Cricket Batting Gloves Size & Buying Guide

Cricket Batting Gloves Size & Buying Guide

How to Choose Your Perfect Pair of Cricket Batting Gloves

As a batter, choosing the right cricket batting gloves is important for comfort, safety and performance. A crucial piece of equipment, this guide will explain the different types of cricket gloves available, outlining what the major and subtle differences are between different styles and designs. We will also discuss what features to consider and how to find the right size.

Cricket Batting Glove Sizes

Getting the correct size of batting gloves is important for players of all ages, but particularly for children. If a new player of any age was to wear batting gloves that are too large or too small, it can often impede their ability to grip a bat correctly, which in turn can have a negative effect on technique and potentially lead to a sense of frustration, a lack of progression and enjoyment. This can discourage anyone new to the sport or to batting, and they may become disheartened if they are unable to control their bat when hitting a shot/stroke.

In addition, batting gloves that are too small can also be uncomfortable and may not offer the maximum level of protection. If cricketers wear gloves that are too small, it can restrict circulation and accelerate the feeling of fatigue, having a negative effect on muscular endurance and dexterity in the arms and hands.

Cricket Batting Gloves Size Chart

How to Measure your hands for cricket batting gloves

To measure your hand, use a tape measure or a ruler and measure the length from the top of your wrist to the tip of your middle/longest finger when your palm is open and flat on a surface like a table.

Cricket Batting Gloves Sizes
Glove Size	Measurement
Junior	16-17cm (6.3-6.7in)
Youth	18-19cm (7.1-7.5in)
Small Adult	19-20cm (7.5-7.9in)
Adult	20-21cm (7.9-8.3in)
Large Adult	22-23cm (8.7-9.1in)

Why Choosing the Right Batting Gloves Matters

Cricket gloves that are the correct size, should offer a maximum level of comfort, enhance grip and mitigate the risk of hand injuries. As with safety equipment for cricket or any other sport, top-quality, well-fitted batting gloves will help a batter to feel confident and allow them to focus on the game, without any distractions that may occur due to the perceived risk of injury.

Safety

With the vast majority of cricketers being amateur players, who have to go to work within days or even hours of playing cricket, it’s vital that their hands are fully protected. In addition, professional players, who rely on the dexterity of their hands to excel at their sport, will need to protect their hands to prevent injuries that could result in a long rehabilitation process and long term issues with pain and grip strength.

It’s important that cricket gloves mitigate the risk of short and long term injuries from direct impacts with the hands, and repetitive stress injuries / ‘overuse injuries’ caused by the transfer of force from the cricket ball to the bat and the player him/herself.

The force from a cricket ball hit by a cricket bat, is transferred through the bat to the hands of the batter, and up through his/her arm. This can cause significant stress on the hand, wrist, elbows and shoulder joints. Over time this can cause tendonitis and chronic injuries including tennis elbow.

With research and observational studies demonstrating that cricket balls being hit by a cricket bat can generate forces over a tonne, and that hand injuries from cricket can cause long term issues with hand pain and arthritis in later life, it’s imperative that batters wear gloves that mitigate the risk of injury with adequate protection and shock absorption.

Correctly fitted, high-quality cricket batting gloves like our Original 100 Batting Gloves [Test Grade], offer a superior level of grip, allowing batters to control & direct the force generated by the ball hitting the bat. Well fitted gloves will provide optimal grip and not shift around the hand when striking the ball. The gloves should also be loose enough to distribute and offset some of the force that would otherwise be directly transferred from the bat into the hands of the batter.

With English Pittard leather palms for a ‘tacky’ & sturdy grip, the Original 100 Batting Gloves mitigate the risk of acute & repetitive stress injuries. Thanks to the hybrid pro-grade HD foam with PU leather backhands, the force of any direct impacts from cricket balls is significantly dispersed & reduced when it is transferred to the batter’s hands & upper body.

Comfort

Well-fitted high-specification batting gloves won’t shift or move whilst batting, and the moisture-wicking material will keep hands dry and comfortable. This provides a high level of comfort and prevents any unnecessary distractions allowing the batter to focus on the ball at all times.

Our range of batting gloves are ergonomically designed to allow full and unrestricted movement of the fingers and hands. This allows batters to remain comfortable throughout their innings and training sessions. With segmented padding along the fingers allowing for full dexterity, our batting gloves provide full protection without negatively impacting a batter’s grip or ‘feel’ of the bat.

This ‘feel’ is a vital element of sports performance, and is technically known as “kinaesthetic sense”. Providing optimal hand protection, dexterity and grip, batters can get a sense for each shot and use this as feedback to find their optimal technique and timing. Ensuring that you have well-fitted gloves is crucial in order for this feedback and sensation from the bat to be optimal and accurate.

In terms of general comfort, our batting gloves feature mesh ventilation, are lightweight and feature moisture-wicking inner-materials. The ventilated palms made with soft leather also allow for a comfortable grip and well ventilated hands that will remain feeling fresh throughout an innings.

Durability

Durability is a very important factor and consideration when it comes to cricket batting gloves, especially for amateur cricketers who may have a limited budget.

Well-fitted high-quality cricket batting gloves that are broken in correctly, will allow players to grip the cricket bat handle with the correct force. Gloves that are too small may crack or warp in time if the batter has to exert a high amount of force to overcome the tight fit to grip the bat handle.

Our cricket batting gloves feature leather pitted palms and are made from ultra-durable materials including HD foam and PU leather. Stored and maintained correctly, all of our cricket batting gloves should last for many seasons.

To further increase the life of your batting gloves, consider investing in a pair of high-quality cotton batting glove inners. These specialised lightweight gloves will add an additional level of cushioning and prevent sweat and moisture from your hands penetrating the interior of the batting gloves.

David Lloyd pro cricketer wearing yellow batting gloves

How to Break in Your Batting Gloves

Whilst brand new batting gloves look great, they can be stiff and uncomfortable when you first wear them.

When you first try on your new batting gloves, the materials will feel hard and unpliable, which can make it more difficult to grip your bat handle, and in turn negatively affect your performance.

Breaking the gloves in refers to the process of softening the gloves and allowing them to mould to the shape of your hands. Giving the gloves’ materials more flexibility and a more natural feeling fit will also make the gloves more comfortable to wear, so you will be less likely to be affected by stiff gloves that can fatigue your hands during a long innings.

Wear Your Gloves in Training

Whilst wearing your new gloves at home when you first get them, and opening and closing your hands multiple times can start to make the gloves more pliable, wearing them for an hour or more during training sessions should significantly soften the gloves and make them much more flexible and comfortable.

In addition, the fact that you’ll be gripping and hitting a cricket ball with a bat during training, will ensure that the gloves mould to the specific shape of your hand when you are batting. In addition, the friction and vibrations of hitting the cricket ball will help to soften and ‘loosen’ the stiff palms of the gloves making them more comfortable. With this in mind, it’s important to start with batting gloves that are the correct size.

Cleaning Your Batting Gloves

Follow our cleaning guide and keep your gloves in pristine condition for as long as possible.

Step by Step Cleaning Guide
Check the manufacturer’s instructions and labels. This is a general guide only that could result in damage to some materials.

Equipment Required:
• Mild soap
• Lukewarm water
• Clean sponge or cloth
• Bowl, basin or bucket
• Towel
• Dry leather brush

Optional:
• Baking soda (stain remover)
• White vinegar (odour remover)
• Leather or specific sports/cricket glove cleaner

Remove surface dirt & debris
Straight after your training sessions or match, clap your hands together to remove any debris and/or dirt that may have accumulated to the exterior of the gloves.

If you have to wait until the end of a match, you can air them out if possible, to prevent the moisture from creating unwanted smells and causing damage to the interior. Don’t place the gloves in direct sunlight however.

When you are at home, gently brush any leather areas of the gloves gently with a dry leather brush or a soft bristle brush. Most high-spec gloves will have leather palms.

Prepare a cleaning solution
Prepare a solution of lukewarm water with a mild soap - for example a mild hand soap. Add 2 or 3 drops of the mild soap to every 2L of water.

You can add a drop of white vinegar to the solution if the gloves have a potent/unpleasant odour (white vinegar contains acetic acid which kills smell-producing bacteria).

Soak a cloth in the water, wring out the cloth and wipe down the exterior of the gloves.

Wipe or Soak Your Gloves
If the interior of the gloves are dry and do not smell too unpleasant, you can wipe the inside of the gloves with the wet cloth.

If the gloves have become really damp or smell badly due to sweat, you may wish to soak the gloves in the water and swish them around, giving them a squeeze every 20 seconds or so, for 2 or 3 minutes.

Dry the Gloves
Once you have wiped or soaked the gloves, you can air them out and leave them to dry - but don’t place them in direct sunlight or on or next to a direct source of heat such as a radiator or fire.

Additional Scrub if Required
If the exterior of the gloves still has stains on it once the gloves are dried, you can try using a specific cleaning agent/cream, like a glove or sports glove cleaner, or try using baking soda.

Baking soda is deodorising, mildly abrasive and eco-friendly and non-toxic.

Always check the manufacturer's instructions before using any cleaning agent, including baking soda. You may also wish to test a small, hidden/inconspicuous area and leave the gloves for 24 hours to ensure they are not damaged by baking soda in any way.

How to clean your gloves with baking soda

• Create a paste using 2-3 tablespoons with 1 tablespoon of water.
• Add a small amount to a cloth or soft bristle brush (an old toothbrush can work)
• Use the cloth/soft bristle brush to gently apply the paste
• Leave the paste on the gloves for 10 minutes
• Gently scrub off the paste
• Baking soda can also be used to deodorise the gloves’ interior.

Other Cleaning Tips

Some unofficial tips (use at your own risk) for cleaning and keeping your gloves clean and smelling pleasant include:

Preventing the Gloves from Smelling:
• Using talc or cornstarch on your hands when playing
• Leave a silica pouch in the gloves overnight
• Use an anti-bacterial spray after using them
• Use a small amount of an essential oil in the water you clean them with
• Use a glove deodorizer

Cleaning the Gloves
• Use a leather conditioner on the leather
• Use a leather cleaning wipe on the leather exterior

Inner Cricket Gloves - Hygiene & Comfort

Inner gloves can be worn by batters, depending on their personal preference. Creating a soft layer of cotton between your hands and the inner gloves, they can reduce friction and enhance comfort, especially during long innings in hot and/or humid conditions.

Helping provide a snugger fit and an additional layer of protection, cricket batting inner gloves also help to keep the hands dry, reducing the amount of sweat that might affect the grip with the bat or a ball; they can also reduce the impact and vibrations from hitting the ball with a cricket bat, or when catching the ball.

Another benefit of inner cricket gloves is that they can also extend the longevity of gloves by reducing friction and accumulation of moisture that could cause them to degrade over time.

Storing Batting Gloves

After a cricket match or training sessions, be sure to take your gloves out of your kit/cricket bag, and don’t leave them in your car.

Make sure that your gloves are completely dry before storing them. Dry them outdoors on a warm day, out of direct sunlight, or indoors, but away from a radiator or fire, as direct heat can damage the materials. Ensure the area that you are drying the gloves in is not damp or humid.

To dry the gloves, lay them flat or hang them up by the wrist/bottom of the gloves.

After drying out your gloves, be sure to store them in a cool dry place.

Storing your gloves somewhere cool and dry will minimise the impact of any moisture without warping the gloves or damaging them from direct light and heat.

A dedicated, ventilated glove bag or storage box can be a good place to store your gloves. The bag or box should be well ventilated but protect the gloves from dust and excess moisture.

Be sure that you do not squeeze, fold or compress the gloves into any bag or storage compartment, as this could damage and warp the gloves.

As outlined above, some people recommend using silica gel packs or glove deodorizer to keep the gloves fresh in storage. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions or contact the retailer to check if this is okay with your specific gloves.

Cricket Gloves FAQs

Can you buy left handed cricket batting gloves?
Yes, you can buy left handed cricket batting gloves. All of our cricket batting gloves are available in a range of sizes and in right and left handed batter options.

The thumb of the dominant hand - right thumb for a right handed batter, and left thumb for a left-handed batter, will feature more cushioning and reinforced padding; whilst the non-dominant hand glove, will be lighter. This is because the dominant hand usually generates the power in a shot/stroke, whereas the non-dominant hand requires more dexterity to control and direct the shot.

Can you machine wash cricket gloves?
In the vast-majority of cases you cannot wash cricket gloves including cricket batting gloves in the washing machine. If unsure, check the label, there are some lower-spec synthetic gloves that you may be able to machine wash.

Can fielders wear gloves?
According to the ICC rules, no fielder other than the wicket keeper is permitted to wear gloves during a regulated match.

Key Takeaways - Finding the Perfect Batting Gloves

Ensuring that you pick cricket batting gloves that are the correct size and style is important for comfort and performance. Correctly fitting gloves that have been broken in correctly can provide optimal grip to allow batter’s to perform at their best. Cricket batting gloves that provide ventilation, ‘sticky’ palms with pitted leather, and high-quality padding, can make all the difference on matchdays.

Always remember to clean and store batting gloves correctly to ensure they last for as long as possible and do not emit any unpleasant odours. Wearing cricket inner gloves can enhance the longevity of cricket batting gloves and make them easier to maintain as sweat from the palms of the hands is less likely to accumulate inside the batting gloves (it is mainly absorbed by the inner gloves that provide a barrier of protection).