Cricket can cause serious injuries to players and anybody taking up the sport needs to be aware of this and take the correct precautions to ensure they stay as safe as possible while playing the game. This means making sure you’re kitted out with all the correct gear like cricket pads, batting gloves, shoes, helmet, etc.

Sprains, strains and bruising are the most usual types of injuries that can occur during play. The upper body bears the brunt of this with the hands and fingers being the most affected areas. Face, hands, and finger injuries as well as falls are commonly treated in hospital – a cricket ball is hard and relentless, especially when travelling at speed. Shoulder and back injuries are usually experienced by bowlers and can become an ongoing problem. However, don’t be put off cricket by this – it’s just a matter of buying the protective gear that you need to avoid serious injury.

Cricketers are also susceptible to lower leg injuries when hit with the ball and it’s imperative that you protect this part of your body by wearing batting pads. Like any other cricket protective gear, there are rules to follow when buying these pads. The weight, range of movement, durability and comfort are essential aspects that you need to look into when you’re buying.

Cricket batting pads are composed of 7 parts with different degrees of defense determined by the materials used and the manner in which they were made.

Face. This is the biggest surface area with a few vertical divided sections that allows the pad to cover the region of the lower limb. The separated sections make it easier for the player to run even when wearing the pad. This part of the pad includes a cane shaft for extra toughness and several layers of padding materials to absorb shock.

Knee Roll. The knee roll is incorporated to serve two basic purposes. It increases protection around the susceptible knee joint but is loose enough to allow freedom of movement. This is made possible with the inclusion of a few horizontal sections and some padding materials.

Top Hat. This refers to the area on top of the knee roll and shields the lower leg from ball hits or strikes. Compared with other defensive parts, the top hat has limited protection because the area above the knee roll has more muscles to safeguard the bone.

Wings. The wings provide protection to the most delicate parts and are commonly featured in the better quality pads. A few cheaper pads have wings offering agility protection but are quite heavy unlike the better quality ones which offer maximum protection in lighter weight materials.

Straps. Conventional straps are often heavy and uncomfortable especially with the added width of cushioning. However, modern manufacturers added width and cushions to the pads and Velcro straps are used to secure the leg for a more comfortable fit. Three straps are still a common feature in most pads with a few brands decreasing it to two straps.

Instep. This feature provides protection to the lower shin and ankle. Some pads boast a toughened instep to defend the pad from deterioration caused by friction with the batting shoes and the ground.

Inners. Additional padding may be featured in high impact batting pads to increase the comfort level. Some pads sport inner padding that can be removed for washing.

Choose the correct cricket pads to shield your lower legs this is a really important consideration when playing cricket. If you make sure you wear good quality protective gear at all times, then you will carry on enjoying the sport without risk of injury.