Beginner cricket kit: what the rules ask for, and what is left to a coach.

Start with a programme, not a shop

This guide does not cover technique, bat sizing or fitting; we suggest learning those in person. Several boards run entry programmes, and some supply kit:

• England and Wales. The ECB describes All Stars Cricket as its programme for children aged 5 to 8 and Dynamos Cricket as its programme for ages 8 to 11 (ECB, 20 August 2021).
• Australia. Cricket Australia's programme page describes Woolworths Cricket Blast as weekly sessions of 60 to 90 minutes with equipment provided, and a Starter or Progression pack for each registered child. The ages are given two ways: the programme page says 10 and under, while a Cricket Australia news story of 4 February 2024 says 5 to 12.
• New Zealand. NZC names Smash Play Junior-Tamariki as its national introductory programme, needing no team or minimum number of players, with the ANZ Junior Game as the team-based next step on shorter pitches.

The how people learn page describes each. This site does not recommend any club, coach, shop or maker.

What the Laws define

The Laws in force are the MCC's 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), from 1 October 2026. They set limits for the ball (Law 4), the bat (Law 5) and the wickets (Law 8), but most personal kit is handled by definitions rather than sizes. Appendix A.2.2 says a batter's external protective equipment is a protective helmet, external leg guards (batting pads), batting gloves and, if visible, forearm guards. A fielder may wear only a helmet as external protection; the wicket-keeper may also wear keeping pads and gloves (Laws 27.1 and 28.1). Anything else worn counts as clothing under Appendix A.12.2, and the Laws do not name abdominal, thigh or chest guards at all.

The ball's size is left to the governing body running the match, or the umpires if it has not decided (Law 4.6). The 2026 edition names three sizes, Size 1, Size 2 and Size 3, where the 2022 edition spoke of men's, women's and junior balls.

The helmet: a standard and a rule are different things

A helmet standard says how a helmet is tested; a rule says who must wear one, and where. BSI lists BS 7928:2013+A1:2019, published 30 June 2019, as the current British standard for cricket head protectors, and the ICC says compliant helmets are labelled with the standard and whether they were tested against the men's ball, the junior ball or both. The ICC's own documents name two editions, BS 7928:2013 and BS 7928:2013+A1:2019, which the helmet guide sets out.

For a new player outside professional cricket, the rules differ by board and age:

• Cricket Australia says it has strongly recommended BS 7928:2013 helmets in community cricket since 2019 for batting, keeping up to the stumps and fielding, and now also strongly recommends a neck protector. That is a recommendation, not a rule.
• NZC's Helmet Policy 2024-25 makes a British Standard helmet with a face guard mandatory for community hardball players under 19 when batting, keeping within 5 metres of the stumps or fielding within 7 metres, and strongly recommends it for players 19 and over.
• The ECB's Recreational Cricket Safety Regulations (2025), read from a copy reproduced in a Cornwall Cricket handbook, make a helmet with faceguard or grille mandatory for under-18s batting against a hard ball, in matches and practice; in hardball cricket they also require one (or, for keepers, a face protector) for under-18 keepers standing up and for 16 and 17 year olds fielding within 8 yards.
• Cricket Ireland's Young Cricketer Directives 2020 say any batter under 18 on the day of the match must wear a helmet, and any keeper under 18 standing up to the stumps a head protector.

No body presents a helmet as concussion prevention. The ECB's professional concussion guidelines say head protectors mainly reduce the risk of skull and face fracture rather than concussion, and its recreational concussion guidelines say a helmet can help prevent serious injury from the ball but cannot guarantee that a concussion will not happen. The NSW State Coroner, Magistrate Michael Barnes, found on 4 November 2016 that the ball that killed Phillip Hughes struck an area of the left side of his neck that his helmet did not protect. A suspected head injury needs medical care.

Pads, gloves and guards

The Laws give no sizes for pads or gloves, and say nothing about boxes. Some boards do for young players: the ECB's 2025 regulations require male under-18s in hardball cricket to wear a groin protector when batting (as well as a helmet), keeping standing up, or at 16 and 17 fielding within 8 yards, and Cricket Ireland's 2020 directives require boys in the under-16 to under-18 age groups to wear a box when fielding within 6 yards (5.5 m) of the bat. The pads and gloves guide has the detail.

The bat

Under Law 5.8 of the 2026 edition, a Type A bat may be used at any level. From 1 October 2026, laminated Type D bats are allowed beyond junior cricket at levels each national governing body sets; under the 2022 edition they were for junior players in junior cricket only. The ICC's Men's ODI Playing Conditions (effective October 2026) allow only Type A bats in ODIs. Bat preparation such as knocking-in and oiling is named here only; this site gives no procedure, and sizing is best done in person. The bat guide explains the types.

Shoes and clothing

A text search of the 2026 Laws found no rule on footwear or spikes. Clothing colour is set by playing conditions, not the Laws: in international cricket the ICC Clothing and Equipment Regulations (effective January 2024) require white or cream in Tests and team colours in white-ball matches. Club and league clothing rules were not researched. See the shoes and whites guide.

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