Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world and the national sport of England. There are regulations for cricket clothing and equipment. Let’s dive into some cricket equipment, and their use.
The Ball
A cricket cork ball is covered in leather. The hardness of the ball makes it a potential hazard for causing severe injury if it has a forceful impact on the body. The ball can weigh up to 163 grams and comes in two types; red cricket balls used in tests and first-class cricket and white balls used in one-day matches. Night games under artificial lighting use white balls for visibility.
Wickets
In cricket, there are two wooden wickets with three stumps with bails at the top. Stumps are wooden posts an inch in width and 32-inch in height. They have spikes that extend at the bottom. The spikes get hammered to the ground together to prevent a cricket ball from passing between them. Bails are wooden crosspieces at the top of adjacent stumps.
Boundary rope or flag
A boundary rope marks the boundary around a cricket field. It is usually white in color for easy visibility. White flags are popular alternatives for a boundary rope.
Bat
A cricket bat is made of flat wood and has a conical handle. It has a maximum length of 96.5cms and a maximum width of 10.7cm. It weighs about 1.4 kilograms.
Protective Equipment
As with any other international and professional sport, cricket players have to wear protective equipment to ensure safety during matches. Here are some protective equipment used by cricket players during matches.
- A jockstrap is an undergarment with a cup pocket for inserting a protective cup. A jockstrap protects a player’s crotch area. It prevents the danger of blunt trauma to the crotch area, which may cause complications such as ruptures and internal bleeding.
- Batters and wicket keepers wear abdominal guards. The common terms used to refer to an abdominal guard are cup, box, and L guard. Manufacturers use high-density plastic with a padded edge for extra protection. You insert an abdominal guard into a jockstrap that has cup pocket underwear. It serves the purpose of protecting the crotch area from impact.
- Batters and fielders close to the batter on strike wear helmets to protect their heads. They are usually worn when facing fast bowlers.
- Cricket pads are different between the two categories of players. Batters and wicket keepers wear leg pads to protect the shinbone. Batters strap their pads on the lower legs and have up to three straps, while wicket keeper pads have two. Additionally, wicket keeper pads are smaller and lighter than batter straps.
- Batters wear padded gloves. The gloves have thick padding above the fingers and thumbs to protect the hands against ball impact. Wicket keepers, too, wear their special design gloves with webbing between the thumbs and index fingers.
Final Take
If you are a professional cricket player or a beginner looking to get started, you need a reliable cricket equipment dealer. Find out everything you need to know about the equipment used in cricket for you to enjoy the game and play safely.
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