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This page explains what the Laws of Cricket, governing bodies and standards bodies publish. It is not a substitute for coaching from a qualified coach, and it does not replace medical advice.
Only the keeper: Law 27
Under Law 27.1 of the 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), in force from 1 October 2026, the wicket-keeper is the only fielder allowed to wear gloves and external leg guards, and if worn they count as part of the keeper's person for fielding the ball. Law 28.1 says the same from the other side. The right goes with the job: a keeper whose actions and position show they cannot carry out a keeper's normal duties loses it, and is no longer treated as the keeper for catches, stumpings and fielding restrictions. This guide does not describe keeping technique; we suggest learning it from a qualified coach.
What the gloves may be (Law 27.2 and Appendix E)
- Law 27.2.1: no webbing between the fingers, except between the index finger and thumb, where webbing may be inserted as a support.
- Law 27.2.2: that webbing must be a single piece of non-stretch material. It may have facing material, but no reinforcements or tucks.
- Law 27.2.3: the webbing's top edge may not protrude beyond the straight line from the tip of the index finger to the tip of the thumb, and must be taut when the thumb is fully extended.
- Appendix E: illustrates these rules.
Appendix A.2.7 says a ball counts as held when it is held with complete control in the palm or fingers, including the palm or fingers of a keeper's glove. Law 27.2's rules on the gloves themselves concern the webbing.
What changed on 1 October 2026
- Law 27.3.1. The keeper must now be wholly behind the wicket only from the instant of delivery, not from when the bowler starts the run-up. The MCC says gloves in front of the stumps during the run-up are therefore no longer penalised.
- Appendix A.12.3. The keeper's glove was removed from the definition of the hand. The MCC lists it among the 2026 equipment-related changes.
Keeping kit in international cricket
The ICC Clothing and Equipment Regulations, effective from January 2024, set appearance rules for keepers in bilateral international cricket:
| Item | ICC rule (January 2024) |
|---|---|
| Keeping gloves | Any visible stitching, ventilation or stencil in the shape of a maker's mark counts as the maker's identification; no other visible logos |
| Keeping pads | Plain white in Tests; in ODIs and T20 internationals plain coloured, not white or a light colour, the same across the team, with discoloured or faded pads not permitted |
| Face protectors | One plain colour |
| Helmet | One plain colour, the same for the whole team, in all formats |
The ICC Men's ODI Playing Conditions (effective October 2026) add, in their appendix on keeping gloves, that the gloves must also follow the Clothing and Equipment Regulations on marks and logos. Club and league rules were not researched.
Head protection for keepers standing up
Most helmet rules for keepers apply when standing up to the stumps. Each is the body's own published rule:
| Body, document and date | Rule for keepers | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ICC, from 1 June 2023 | Helmet when standing up to the stumps in international cricket | Mandatory |
| Cricket Australia, since 2019-20 | BS 7928:2013 helmet when keeping up to the stumps in CA, state and pathway competitions | Mandatory there; strongly recommended in community cricket |
| NZC Helmet Policy 2024-25 | Helmet when keeping up to the stumps for international and domestic players; for community hardball players under 19, when keeping within 5 metres of the stumps | Mandatory; strongly recommended for community players 19 and over |
| ECB Head Protector Regulations, 2022 edition | Compliant headgear when keeping wicket standing up, in covered professional and representative matches: a helmet or a face mask certified to the most recent BSI specification for the ball used; the regulations named BS 7928-2:2009 for face masks as of 1 February 2020 | Mandatory (2022 text) |
| ECB Recreational Cricket Safety Regulations 2025 | Under-18s in hardball cricket standing up (able to reach the stumps with an outstretched arm without moving the feet): helmet with faceguard or grille, or a face protector; male keepers must also wear a groin protector | Mandatory |
| Cricket Ireland Young Cricketer Directives 2020 | Under-18s: head protector when standing up at any speed of bowling | Directive |
The ECB and PCA's guidance of 24 August 2016 had already said under-18s must wear a head protector with a faceguard, or a wicket-keeper face protector, whenever keeping standing up. The ECB's 2025 regulations are read from a copy reproduced in a Cornwall Cricket handbook, and later editions of the ECB's professional regulations are not used on this site.
The standards
BSI lists BS 7928-2:2009, a standard for face protectors for cricket wicket-keepers, as current, published on 31 December 2009. Its main head-protector standard, BS 7928:2013+A1:2019, may be worn by keepers, but BSI notes the test protocol is designed around batting impacts and does not address keepers' particular impact risks. Nothing here says a helmet or face protector is certified, safe or legal; the standard and the body's rule decide. 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. A suspected head injury needs medical care.
Our picks by category
Wicket-keeping gloves
Only the keeper may wear gloves in the field (Laws 27.1 and 28.1). Under Law 27.2, webbing is allowed only between the index finger and thumb, as one piece of non-stretch material that does not protrude past the line from fingertip to thumb tip and is taut with the thumb extended. In international cricket the ICC limits visible marks to the maker's identification. Size and fit are for a coach to help with in person.
Best for: Wicket-keepers at every level
Wicket-keeping pads
External leg guards that the Laws allow the keeper alone among fielders (Law 27.1). The ICC's January 2024 regulations apply the same colour rules as for batting pads: plain white in Tests, plain team colour in ODIs and T20 internationals.
Best for: Wicket-keepers in hardball cricket
Cricket helmets
The ICC (from 1 June 2023), Cricket Australia (since 2019-20 in its own competitions) and NZC (2024-25, for its international and domestic players, and for community hardball players under 19 keeping within 5 metres) require a helmet for keepers standing up, and the ECB (2025, in hardball cricket) and Cricket Ireland (2020) for under-18 keepers standing up. BSI also lists BS 7928-2:2009 for keepers' face protectors, and the ECB's 2025 junior rule accepts a face protector instead of a helmet when standing up. The standard and the body's rule decide which may be worn.
Best for: Keepers standing up to the stumps
Sources
- MCC, The Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), in force from 1 October 2026
- MCC, Changes to the Laws of Cricket for the 2026 edition
- MCC, Ten major changes to the Laws for the 2026 edition
- ICC Clothing and Equipment Rules and Regulations (effective January 2024)
- ICC Men's One-Day International Playing Conditions (effective October 2026)
- ICC news, prominent change to playing conditions revealed (15 May 2023)
- BSI Knowledge, BS 7928:2013+A1:2019 Specification for head protectors for cricketers
- BSI Knowledge, BS 7928-2:2009 Face protectors for cricket wicket-keepers
- Cricket Australia, helmet recommendations
- New Zealand Cricket, NZC Helmet Policy 2024-25
- ECB, Head Protector Regulations (2022 edition)
- ECB Recreational Cricket Safety Regulations 2025 (reproduced in a Cornwall Cricket handbook)
- ECB, ECB and PCA helmet guidance for young players (24 August 2016)
- Cricket Ireland, Young Cricketer Directives 2020
- ECB, Professional and Elite Academy Concussion Guidelines (current on the ECB site in 2026)