Cricketers wear leg pads, helmets, and good cricket batting gloves as protection for when a fast bowler comes onto the pitch. Batting gloves are arguably the most important part of a cricketer’s gear. Cricket batting gloves need to be tough enough to protect the hands from damage, but they also need to be flexible enough to allow you to control your shot and pick out gaps through the fielders.

Unlike baseball or softball, there’s more than one type of cricket. This adds another layer of complexity to glove construction. With the variety of traditional and modern materials used, choosing the right cricket batting gloves can be surprisingly complicated.

Our buying guide takes an in-depth look at the important features and answers some of the most common questions that arise when shopping for cricket batting gloves. For our picks for the top five pairs on the market, see the matrix above.

The primary purpose of cricket batting gloves is to protect your hands from damage. Regardless of the level you play at, a cricket ball can easily cause severe bruising or broken bones. Balanced against that is the batter’s need to be able to grip the bat properly and to control both the force and angle of shots. So while the amount of padding often makes cricket batting gloves look a lot like boxing gloves, they need to offer much greater dexterity.

The type of cricket also has to be taken into consideration. Three-day and five-day matches are a more patient form. A batter will frequently defend for long periods. Gloves designed for these matches tend to maximize protection.

For one-day matches – T20 (also called 20/20) and the new 100 Ball form of the game – batters tend to be more aggressive because scoring quickly is important. It’s not that the bowlers are necessarily any slower or less dangerous, but less defensive play means the hands are not in harm’s way quite so often. Some of the shots are seldom, if ever, seen in longer cricket matches. So batting gloves designed for short-form games often have less padding, allowing for more freedom of movement in the batter’s hands and wrists.

Ultimately, choosing a pair of cricket batting gloves is very much the batter’s choice. Those who play three- and five-day matches at a local level, where bowlers are generally not as fast, often choose lighter, more flexible gloves. Meanwhile, international players usually have at least two pairs of gloves, so they can change whenever they like – something that is allowed, even in the middle of a game.

Leather has been the main cricket batting glove material for as long as there has been cricket. It’s tough but flexible, offering high levels of grip. Yet because it’s porous, it also has a degree of breathability, which is often enhanced by the addition of air holes. Calf leather is preferred as it offers the best combination of grip, durability, and softness. Sheep leather is second, often used because it’s more affordable. On high-quality gloves, the section at the heel of the hand, which is a high-wear area, is reinforced.

Polyurethane leather is a synthetic fabric that’s much cheaper than the natural material but can be made with similar strength, though it isn’t porous. It’s usually used on the back of cricket batting gloves and to cover the padded areas on the fingers.

Cotton liners are often incorporated, for comfort and to absorb perspiration. Webbing areas are frequently included to increase ventilation.

Basic styles of cricket batting gloves have a thick roll of protection, called a sausage, at the back of the fingers that extends to cover the back of the hand. This type of padding offers good protection but does reduce finger flexibility, which you need to grip the bat handle. To counter this, these gloves are sometimes pre-curved. As they are only used for batting, they don’t need to fully extend. It feels odd at first, but you soon get used to it.

Better models offer a sectional approach, also called a split-finger or broken design. The design of these cricket batting gloves can vary considerably, from the traditional rounded padding to very angular shapes.

Often more than one material is used for padding. A hard thermoplastic shell might be used on some finger areas but typically transmits too much energy on its own, so impact absorption is added. Various high-density foams are used for this. Fiberglass reinforcement may also be included. The latest development is XRD Extreme Impact Protection, a thin, lightweight, breathable material that can absorb 90% of impact energy.

Color is not usually a major consideration, but it can be a factor. In international test cricket, for example, all gloves must be white. Other competitions may have specific rules, so it’s worth checking with league organizers before ordering.

Inexpensive: The cheapest cricket batting gloves can be found for around $10 per pair, but the level of protection offered is likely inferior. Whether for junior or adult players, expect to pay in the region of $25 for a good entry-level pair of cricket batting gloves.

Mid-range: There’s a tremendous choice between $30 and $55, to suit either short forms of the game or longer matches. Most club cricketers will find what they need in this price range.

High-end: Top-quality gloves cost upward of $60, but these are either for the enthusiastic amateur playing to a high standard or for the professional cricketer. The very best cricket batting gloves, designed for international match play, can occasionally top $100.

Q. Why can’t I use my baseball batting gloves for cricket?
A. A fast pitcher in baseball and a fast bowler in cricket both launch the ball at about the same speed: 90 miles per hour-plus. The balls are both very hard, though a cricket ball is a little heavier. The real difference is in the game play.

A baseball is seldom deliberately thrown in the area of the batter’s hands, so baseball batting gloves are mainly for grip and to absorb the shock of hitting the ball. In cricket, the bowler might target the body – or even the head – of the batter. So cricket batting gloves are frequently used to defend against the ball. The amount of protection needed is much greater, which is why cricket gloves are so much more padded. If you wore baseball batting gloves during a cricket match, you would risk serious hand injuries.

Q. Why are cricket batting gloves sold as left- or right-handed?
A. When you hold the bat handle, the thumb on the bottom hand (right for a right-handed batter, left for a left-handed batter) is in front. It’s most likely to be struck by the ball, so it needs good protection. To maximize grip and control, the other thumb only has minimal padding. The first two fingers of the bottom, leading hand may also have extra protection.

Q. How do I look after my cricket batting gloves?
A. Perspiration will attack the leather, particularly the palms, so it’s a good idea to wear inner gloves. They improve batter comfort and can be washed regularly. Never use abrasive cleaners or oil-based creams when cleaning your cricket batting gloves. Buy a proper leather conditioner, and allow the gloves to dry normally so they stay supple. The polyurethane leather frequently used on padding areas on the backs of the gloves needs little care. You can clear any dust and dirt with a soft-bristle brush.