Cricket pads are an essential part of the equipment needed to play amateur and professional cricket, although cricket pads are only worn by a set number of cricketers, namely the batsmen and the wicket keeper. However, certain fielders can also be permitted to wear cricket pads if they are standing close to the batsmen; these are usually just shin guards though.

Male batsmen are permitted to wear a cricket 'box' whilst batting. This is a protective, usually high density plastic designed to protect the delicate areas of the male anatomy from a high speed and painful collision with a cricket ball. This is shaped like a half pear and inserted into the jock strap of both the batsmen and wicket keepers.

The most obvious cricket pads worn are leg pads, which are again worn by both the batsmen and the wicket keeper. Leg pads are used primarily to protect the shin bone against impact from the ball which can be easily be fractured by such an impact. Other cricket pads include the thigh guard, arm guards, chest guard and elbow guards to protect the whole body of the batsmen, so they are almost as protected as your standard American football player.

The usual cricket manufacturers have their fingers in the cricket pad pie: Kookaburra, Slazenger, Gray Nicolls etc. There are various standards of cricket pads on the market, from kid's versions to Test match level (impact level 5). These highest standard cricket pads will set the consumer back around £50 depending on the manufacturer. It is recommended that you purchase top quality pads to begin with as these will last you for years and will turn out to be a bargain purchase.