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A full set of cricket protective equipment is what separates safe batting practice from a visit to A&E. The modern hard cricket ball reaches 80mph+ off a length at adult pace, and a single unguarded impact to the head, groin, chest or thigh ends more seasons than any other cause. This collection gathers every piece of protective kit a club or school cricketer needs: BS 7928-certified helmets, match-grade batting pads, thigh and inner-thigh guards, abdominal guards, chest guards, arm guards, and neck protectors. We stock junior sizes across every category - protection isn't optional for developing players, it's the thing that keeps them playing long enough to develop.

Gear up for the cricket field with essential cricket protection online from Foresports. At Foresports, we offer a wide range of cricket protective gear to ensure you're fully equipped for every match. Essential items like batting gloves, pads, and helmets are just the beginning. For added safety against fast bowlers, don’t forget a thigh guard, arm guard, Abdominal Guard, Inner Thigh Pad. Many players are also turning to chest guards for extra protection. Prioritizing safety boosts your confidence, and confidence enhances performance. Shop our cricket protection equipment today and play your best game.

What cricket protective gear do you actually need?

The non-negotiables. For anyone batting against a hard leather ball, five items are mandatory regardless of level: a BS 7928-certified helmet, batting pads (match-spec, not training-only), batting gloves, an abdominal guard (box), and a thigh pad. Playing without any of these against adult pace is the kind of decision that ends in broken bones.

The strongly recommended. Above age-group cricket and club second-team level, a chest guard and inner-thigh pad become essential - short-pitched deliveries at 70mph+ regularly hit the chest and inner thigh, and neither is protected by a standard thigh pad or the pad above the knee roll. Wicketkeepers need dedicated keeping pads, keeping gloves and an abdominal guard; slip fielders increasingly wear helmets in modern first-class cricket.

The role-specific. Arm guards protect the forearm on the top-hand side and are worn by batters who stand up straight to pace bowling. Neck protectors clip to the base of the helmet and are now standard at professional level - optional but recommended for anyone facing 75mph+ bowling. Elbow guards are rarer but useful for batters prone to LBW-angle impacts on the front elbow.

Check certification, not cosmetics. Only helmets and neck protectors are governed by formal British Standards (BS 7928 and BS 7928.1 respectively). For other items, check that the manufacturer specifies foam density, high-density panels over critical zones, and secure strap systems - these are the real indicators of protection. Colour and branding are not.

FAQs

For hard-ball cricket at any level: a BS 7928-certified helmet, batting pads, batting gloves, an abdominal guard and a thigh pad. These five items are the minimum needed to bat safely against a leather ball delivered at pace.
A chest guard is strongly recommended for any batter facing bowling above 70mph, which covers most adult club cricket. Short-pitched balls regularly hit the chest - a standard batting pad and thigh pad don't cover the torso at all.
Yes - junior protective gear is sized smaller and made for the lighter 4.75oz junior ball. Adult protective kit sized down to fit a child is both a poor fit and over-specified for junior match speeds, which reduces comfort and discourages use.
Wicketkeepers need dedicated keeping pads (lighter and shorter than batting pads), keeping gloves (padded palms, open fingers for movement), an abdominal guard, and at junior level a helmet when standing up to the stumps to spin bowling.
Helmets last three to five seasons or one significant impact, whichever comes first. Batting pads last two to four seasons. Guards (chest, abdominal, thigh) last three or more seasons if not compressed by impact. Replace any item after a direct high-speed impact.