What You Need to Start Playing Cricket
Although cricket is a team sport played by two competing sides usually formed of 11 players each, you can find young boys and girls playing cricket on the street, in the park, at the beach, etc. However, for those interested to play hard-ball cricket, like practising and playing for the schools or collegiate teams, it’s best advised to be equipped and prepared rather than deal with injuries and their severity.
What Is the Equipment Used in Cricket?
Cricket essentials such as bats, balls, helmets and pads are available in any major Australia cricket store both online and offline. Here is the must-have cricket gear if you are planning to play the sport regularly.
Cricket Bat
There are many factors you’ll need to consider before buying a bat such as the weight and height of the bat, how does the grip feel, the kind of pitch you will play and of course, your budget. If you’ll be playing cricket extensively, then you should consider spending a good amount of money to get the best quality bat, which will be reliable.
For junior bats, you can get them usually for $130 but the best ones will cost you around $260 to $330. For the highest quality senior bats, you’ll have to spend around $590 to $720. One of the good parts of playing sports like cricket is that it’s similar for both men and women. So no matter your gender you should be able to find a good bat at an Australia cricket store.
Helmet
Have you heard the old saying prevention is better than cure? Therefore, you must protect yourself properly in order to keep yourself safe from injuries, especially when you are playing hardball games. Modern helmets now include a “stem-guard” attach to the back of their helmet to further protect the upper neck/back of the head area.
Batting Pads
During the game, you’ll be moving as quickly as possible between batting and making runs. And this can be continuous if the fielding side is not strong. This means, your pads should be as comfy as possible and have the capability to protect, maintain a lightweight feel and make batting easier. Great quality pads can range from $50 to $150.
Cricket Shoes
To play cricket you need to have the right kind of footwear. Otherwise, you could suffer injury or your performance could be less efficient. Professional cricket shoes are much studied and offer better support to the player despite their resemblance with usual trainers. Some also come with spikes on the bottom surface to offer rigid support while play6ing on a real grass wicket. If you’re more focused on becoming a bowler, you can also get customized cricket shoes – these will offer you ankle support and increase the displacement of force.
Batting Gloves
You need to wear gloves to protect your hands from getting injured while batting. Aside from comfort and protection, batting gloves also provide grip and support for the palms while holding the bat. You can find a range of gloves available on the market in both junior and senior sizes in the price range of $20 -150 for the best quality models.
Batting Shorts
These are essential cricket gear as they provide options to wear outer thigh guard, abdomen guard and inner thigh guard as protective equipment at the same time which can be inserted in the pouches. This means you don’t have to wear anything else and they’re not expensive either. You can easily get a good quality pair for $15 to $30.
Abdomen Guard
This cricket gear is intended to protect sensitive areas by both men and women in the pelvic region. Available in a range of sizes, it’s a relatively small item that can be attached via straps that go around hips. There are also models that are inserted into a pouch in a pair of batting shorts or jockstraps. You can buy abdomen guards for only $7.
Cricket Balls
You can find cricket balls available at a range of prices. The more expensive balls will generally have a better surface finish and will cost you around $15 to $25. If you’re really focused on your bowling skills, then you should consider investing in a good quality cricket ball. Know that different sizes of cricket balls are available for men’s, women’s and junior cricket.
Cricket Clothing
Cricket clothing is often all white and usually consists of a long-sleeve shirt and pants. Protective gear can be worn underneath.
Cricket Bag
In order to carry all your cricket essentials, you’ll need a cricket bag that can keep everything all together and safe from damage. The aspects you should consider when shopping for a cricket bag are material (if it’s water-resistant or not), sizing (does it allows you to keep everything easily), and straps (should be comfortable to allow you to carry it easily). In addition to your equipment, don’t forget to bring a water bottle with you to stay hydrated.