An essential item in any wicket keeper’s kit bag, wicket keeping gloves are engineered to provide protection and enhance grip whilst still providing full freedom of movement. 

Selecting the right wicket keeping gloves, is an important decision that can significantly influence performance. Like any protective equipment, having well-fitted, comfortable and effective wicket keeping gloves can allow players to focus on the action, without having to worry about hand injuries. 

High-quality wicket keeping gloves can also improve grip and control. Picking gloves with premium grip materials and designs/features on the palms of the gloves can allow for enhanced catching and control of the ball. 

Having the correctly fitted, high-quality wicket keeping gloves starts with finding the correct size and choosing the correct style. In this guide we will cover how to find the right size of wicket keeping gloves, why the right gloves are important, and what features to look out for. We’ll also cover the basics of breaking in the gloves, and how to clean and maintain your wicket keeping gloves once you find the perfect pair.

To measure your hand, take a tape measure or ruler and place it at the top of your wrist and measure the length to the top of your middle finger.

Once you have this measurement, you can use the size guide below to calculate your wicket keeping glove size. 

There are a number of reasons why it’s important to take the time to measure your hands and find the right size wicket keeping gloves.

Improved Grip
Some wicket keeping gloves including FORTRESS gloves use superior grip technology including octopus-dimpled rubber palms to develop friction and ‘stickiness’, making catching and handling cricket balls significantly easier. Ensuring the ball is unlikely to slip out of a wicket keeper's hands, a correct fit will also limit any movement of the gloves and improve comfort, making catching and overall gameplay feel as effortless as possible. 

Hand Protection
Research shows that hand injuries are a major issue in professional cricket, with many injuries requiring surgery and a long recovery period of rehabilitation. Our wicket keeping gloves boast a range of features to mitigate the risk of injury including reinforced high-density foam padding which protects the fingers and back of the hand. Designed to absorb the force and shock of a fast moving cricket ball as effectively as possible, the ergonomically designed padding helps to minimise the risk of bruises, sprains and broken fingers. The reinforced fingers and thumb areas are also able to protect the fingers from hyperextension which can often be caused by awkward and sudden deflections of the ball. 

Ensuring that you have the correct size of wicket keeping gloves will further mitigate the risk of injury, by enhancing dexterity and proprioception. Snug and correctly fitting gloves will also minimise any movements of the gloves that can occur when absorbing the impact of the cricket ball. Any enhanced 'feel' and grip of the ball will optimise technique and timing, which in turn reduces the risk of hand injuries.

AirFlow & Comfort
A correctly fitting pair of wicket keeping gloves with ventilation areas - such as the mesh panels on our Pro Black Wicket Keeping Gloves, prevent the palms of the hands becoming sweaty and slippery. The ventilation will also help enhance the longevity of gloves, especially when worn with a pair of our moisture-wicking inner wicket keepers gloves. 

Inner gloves can also help to prevent unwanted friction that can cause discomfort and blisters over time. Paired with correctly fitting wicket keeping gloves, inner gloves will minimise the moisture on the palms of the wicket keeper's hands and the inside of the 'main' gloves, whilst the snugly fitting but not overly-tight wicket keeping gloves will provide adequate air flow and ventilation.  

To ensure that your gloves provide maximum comfort and grip from the very first match or training session, you will want to break them in first. 

New gloves will often feel stiff and bulky, due to the level of padding and the leather material. The best way to get used to your new gloves and to soften them up ready for a match, is to wear them during training. Whether that means you wear them for a spontaneous training session in the back garden, or to a formal practice session, doesn’t really matter, as long as you spend time wearing the gloves and catching the ball. This should allow the gloves to gradually mould to the shape of your hands and soften up somewhat. 

If the gloves still feel too stiff, then refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Some manufacturers will recommend using a type of oil on the gloves surface to reduce the stiffness without causing any damage or impacting the longevity of the gloves. 

The manufacturer’s instructions will outline what method of application to use, and how much and what oil to apply, but you will generally want to massage a small amount of oil into the exterior back hand of the gloves and leave overnight in a cool dry place. Again, refer to the instructions, but some wicket keepers choose to press and then roll a cricket ball back and forth over the back of new gloves to soften them at a quicker pace.

To maximise the performance and longevity of your wicket keeping gloves, you should look to clean them after each match and training session. The dirt, debris and sweat that can accumulate inside and on wicket keeping gloves can negatively affect the integrity of the materials, causing them to perish or become damaged quicker than they would be if they were cleaned and maintained properly.

Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions about cleaning your specific type of gloves.

Below is a general guideline/method for cleaning wicket keeping gloves: 

• Use a soft brush or dry cloth to remove surface debris or dust

• Stubborn stains or dirt can be removed with a damp cloth - apply 1ml of mild hand soap if required

• Let them dry in a well ventilated area out of direct light

For more stubborn marks and dirt:

• Use a specialised leather or material cleaner/cream - as dictated by the manufacturer’s instructions

• Apply with a damp cloth and rub off any excess

• Never soak the gloves or use harsh detergents

Some manufacturers recommend polishing the gloves or applying leather conditioner once they are clean and dried, usually with a specialised leather polish.

Remember to store your gloves in a well ventilated area, out of direct light. Consider buying a wicket keeper glove bag and avoid leaving them in your car. 

The easiest and arguably the most effective way to prolong the life of your wicket keeping gloves, is to wear high-quality wicket keeper inner gloves. High-quality inner gloves will prevent moisture building up inside the wicket keeping gloves and enhance the level of hand protection. 

In addition, storing the gloves in a cool, dry, well ventilated area and cleaning the gloves properly can also make a significant difference.

A crucial part of a wicket keeper’s equipment, high-quality wicket keeping gloves will provide an optimal level of grip, comfort and protection that will mitigate the otherwise significant risk of hand and finger injuries. 

In addition to choosing the right style/design and size of gloves, it is important to clean and store wicket keeping gloves correctly to maintain the quality and integrity of the materials for as long as possible. 

At Net World Sports you can choose from a range of wicket keeping gloves including Original Pro Leather Wicket Keeper Gloves, and Original Wicket Keeper Gloves in black and white designs. We also supply inner wicket keeper gloves and Junior Wicket Keeping gloves for children.