricket pads seen on cricketers’ shins. Thigh pads, as the name suggests, sit higher up the leg and are often worn underneath the pants. They are quite lightweight and comfortable to wear. They prevent serious bruising should a cricket ball hit a cricketer on the upper thigh, where a cricket pad does not reach. It is attached via two straps, one around the waist and one around the inner thigh.
