FAQs

A chest guard is strongly recommended for any batter facing bowling above 70mph - effectively all adult club cricket. Short-pitched balls regularly hit the chest and lower ribs, and standard batting pads and thigh pads don't cover the torso at all.
A chest guard sits against the skin or over a base layer, held in place by two elasticated straps that wrap around the torso. The foam panel should cover from just below the collarbone to the lower ribs, centred over the sternum. Wear the shirt over the top.
No - chest guards are sized by chest circumference and by junior vs adult construction. Junior chest guards are shorter and narrower to fit a smaller torso; a junior wearing an adult chest guard will have exposed ribs above and below the foam panel.
The terms are used interchangeably. A cricket chest guard and a cricket chest pad both refer to the strap-on or vest-style foam protection worn over the ribs and sternum under the shirt. Some brands prefer one term over the other - the product is the same.
A quality cricket chest guard lasts three to five seasons of regular use. The foam over the main impact zone gradually compresses with repeated ball strikes - replace the guard once the centre panel no longer rebounds, even if there's no visible damage.