The first protective equipment to be brought into cricket were pads to protect the legs, introduced in the mid-19th Century to prevent the rush of broken bones following the move from under-arm bowling to a round-arm variety.
From 1864 when legalised, overarm bowling succeeded this, give or take the odd Lasith Malinga, and pads became the chief worry of batters after the willow in their hand.
It took near to the turn of the 21st century before pads stopped just being about protection and allowed players the freedom to not run like penguins between wickets and become more of a complement to leg movement rather than a barrier to it.
It is probably no coincidence that the likes of AB De Villiers and Joe Root developed a 360-degree hitting game once free movement of their legs opened the possibility of playing with such flourish.
All these pads below give such possibilities to the budding or experienced cricketer – and as always, categorised, to point towards your particular need.
We spoke to former England player Lydia Greenway, cricketing equipment expert at Kent Cricket Direct Daniel Inkpen and a number of junior and senior players in Surrey and Sussex Leagues to guide our selection below.
Best leg pads at a glance
- Best overall: GM Diamond Original Cricket Pads - £133.62, Amazon
- Best for classic comfort: Gray Nicolls Select Batting Pads - £70, Pro Direct Sport
- Best female batting pads: SM HK111 Pads - £55, SM Cricket
- Best popular junior option: Kookaburra Tempura - £38, Amazon
- Best for junior beginners: Aero P3 Leg Protectors - £49, Little Big Sport
- Best for extra protection: Newbery SPS Cricket Pads - £95, Newbery
- Best for value protection: Chase R4 Batting Pads - £49.50, Kent Cricket Direct
- Best for budget comfort: New Balance TC660 Batting Pads - £47.99, Owzat Cricket
- Best lightweight option: MRF Genius Grand 3.0 Pads - £59.99, Serious Sport
- Best budget choice for junior keepers: N-Series Junior Wicketkeeping/Fielding Pads - £15, Newbery
GM Original Limited Edition Diamond Batting Pads
Best: overall
Gunn & Moore is a legacy brand which hasn’t stood still in the marketplace.
They have pads for every price range but these are the ones England captain Ben Stokes places his trust in. “The knee roll is the most important,” Inkpen said. “The more expensive pads are the better the knee roll and the better protection it has.”
No pad has been more designed with knee comfort in mind, With Plastic Fibre and Tri-Layer Foam Knee Locator the knee is well-looked after.
Buy now £133.62, Amazon
Gray Nicolls Select Batting Pads
Best for: classic comfort
In an age of sparkle and glare, the classic design of the red stripe flanked by black and white checks is a welcome antidote and a mark of quality for cricket players passed on through generations looking to emulate David Gower or Sir Alastair Cook.
Importantly, speaking to a number of the young generation who now adorn the gear, they improve the confidence of the player.
“They are very comfy and you feel more protected with them,” one young Feltham Cricketer said, a result of the vapour foam bolster giving extra protection against quicker bowlers. “The sturdy, a good size and the straps look good. They are good for wicketkeeping as well. I like these because they have specialised left-handed pads which I wanted.”
Buy now £70.00, Pro Direct Sport
SM HK111 Pads
Best: female batting pads
These pads were designed under the close attention of England skipper Heather Knight and former player Lydia Greenway to address concerns young women had about wearing bigger pads designed for male legs, which were too big on the thigh.
SM was the first, over here in the UK anyway, to specially build for the female form and the HK111 are the most popular. These boast plastazote padded curvature to fit the female thigh, foam-filled knee bolsters and fibre shield to give confidence of protection, without encumbering natural movement.
Buy now £55.00, SM Cricket UK
Kookaburra Tempura
Best: popular junior option
“These are some of the most popular,” Inkpen of Kent Cricket Direct told us. “They are fine up to county level which serve the needs of most of our customers.”
The favoured southern hemisphere brand Kookaburra is now almost as popular with the other Ashes combatants. The feeling of quality protection on a budget with Tempura model serves the needs of club cricketers.
And young cricketers at Lingfield Cricket Club certainly are fans of the product. “They’re not too thin, I feel safe in them, they’re not bulky and don’t get in the way when running,” a junior cricketer said.
“They’re good to run in, very light and barely feel them. They wrap around the leg snugly. It has more ridges than other pads and you don’t get brushing between pads when you run.”
Buy now £38.00, Amazon
Aero Cricket P3 Leg Protectors
Best for: junior beginners
These pads are designed for the next generation of cricketers just taking up the game – and in many ways, they could be the future of cricket as well as just marketing it.
Aero claims they can make a youngster 9 per cent or 1.5m quicker which seems hard to quantify, but with the sleek leg-hugging design it is easy to believe cricketers will find them easier to move in. The liner inside is as comfy as a sofa, while the 20mm thick foam protects the young legs while being less than half as light as most pads.
Buy now £49.99, Little Big Sports
Newbery SPS Cricket Pads
Best for: extra protection
Renowned for the high quality, boutique hand-made bats, these pads have the unique touches cricket fans have come to expect from Newbery.
A mixture of HD foam strips and cane rods disperse shock impact evenly. Indeed the Grade 8 cane, integrated into the oversized wing gives the feeling of a force field around your legs when you walk to the middle.
Inkpen from equipment specialists Kent Cricket Direct explained their appeal: “They are thicker and have the inner bit with more protection, you don’t feel if hit on the pad,” Inkpen said.
“Unless you’re facing an international fast bowler.”
Buy now £95.00, Newbery
Chase R4
Best for: value protection
This entry-level selection offers more comfort than its competitors, while not skimping on protection. The lightweight design is chiefly due to the outer bolsters.
“The Chase is more comfy than the others in the price range,” Inkpen added.
As well as the comfort and peace of mind of protection, the dazzling white design makes them the beauty contest winner, with Chase confident enough to have subtle branding to avoid ruining this aesthetic.
This will give batters an added incentive to not allow the leather ball to leave a red stain on the sparkling pad.
Buy now £49.50, Kent Cricket Direct
New Balance T660 Batting Pads
Best for: budget comfort
New Balance got into the cricket game in 2012, bringing added comfort to cricket shoes as they long had other sporting footwear. Now entrenched in all departments of cricket clobber, their pads are also liked by those seeking sleek movement without skimping on protection.
The Litlon and foam-based knee protection allows full movement for the variety of shots the modern players need has in their armoury.
Sussex League veteran, Chris Foulerton, of Streat & Westmeston swears by them: "No squeaks, aerodynamic and streamlined, plus easy to take on and off.”
Buy now £41.99, Owzat Cricket
MRF Genius Grand 3.0 Pads
Best: lightweight option
Say hello to the go-to brand of India’s Virak Kohli and subsequently many of his 271m social media followers around the world.
This lightweight pad would have its fans even without the planet’s most popular player’s endorsement though.
The high-density sponge and foam-filled protection presents a pad weighing a third less than some of its rivals. The thick, strong straps are also designed to give protection against calf and ankle injuries.
Buy now £59.99, Serious Sport
N-Series Junior Wicketkeeping/Fielding Pads
Best: budget choice for junior keepers
When lucky enough not to keep to express bowling, it is comfortable for a keeper to concentrate on the business of taking the ball rather than wearing big pads.
These Newbery pads give wrap-around support while small and lightweight enough to wear underneath the cricket whites.
They can also be worn by close-in fielders and at this price are a snip for equipment for junior teams.
Buy now £15.00, Newbery
