Cricket Bag: Narrow Down Your Choice & Make the Most of It

The origins of cricket are somewhat vague as to when the sport first appeared, but it is believed that it was in England during the middle ages. There are historical records that Edward III had banned a similar game to cricket, but there’s no solid evidence that this game was cricket.

The foggy past of cricket clears up in an Italian-English dictionary from 1598 with the first game being documented in the 16th century played by Guildford schoolboys. In the early 17th century there were people prosecuted for playing cricket and not attending church. While this trend continued for quite some time, in 1696 a match was played in Sussex with 11 people for fifty guineas apiece. It wasn’t until 1744 that the rules of cricket were codified too.

Less than a century later cricket reached the West Indies and India and in the 19th century people in South Africa and New Zealand began playing it too. During the 20th century, there was a big crisis in cricket mainly in the bodyline series between England and Australia during 1932-1933. Then, during the 70s an Australian by the name of Kerry Packer set up the World Series Cricket and assembled the world’s best cricketers.

This paved the way for players being able to make a living from this game and in the 2000s a new type of cricket emerged – the Twenty20 cricket. England’s answer to the Indian Premier League saw a boom and became the second biggest sporting event. Cricket is a major sport even today and like every type of sporting activity, it requires special equipment which goes into what is known as a cricket kit bag.

What to Consider

Types

There are four different types of cricket kit bags: small carry, small-medium wheel, large wheel and upright bags. Small carry cricket bags are best for junior cricketers as they are small enough to carry around yet big enough to accommodate everything you need. Whilst small-medium wheel bags are still on the small side, they do provide a more comfortable carrying experience since you can roll them around and they offer more storage space. Large wheel bags are ideal for wicket-keepers as they are available in duplex style too and are easy to lug around. Upright cricket bags are the most practical option since they do not take up as much as space as large or small-medium wheel bags, yet they still offer a great deal of storage.

Features

Alongside wheels, other important cricket kit bag features to look for are compartments and straps. The purpose of straps is to allow you to lift the bag more comfortably. All that gear can make it heavy, so make sure to look for straps with sufficient amount of padding. Additional compartments or sections where you can keep smaller equipment and accessories can be handy too. These small pockets can allow you to have instant and easy access to things you use frequently.

Materials

Usually, the outer layer of a cricket bag is made of synthetic fibre or nylon, but for a more durable bag you should look for one that has an additional layer of PVC. Nylon and PVC go well together in providing ruggedness and durability. For internal cushioning you should look for high-density foam mixed with synthetic materials and plastic should be present in the wheels, preferably PU (polyurethane). Polyurethane is also used to make the runners and studs and it is often mixed with blowing agent when it comes to the padding.

What Equipment Do You Need for Cricket?

Helmet

Alongside a bat, a helmet is something you definitely want to have in your kit bag. Wearing a helmet is a must while batting and if you’re under 18, wearing a helmet is a standard no matter if you’re batting or not.

Pads

Another form of protection you need to have in your bag are abdo and thigh pads. An abdo pad is also known as a box and it provides protection for the groin area. Whilst not as essential as some other pieces of equipment, it is still a much-needed one. Thigh pads are worn on the inside of the trousers in order to prevent bruising when hit on a more fleshy body part. Whilst they can restrict movement, thigh pads should be worn regularly.

Guards

There are two types of guards: arm and chest guards. Whilst arm guards are out of fashion when it comes to the majority of top players since they limit fluency, it is still best to practice wearing them. Regarding chest guards, if you are going to be involved in fast bowling frequently, it is best that you have one with you.

Gloves

A must for every cricketer, whether a professional or not is a good pair of snug-fitting gloves. Cricketer gloves should feel pretty tight as the looser they are, the less effective the protection will be.