Cricket shoes spikes vs rubber: let the surface decide

Cricket shoes spikes vs rubber: what the surface says

The choice between cricket shoes with spikes vs rubber soles is not about how good you are. It is about the ground under your feet.

Count the days you played last month. Note where each one was. A grass turf ground, a concrete strip with a mat, an artificial turf net, or a dry, hard school ground.

The surface you play on most should decide the sole. Buy for that, and borrow or carry a second pair for the odd day.

A wrong sole costs you in two ways. Spikes on concrete or a mat skid, and they tear the mat. Rubber on wet grass slips just as you land in your stride or turn for a second run.

Full spikes: for turf grounds and fast bowlers

Pick full spikes if most of your cricket is on a grass outfield with a turf pitch. This matters most if you bowl medium pace or quicker.

A full-spike sole carries about 9 to 13 metal spikes, spread from the toe to the heel. They bite into the grass when your front foot lands. That grip keeps the knee and ankle in line at the moment the load is highest.

A full-spike pair in a men's size 8 weighs about 800 to 950 grams. That is heavier than rubber, and you feel it in a long fielding session. For a bowler on grass, the grip is worth the weight.

Look for screw-in spikes, not fixed ones. A worn or bent spike can be swapped with a spike key in a minute. Look for a stiff sole and a firm heel cup. A bowling shoe also needs a strong toe area, because the back foot drags on every ball.

At MRP, a sound full-spike pair for club cricket starts from about ₹2,500. Pairs with a lighter build and better heel support run from about ₹4,500 to ₹7,000.

Rubber soles: for mats, artificial turf and hard grounds

Pick rubber if you play on mats, artificial turf, concrete nets or hard, dry grounds. This covers most box cricket, tennis-ball cricket and indoor nets.

A rubber sole has dozens of small pimples or short studs. They spread your weight and grip a flat surface. They do not tear a mat and they do not lift you off a hard floor.

A rubber pair in a men's size 8 weighs about 600 to 750 grams. It is the easier shoe to run in for a full day, so many batters wear rubber even on grass in dry months.

Check the depth of the pimples before you buy. Pimples of 3 to 5 mm grip on dry grass as well as mats. Flat pimples under 2 mm suit indoor floors only.

At MRP, a rubber-sole cricket shoe starts from about ₹1,200. A sturdier pair with a cushioned midsole runs from about ₹2,000 to ₹3,500.

Half-spikes: for the player who plays everywhere

Pick half-spikes if your week has both. A league match on turf at the weekend and mat nets on weekday evenings is the usual case.

A half-spike sole has metal spikes under the front of the foot and rubber pimples under the heel. The front spikes grip when you push off or plant. The rubber heel lands softly on a hard surface.

Half-spikes are the best single pair for a batter or a spinner. They are a compromise for a fast bowler, whose front heel lands hard on grass. A quick bowler on turf is better served by full spikes.

Half-spikes are still metal at the front. Check with your net or academy before you wear them on a mat, as some do not allow any metal.

At MRP, half-spikes sit between the two, from about ₹2,200 to ₹5,000.

Sizing up: half a size, with match socks on

Order half a size above your street shoe. If the shoe comes only in full sizes, go one size up.

There are three reasons. Cricket socks are thicker than daily socks. Feet swell over a long day in the heat. And a fast bowler's toes slide forward on every landing, which bruises the toenail in a tight shoe.

Try the shoe on in the evening, when your feet are at their largest. Wear the socks you play in. A pair of cushioned cricket socks adds about 2 to 3 mm under the foot, and that is enough to make a snug shoe tight.

You want a thumb's width, about 10 to 12 mm, between your longest toe and the front of the shoe. The heel should not lift when you walk. If it does, lace it tighter through the top eyelet before you size down.

Do not buy too big. A shoe that is a full size and a half too long lets the foot slide, and that causes blisters at the heel.

Juniors: rubber first, spikes later

Buy rubber soles for a child under 12. Most junior cricket is on mats and hard school grounds. Young feet also grow about one size a year, so a costly spike pair is outgrown fast.

Move to half-spikes or full spikes when the child plays on turf every week and bowls from a full run-up. For most players that is around 13 or 14.

Size a junior shoe a full size up, not half. Check the fit every three months. A toe pressing the front means it is time for the next pair.

Care: keep the spikes and the sole working

Knock the mud off after each match, while it is soft. Wipe the upper with a damp cloth. Dry the pair in the shade with paper inside, never in the sun or near a heater, which cracks the sole.

Check the spikes once a month. Tighten any loose one with the key. Replace a spike when it has worn down by a third or bent. Keep a spare set of spikes in the kit bag.

On rubber soles, look at the pimples under the ball of the foot. When they are worn flat, the grip is gone, and the shoe is done even if the upper looks new.

Club and academy orders

For a squad, order by surface, not by one style for all. A common split is rubber for the under-12 group, half-spikes for batters and spinners, and full spikes for the pace bowlers.

Collect each player's foot length in centimetres, measured heel to longest toe at the end of a day. It is more reliable than asking for a size. Add the half-size margin when you place the order.

A club, school or academy can ask for one quote for shoes, socks and kit through the bulk and team order page.

You can find shoes and the rest of your playing kit, with COD or prepaid delivery, in all cricket gear.