Cricket protective gear guide: thigh, arm and chest guards

Which three first, and in what order

This cricket protective gear guide covers the three guards that sit under the kit: the thigh guard, the arm guard and the chest guard. A batter in a hard-ball game needs pads, gloves, a box and a helmet first. These three come next.

Buy the thigh guard first. The front thigh takes more balls than any other spot the pad does not cover. A hit there can stop a player batting for a week. It is worth having from the first leather-ball net.

Buy the arm guard second. It earns its place once the bowling is quick enough to rise off a length. For most players that means club cricket or academy nets from about age 14.

Buy the chest guard last. It matters against fast bowling on bouncy or uneven pitches. A batter facing medium pace on a flat club pitch can wait a season.

The thigh guard: pick the combo

Pick a combo thigh guard. It has a front guard for the leading leg and an inner guard for the back leg, joined by a strap. The inner guard stops the ball that runs off the inside edge into the back thigh. A single front guard is lighter, but the combo covers both places a batter gets hit.

Look for high-density foam faced with moulded plastic ribs, and a cotton or mesh back that lets sweat out. A guard made only of soft foam bends under a hard ball and passes the knock through.

The guard is handed. A right-handed batter wears the front guard on the left thigh. Order by batting hand.

At MRP, a dependable combo thigh guard sits around ₹800 to ₹1,500. Below that the foam is often thin. Above it you mostly pay for less weight.

Sizing a thigh guard

Measure from the top of the knee to the hip crease, with the player standing straight. The guard should start just above the knee roll of the pad and finish a hand's width below the hip. A guard that overlaps the pad pushes it down. A guard that leaves a gap leaves a bruise.

Most guards come in Boys, Youth and Men's sizes. As a rough guide, Boys fits a thigh length of about 25 to 28 cm, Youth about 28 to 32 cm, and Men's 32 cm and up. Check the chart on the product page, because these bands differ from maker to maker.

Buy the guard to match the pad size. If the pads are Youth, start with a Youth guard. The batting pads use the same size names, so the two pair up.

The arm guard

Pick a moulded arm guard with a foam lining and two straps, one near the wrist and one near the elbow. It covers the forearm of the front arm, the one that faces the bowler. For a right-handed batter that is the left arm.

Size it by forearm length, wrist to elbow. The guard should run from just above the glove cuff to just below the elbow, so the elbow still bends fully. If it stops the bat coming up, it is too long.

At MRP, a good arm guard is around ₹400 to ₹800. Weight sits near 100 to 150 g. Anything heavier tires the arm over a long innings.

The chest guard

Pick a wrap chest guard that covers the front ribs on the side facing the bowler. It holds with one shoulder strap and one waist strap. This shape covers the ribs that take the short ball and stays out of the way of the shot.

Fit it so the top edge sits below the collarbone and the lower edge covers the last rib. It should move with the body when the batter turns, not slide. Try it under the playing shirt. If the shirt buttons pull, go down a size.

At MRP, expect around ₹700 to ₹1,400.

The junior set

For a junior, buy the thigh guard with the first pads. Add the arm guard when the player moves to a leather ball against older bowlers. Most players under 12 do not need a chest guard yet. A well-fitted helmet does more for them.

Size juniors by height, not age. Two 11-year-olds can stand 135 cm and 155 cm. As a rough guide, a player under 140 cm fits a Boys thigh guard, 140 to 160 cm fits Youth, and taller players fit Men's. Measure the thigh anyway, because legs differ.

Do not buy a size up to grow into. A loose thigh guard turns sideways under the trousers and the ball finds the gap. A guard that fits this season is worth more than one that fits next year.

The youth cricket equipment range carries pads and gloves in the same junior sizes, so a parent can match the whole set in one order.

Fitting and care

Wear the thigh guard under the trousers, held by its waist strap and a pair of fitted shorts. The strap should be firm but leave two fingers of room. Do the same check on the arm and chest straps.

After each session, open the straps and dry all three guards in the shade. Strong sun makes foam hard and brittle. Wipe the foam with a damp cloth and mild soap once a week in the season.

Replace a guard when the foam no longer springs back after a firm press of the thumb, or when a plastic rib cracks.

Combo and single thigh guards in Boys, Youth and Men's sizes are on the thigh guards page.