Finger injuries are quite the typical scenario in cricket, and they are seen at all levels of cricket, whether it is through fielding or batting. Players have been out for months as they have introduced their index finger of thumb. So, getting a solid pair of gloves for your batting and wicket-keeping immense as a minor injury that you ignore at first may let you out of the game for months.
One of the more recent finger injuries through Batting I can recall is Shakib Al Hassan’s finger injury while batting against Sri Lanka during the 2023 World Cup. The great man ended up scoring 82 runs off just 65 balls while taking painkillers. He then was sidelined for the next World Cup match and a couple of months. As we move forward, we will be speaking in detail about an overview of the batter and wicket-keeping gloves.
Functions and Usability of Cricket Gloves
With your gloves, you need to invest in something that gives you protection as well as flexibility. The modern-day gloves prioritize on the flexibility of the hand because if you’re a sub-continent who is incredibly wristy with his bat movement, then that player can surely elevate his level at least marginally due to having extra mobility with gloves where you can move fingers free and that is lightweight.
The key function is simply the safety of your hands; other than that, the grips of the bats are accustomed in a manner where the gloves will give you a superior attachment with the bat. For this superior attachment, the palm needs to have proper breathable holes for ventilation, leather paddings for the grip, and a fit that is suitable for you.
You need to make sure that the gloves are based on the type you prefer, along with paddings at the critical points, especially the sides of the gloves, which often get ignored. You should make sure that the high-density foam is suitable enough to block fast bowling.
And, as for the Wicket-keeper, make sure to get high-quality inner gloves based on your size along with the main wicket-keeping gloves that have leather padding materials both inside and out.
Types of Gloves
If you’re starting out on cricket, then I’d suggest you go through the types to have an understanding of which type of gloves you prefer. Oftentimes, depending on the style of batting you have, you may choose different sets of gloves; comfort also plays a factor. Nevertheless, let’s go through the different types of Gloves.
Batting Gloves: Block Type and Sausage Type
There are two types of Batting gloves: block and sausage. You can choose either one depending on your comfort and your playing style.
Block Type Gloves (Finger Cutting Gloves)
So, the block-type gloves, also known as finger-cutting gloves, are those gloves where the padding on your fingers is in blocks. This means that your fingers are wearing the glove, and there will be small gaps in the paddings for your fingers. This is done so that the players can feel more comfortable moving their fingers and feel flexible playing their game. Block-type gloves are the gloves most used by players.
And, in terms of block-type gloves, there are variants, like the V Split gloves. These are basically tighter gloves, and the blocks are V-shaped. This shape of gloves does not open as much as block-type gloves due to its shape but gives just as much flexibility.
Sausage Type Gloves
The more traditional and the most protective gloves are the sausage-type gloves. You can understand where the names come from, as the gloves look like Sausages. They are the most protective due to having any sort of finger cutting in the gloves, offering safety but less flexibility. Even though they are used less, some of the greatest players use Sausage gloves; the likes of Shane Watson and Virat Kohli all use Sausage finger gloves.
Apart from these, current generation gloves are also hybrid gloves where we can see that two fingers are sausage and the other two are block type of gloves.
Wicket-keeping: Inner Gloves, then the Wicket-keeping Gloves
For Wicket Keeping gloves, a lot comes down to finding the right size along with the material it. I would suggest you go to the shop and try a few brands as wicket-keeping gloves are big, and they need to adjust on your hand. Also, before getting them, make sure you have bought a suitable pair of inners. Some players have two pairs of inners even so that they prevent themselves from injury catching the hard ball and, of course, are comfortable keeping it.
Criteria behind getting suitable gloves
The first and foremost need to be the type of gloves you’ll be getting, whether it is sausage or block-type gloves or a hybrid glove; then I would say to check the material, like the palm, if it’s good quality leather with breathable air.
Lastly, find the right size. For gloves, the sizes are normally divided into three sectors. The DSC brand has gloves divided into three sizes: Boys, Youth, and Men. I would suggest you to go through the brands of your preferred size charts.
Brands we should look for!
Let us go through the brands and discuss some of the products
SS
It is one of the most household brands in the Indian Sub-continent, along with a few other places. SS has always delivered and is undoubtedly a visible brand among the fans.
- The Ton Gold Edition Cricket Batting Gloves is priced around. 2,300 rupees if you’re looking for mid mid-ranger
- The Ton Pro 2.0 is priced at around 3,700 if you’re looking for something premium.
- The TON Classic Batting Gloves is priced around 800 rupees if you’re just starting out and looking for something temporary.
DSC
Worn by the likes of Youngsters like Rachin Ravindra or veterans like Dwayne Bravo, Usman Khawaja all seem to enjoy DSC kits. They are created in a way where the gloves are durable and lightweight with a classic design.
- The Cynos Pro Batting Gloves and The Intense Players Batting Gloves are two of premium rangers that are priced at around 5000 to 5500 rupees.
- The Condor Edge or The Intense Frost are great for something within the mid-range category as they are priced at 2500 to 3000 Rupees.
- The Condor Atmos and The Intense Rage are two of the ones for the starting range priced at around 1000 to 1500 rupees.
Grey Nicholls
Commonly worn by the English men and the two extraordinary Pakistanis, Rizan and Babar. Grey Nicholls is quite the regular brand in terms of staying updated with the trends and providing the best innovations and services.
- The GRAY NICOLLS HERITAGE GN10 is the one you’re after if you’re looking for something premium price, around 5000 to 6000 rupees.
- The GRAY NICOLLS TEST GN8 is a good mid-ranger priced around 3000 to 3500 rupees.
Apart from these brands, there are a few other brands that you may choose from. Brands like Kookaburra, Adidas, GM, and SG are all fantastic brands and create the absolute best Cricket Gloves.
To Conclude!
To grasp it all, cricket gloves are indispensable equipment for players at all game levels, offering protection, comfort, and enhanced performance. From the legendary status of gloves worn by iconic players to the innovation seen in limited edition releases, the cricket glove market caters to a wide range of preferences and needs. Players seeking lightweight options or those needing extra protection against bouncy pitches can find suitable solutions within the vast array of available designs. Understanding the different kinds of gloves, from traditional finger-cut to modern hybrid styles, allows players to select the ideal pair for their playing style and requirements. Whether it’s the sweat cuff feature for added comfort or an extra layer for protection against finger cuts, today’s cricket gloves are engineered with meticulous attention to detail. As the sport gains traction in new territories like the United States, the demand for quality cricket gloves continues to rise, prompting manufacturers to offer innovative solutions to meet the needs of diverse players. Choosing suitable cricket gloves is not just about selecting a piece of gear; it’s about safeguarding oneself on the field and maximizing performance potential.
