Cricket Kit Explained - Clothing and Wicket Keeping

For some, the cricket cap is perhaps one of the most symbolic items of clothing worn. It represents membership and belonging, denoting at a glance the team you play for and in some cases even giving a hint about your sporting ability or social status. They also have a practical use, helping to shade the player from the sun.

Caps come in a whole range of colours but generally in only two styles. You have the standard baseball style cap which has become the default cap style in recent years. The other is known as the baggy and is more famously worn by the Australian test team (hence the term the baggy green). Neither gives any real advantage over the other, the choice is purely down to tradition and what you find aesthetically pleasing.

Caps are also presented to new players, especially county professionals or those good enough to represent their country. As a result appearances are known as 'caps'. However, unlike in other sports players are generally given only a few physical caps during their careers, being expected to wear the original all the way through. Hence, an increasingly dilapidated state of an aging baggy green cap is a de facto symbol of seniority amongst the players in the team.

Other caps may be worn with floppy sun hats a particular favourite although they are being phased out.

Although the traditional cable knit style of jumper is becoming rare, this item of clothing is still very popular. Given that cricket is supposedly a summer sport, the weather is often an unforgiving mistress and the extra layer is often more than welcomed. This is especially true of sub-continent teams visiting England, where even the warmest summer day can leave those used to warmer climes shivering.

Jumpers tend to be mainly white with a coloured trim. Although the traditional colours for the trim are maroon, navy or green any combination may be used. Most clubs base their trim on club colours. Jumpers will also come in a long sleeve or sleeveless version, with both often being worn at the same time.

Modern style jumpers are more akin to sweatshirts in appearance although they still do the same job as their chunkier cousins.

Can be found in long sleeve, 3/4 length or short sleeved varieties, the cricket shirt is the main piece of clothing. Often with a club badge added to the lapel, the cricket shirt embodies the sense of teamwork.

Older style shirts were normally made from cotton. Modern day shirts make use of modern fabrics, designed to aid air flow and wick away sweat.

There is a growing trend for coloured shirts, especially for training or T20 games. Of course, the traditional white or cream coloured shirt is still the most popular option but this may change over the next 10 to 15 years.

The humble cricket trouser. Designed to allow freedom of movement whilst preserving modesty! Little changed save for materials used, the trouser is a standard issue in any kit collection. A draw string is used to tighten the trouser around the waist often in conjunction with an elastic waist band.

Recent innovations have included different materials added to assist when shining the ball, stretchy patches to giver a wider range or movements or even 'skid' patches to help players in the field. Whilst these may have been short lived, the trouser lives on in triumph!

Be warned though, if the trouser has one enemy it is the grass stain. Knees are forever marked with a faint hue of green that even boil washes and pre scrubs fail to shift.

Traditionally cricket footwear mainly came in an ankle boot style, in white leather with a leather sole. In recent years the style has changed to what I would call a more training shoe style with a range of material being used for the soles. One thing that has remained consistent is the use of either metal or rubber spikes on the sole in order to aid grip. Which one you choose depends on what you do on the field.

Bowlers tend to favour boots which give additional support to the ankles. They also normally go for shoes with metal spikes as they require the most grip. Boots for bowlers may also come with extra impact cushioning due to the huge forces imparted when the front foot lands as part of the bowling action.

Fielders and batsmen may choose to go with the metal spike option but they are just as likely to go with rubbers. These offer some degree of grip but not too much, making turning quickly easier. Generally, rubbers can also be worn indoors which make them a good all round option.

There is also a hybrid option, known as 'half and half'. As the name suggest they have half of the sole with metal spikes, the other with rubbers. They may also only have have of the sole containing spikes, with the other half a number trainer type sole. This type of shoe is favoured by slower bowlers who need grip but also footwear which allows for a degree of pivot when bowling.

Footwear is one of the fastest changing area of cricket apparel. As more is understood about the forces present and the needs of cricketers, ever more innovative designs are being released.

Current popular brands include Puma, Asics, Nike and Adidas!

Wicket gloves (also known as gauntlets) are a very specific piece of cricket equipment. They aid the wicket keeper in catching the ball, something which s/he may have to do 500 plus times in a day.

All gloves give a level of protection, mainly around the fingers (tips especially) and the palms. The main material used is leather for the backs and cuffs, with rubber for the palms (to aid grip). There is also an additional strip of material between thumb and forefinger to give an increased catching area - however, rules are very specific about this strip in order not to give too big an advantage. Cuffs are normally padded, again to give protection but this time to the wrist area.

Padded inner gloves may also be worn to help reduce the impact of the ball smacking into the palms. In days gone by, the remedy was usually putting a piece of steak in-between glove and palm. The effect was extra protection but also a great way to tenderize the meat!

These are very similar to batting pads, albeit a cut down version. They are design to mainly protect the shins with some cover for the knee. The general material used is leather, with cotton and cane combined to offer padding. Almost all wicket keeping pads have a two strap design to give comfort without impairing movement.

Some modern day keepers may wear these pads under trousers, a trend which is mainly seen in the shorter formats of the game.