What Do Cricketers Wear Inside Pants?
Cricket is one of the most popular sports on the planet, with an estimated 2.2. billion followers worldwide. In fact, the global cricket equipment market is expected to reach a value of around $16.88 million by the year 2027, showing the vast demand for gear needed to play the age-old sport.
The boom in interest in cricket over the recent years has led many people to ask the question: what do cricketers wear inside pants?
In this article, we will explain the kit of cricket players and recommend our favourite cricket equipment pieces that we offer at our store here at Sports Maxx.
What do cricketers wear?
Cricket players wear specific attire during matches. Their clothes must be comfortable and not restrict their movements. These must also help keep the players cool when the weather is sunny.
A cricketer’s uniform includes:
- a cricket cap: often worn by fielders, to reduce the glare from the sunlight or harsh stadium lights.
- a helmet: this is worn by the batsman, the wicketkeeper, and any players who are fielding close to the bat.
- a cricket shirt: known as ‘cricket whites’, these are usually polo shirts with short sleeves, unless the weather is particularly cold.
- cricket shoes: cricketers need sturdy, specialist cricket shoes that sometimes have spikes on the bottom surface, to provide grip.
- cricket pants: cricketers wear long trousers to help protect their legs from injury and the sun, and ensure their leg pads fit comfortably.
- cricket sweater or sleeveless vest: these are less common in warmer countries such as India and Australia, where keeping cool is the priority.
- batting pads: these are leg guards, to shield the legs of a batsman from being hit by a hard cricket ball
- cricket gloves: to protect the fingers and palms from the painful impact of catching the ball in their hands
Why do cricketers wear white?
Cricket uniforms, or flannels, as they are called, are white for a reason. It helps them keep cool when they are playing in the sun for hours at a time. The colour white is a good reflector of light and heat because it absorbs fewer sun rays than other colours do. This makes it comfortable for players to wear when they are running continuously on the field, during sunny conditions.
Additionally, wearing white helps ensure that the traditional red cricket ball is visible to all players, which is another practical reason for wearing white.
Moreover, white clothing actually dates back to the origins of cricket in history. Cricket is a game very much rooted in tradition. The sport was invented in England as early as the 16th century, and white was chosen as the colour of cricket clothing because it looked elegant, classic, and representative of cricket as a ‘gentleman’s game’.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, as cricket grew in popularity across Britain and reached many Commonwealth countries such as India, Australia and South Africa, the colour white continued to be adopted as the main colour of cricket clothing.
Today, cricketers still wear white because it is the most effective at keeping them cool in the heat and it represents the legacy of the sport.
What do cricketers wear inside pants?
Inside their trousers, cricketers will wear a piece of protective equipment called an abdominal guard. Also known as a cricket box or compression cup, this is a durable, cup-shaped plastic guard, which is designed to protect the groin and pelvic region from hard blows.
The abdominal guard can be worn directly on the skin, or over the underwear, depending on which is more comfortable for the player. Then, the cricket pants (trousers) are worn on top. The guard should not feel too tight, uncomfortable, or dig into the player’s hips, nor should it slip off when the player is moving or running.
To ensure that your abdominal guard fits properly, try going for a short jog, to check that it is comfortably fitted and does not move from its position.
It is really important for cricketers to wear an abdominal guard that covers the entire genital region because any injuries to the area can be very traumatic and dangerous.
If cricketers want to wear the abdominal guard outside of their underwear, then must also wear compression shorts or a jockstrap over their abdominal guard, to keep it secure.
What do cricketers wear inside pants if they are female?
Female cricketers also wear an abdomen guard, to help protect their pelvic region when playing the sport. The abdomen guard is specially made for women. It helps guard the body against cuts, bruising and injury.
Where can I buy protective equipment for cricket?
Here at Sports Maxx, we are proud to offer protective equipment for cricket, of only the best quality.
Read on to view some of our best-selling cricket protective gear products:
Abdominal guards
If you are looking for an abdominal guard which offers maximum protection during cricket, then go for our Maxx Pro Boxing Abdominal Groin Guard Protector.
This features a 4” wide single adjustable elasticated hook and loop closure strap with dual elasticated leg loops for ease of use, comfort and great fit.
There are 3 layers of advanced padding for cushioning, support and ultimate force dispersion- which provides excellent protection for the lower abdomen, groin, hips and kidneys.
Another fantastic piece of protective equipment is our Maxx Pro Gelflex Groin Guard Cup. An absolute bargain at only £3.99, this groin guard is designed to fit ergonomically to the male body.
The latex-free groin guard allows unrestricted movement and provides a comfortable fit, has multiple vents to allow for improved ventilation, and has a gel perimeter pad that conforms to the body to prevent chafing.
Did you know that a groin guard can also help keep you cool during a sweaty cricket game, by wicking moisture away from your body? Our Maxx Pro Hydro Mesh Fabric Groin Guard will do just the trick.
The high-quality soft hydro mesh fabric is lightweight, breathable and keeps the groin region dry by reducing moisture build-up. It features an elasticated jock strap design and a wide belt for a snug and comfortable fit.
Shin guards
Every batsman must wear batting pads, to protect their legs when they are batting and running between wickets. If a cricket ball hits a player’s lower legs, this can cause lifelong injuries, which is why the batting pads add a layer of safety, without impeding performance.
Here at Sports Maxx, our Maxx Diamond Series Two Men’s Batting Pads are an essential piece of equipment for any cricket fan. These feature a high-density plastazote foam face and high-resistance sidebars, as well as a Gel Tech Knee socket for added protection.
What’s more, our Maxx Pro Core Gold Series Men’s Batting Pads are an elegant choice of batting pads, made from premium quality materials. The top hat is a polyethylene padded curvature, designed to wrap comfortably around the lower thigh.
Thigh pads
Thigh pads are an essential component of a cricketer’s protective gear. The purpose is to protect the thighs from hardball impact and bruises from awkward balls. Traditionally, the batsman would only wear a single thigh pad on the leg facing the bowler, but now, players tend to wear thigh pads on both legs.
If you need a thigh pad for cricket, then opt for our Maxx Pro Men’s Cricket Thigh Guard Protector. This durable protector pad is made from high-density foam and features an elasticated thigh strap and a soft towelling back to absorb perspiration.
Where can I buy a complete cricket set?
Our Maxx Diamond 13 Piece Adult Cricket Set is a fantastic gift for any cricket lover. This toolkit comes with all the essentials you will need for a cracking game of cricket, including:
a top-quality English willow cricket bat
our top of the range leg pads and batting gloves
a thigh protection pad
a protective groin guard
a cricket cork ball
a bat mallet
and so much more!
How to stay safe when playing cricket
- Warm up and stretch before the match- this is especially important for the bowler.
- Stay hydrated, especially when playing in hot weather conditions.
- Don’t play cricket during extreme heat conditions, or during really rainy weather.
- Wear sunglasses and top up the sun cream if it is really sunny outside.
- Check that there are no hazards in the area where you are playing (e.g. broken glass).
- Players should wear protective equipment, such as a helmet, shin pads, groin guard, batting pads and gloves.
- Adjust your face guard, to make sure the size of the ball cannot pass between the peak of the helmet and the face guard.
- Wear sensible footwear.
- Take rest breaks when players get tired.
- If any players become injured, make sure they do not return to the game, as they will risk further injury by doing this.
- Warm down after the match is over.
- Keep a first aid kit to hand.
- Ensure you have mobile phones close by, in case an injury occurs and you have to call for help.
We hope this article has provided the answer to the question ‘what do cricketers wear inside pants?’
To browse our broad collection of cricket equipment at Sports Maxx, click here.
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