Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport that is played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the center of a 22-yard pitch. This game was invented in the vast fields of England, supposedly by shepherds who herded their flock. Later on, it became known to aristocrats, making it England’s national game. And after a century, it is now being played in the international arena, with a place of its own. Many people are into watching cricket games, and some are even fond of cricket betting, with the hopes of winning money by betting on the teams they want.
Just like other sports, there are requirements needed to be fulfilled to be able to play the game of cricket. One of these is wearing the right uniform and using the right equipment. If you haven’t played cricket yet and you’re wondering what uniform they use and the equipment needed to play the game, you’re in the right place. Today, we are going to give you more information about cricket clothing and equipment.
The Cricket Uniform
The clothing worn by cricket players or cricketers is called cricket whites or flannels. It is a kit that usually consists of trousers, a shirt, and a jumper. Flannels were exclusively white or cream. That’s why they are called cricket whites. However, in the present time, many competitions are played wearing different colors of clothing based on team colors, just like in other sports.
Cricket whites were originally made from different flannel materials. Usually, modern flannels have trousers that are made with a high elastic content to avoid damage while fielding. The shirts or jumpers, on the other hand, can either be short or long-sleeved. Bowlers usually favor the former, while wicketkeepers mostly wear long-sleeved shirts to avoid abrasions from the grass when they dive for the ball. The jumpers are traditionally made with a cable-knit style or design.
Cricket Protective Gear
In addition to cricket whites, cricketers also wear protective gear when playing the game. They usually wear a sun hat, a cricket cap, or a baseball cap.
- Cricket Cap: A cricket cap is a type of soft cap that is usually made from felt. It is the traditional form of headwear used by cricketers. It is a tight-fitting skullcap that is made of six or eight sections, with a small crescent-shaped brim.
- Spiked Shoes: Cricketers also wear spiked shoes to increase their traction.
- Jockstrap: A jockstrap is also recommended to be worn in a game of cricket. It is a waistband with a support pouch for the genitalia. It is an undergarment that is usually worn when playing contact sports and other vigorous activities.
- Abdominal Guard: This one is an L Guard for male batsmen and wicketkeepers. It is often made from high-density plastic with a padded edge and shaped like a hollow half-pear. This is inserted into the jockstrap with cup pocket underwear of the batsmen and wicketkeeper to protect their crotch area from the ball’s impact.
- Helmet: Cricketers also wear helmets, often with a visor. Batsmen and fielders who are close to the batsman on strike, usually wear a helmet to protect their heads.
- Leg Pads: In a game of cricket, leg pads are worn by the two batsmen and the wicketkeeper to protect their shin bone against impact from the ball. The leg pads of the wicketkeeper are slightly different from the batsmen. Also, fielders who are fielding in close to the batsmen can wear shin guards under their trousers.
- Gloves: These are thickly padded gloves above the fingers and on the thumb of the hand. They are worn only by batsmen to protect their fingers against the impact of the ball. There are also gloves for the wicketkeeper, which usually includes webbing between the thumb and index fingers.
Cricket Equipment
Here’s a list of the different equipment needed to play cricket:
- Ball: A cricket ball is a hard and solid ball that consists of a cork core wound with string and a leather cover stitched on. It can either be red, white, or pink. It should have a circumference of 9.1 inches or 23 centimeters unless it is children’s size.
- Bat: The bat used in the game of cricket is wooden and is usually made of Kashmir or English willow wood. It cannot be more than 38 inches or 96.5 centimeters long and 4.25 inches or 10.8 centimeters wide. It has a long handle, and one side has a smooth surface. It is also not allowed to use aluminum bats in the game of cricket.
- Stumps: These are three upright wooden pols that form the wicket together with the bails.
- Bails: These are two crosspieces made of wood and are placed on top of the stumps.
- Sight screen: This one is located at the boundary and is aligned exactly parallel to the width of the pitch and at the back of both pair of wickets.
- Boundary: This is a rope that draws the perimeter of the field.
There you have it, the uniform and equipment needed to be able to play the game of cricket. But if you will only be playing it in streets or parks for fun with your friends, much of these equipment can be skipped or replaced with alternative items that are easier to find.