Wicketkeeping Gear Buying Guide: Gloves, Inners, Pads and Helmets
by The team at Western Sports Centre, Derrimut on Nov 04, 2026A wicketkeeper needs four things: keeping gloves, keeping inners, keeping pads and a helmet for standing up to the stumps. Keeping gear is different from batting gear. The gloves are built to catch, not to hold a bat, and keeping pads are shorter and lighter so you can squat and move quickly. Start with gloves and inners that fit well, because they matter most.
We fit wicketkeeping gear from Gray-Nicolls, Kookaburra, Masuri, SS, MRF and more at Western Sports Centre in Derrimut. Here's what to look for.
Quick picks
| If you are… | Look at |
|---|---|
| A junior starting out | Kookaburra Pro 3.0 gloves or Gray-Nicolls 600 gloves, with Gray-Nicolls 600 keeping pads |
| A club keeper | Gray-Nicolls 750 gloves or Masuri C Line gloves, with Gray-Nicolls Ultra Light or Masuri C Line keeping pads |
| A regular keeper wanting the best feel | Gray-Nicolls Legend Sheep, Masuri T Line or Kookaburra Ghost Pro 1.0 gloves, with Masuri T Line keeping pads |
| Keeping in indoor cricket | Gray-Nicolls Indoor 1000 gloves |
See our full range of wicketkeeping gear for current stock and sizes.
Wicketkeeping gloves
What size do I need?
Keeping gloves usually come in Junior, Youth and Adult sizes, and some brands add Small Junior. As a rough guide:
- Small Junior and Junior: primary school age.
- Youth: early teens and adults with smaller hands.
- Adult: most adults.
Sizes vary between brands, so check the size on the product page or try them on in store with your inners on.
How should they fit?
Try gloves on over your inners. Your fingers should reach well into the glove fingers, and the glove should close comfortably into a cupped "catching" shape without you having to force it. If your fingertips sit short of the ends, the ball can jam your fingers. If the glove is too tight, it will be hard to close and your hands will tire quickly.
What to look for
- Palm: a grippy rubber palm helps the ball stick. Higher-end gloves use better rubber, like the Octopus grip on some Gray-Nicolls gloves.
- Leather: softer, better-quality leather gives more feel and breaks in faster.
- Padding: more padding on the back of the hand and fingers gives more protection when standing up to the stumps.
- Webbing: the Laws of Cricket only allow webbing between the thumb and first finger, and limit how big it can be. Gloves made for match play are built to meet this.
New gloves can feel stiff. Catch plenty of balls in them before your first game so they soften and shape to your hands.
Wicketkeeping inners
Inners are thin gloves worn inside your keeping gloves. They protect your hands from the hard ball, soak up sweat and give you better grip inside the glove. Most keepers say inners are just as important as the gloves themselves.
- Plain chamois inners give the most feel, like the Gray-Nicolls Legend Full Chamois Plain.
- Padded inners add padding in the palm and fingers for more protection, like the Gray-Nicolls Ultimate Chamois Padded or Masuri T Line.
- Extra protection: the Gray-Nicolls XRD Padded inners use shock-absorbing padding, good if you keep to fast bowling.
- Juniors: the Kookaburra Pro 3.0 inners come in Junior, Youth and Adult sizes.
Inners should fit snugly, like a second skin. Buy them in the same size as your gloves and try both on together. See all wicketkeeping inners.
Wicketkeeping pads
Keeping pads are shorter and lighter than batting pads. They protect the knees and shins while letting you squat, get up and move quickly. Many have extra padding on the knee for when you kneel or dive.
- Size: choose by leg length. The knee roll should sit on your knee cap, and the bottom of the pad should rest on the top of your foot.
- Lightweight foam pads are the lightest and most comfortable for a full day, like the Gray-Nicolls Ultra Light.
- Cane pads have a more traditional build and a little more protection, like the Gray-Nicolls 750.
- Juniors: the Gray-Nicolls 600 and Kookaburra Pro 3.0 come in junior sizes.
Want your pads to match your team colours? Add Gray-Nicolls coloured pad clads. See all wicketkeeping pads.
Wicketkeeping helmets
Wear a helmet whenever you stand up to the stumps, and junior competitions usually require it. Keeping helmets have a wider grille so you can see the ball clearly. Read our guide Do Wicket Keepers Need a Helmet? or see our cricket helmet buying guide for safety standards and fit.
Looking after your keeping gear
- Take gloves and inners out of your bag after every game and let them air dry. Never dry them on a heater.
- Wash cotton inners regularly. Hand wash chamois inners gently and let them dry naturally.
- Keep the rubber palms of your gloves clean so they stay grippy.
- Replace inners when the padding goes flat, and gloves when the palm or finger padding wears through.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use batting gloves to keep?
No. Batting gloves are made to hold a bat and won't protect your hands from catching a hard ball. Always keep in proper wicketkeeping gloves and inners.
Can I use batting pads to keep?
Juniors sometimes do when they're starting out, but batting pads are longer and heavier, which makes squatting and moving harder. Keeping pads are much more comfortable for a full innings.
Do I need inners?
Yes. Inners protect your hands, stop your gloves getting sweaty and help them last longer. Don't keep without them.
Should a junior buy gloves to grow into?
No. Gloves that are too big are hard to close and can let the ball jam fingers. Buy the size that fits now.
Get fitted
Come into Western Sports Centre in Derrimut to try gloves, inners and pads together. Or shop wicketkeeping gear online. Batting too? Read our batting gloves and batting pads buying guides.
