Cricket Pads
What cricket pads (leg guards) are, the difference between batting and wicketkeeping pads, their role in LBW decisions, and how they are fitted correctly.
What Are Cricket Pads?
Cricket pads (leg guards) protect the batter's legs — shins and knees — from impact when the ball hits their legs. They are worn below the knee on the outside and strapped around the calf. Wicketkeepers wear different pads that allow more ankle flexibility for crouching and lateral movement.
Batting Pads
- Cover the lower leg from ankle to above the knee
- Hard outer shell (plastic or fibreglass) with foam inner padding
- Three straps secure the pad to the leg
- Modern pads feature articulated knee rolls for movement
- Worn on both legs by the batter
Wicketkeeping Pads
- Smaller and more flexible than batting pads
- Narrower wings to allow squatting and lateral movement
- Lighter weight for mobility
- Often worn with additional knee protection
Pads and LBW Decisions
The pad is central to the LBW law — a ball that hits the pad can result in dismissal if it would have gone on to hit the stumps. The ball must pitch in line (or outside off stump), and the batter must not be playing a shot if the ball hits outside the off stump line. A pad acting as a defensive barrier when the batter could have played a stroke is a common LBW dismissal.
Frequently asked questions
Can a batter be given out LBW if the ball hits the pad outside the off stump?
A batter cannot be given out LBW if the ball pitches outside leg stump. However, if the ball pitches in line or outside off stump, hits the pad in line with the stumps, and the batter is playing a shot, LBW can be given — but the benefit of the doubt goes to the batter if the ball pitched outside off stump and would have hit the stumps.
What are cricket pads made of?
Cricket batting pads have a hard outer shell — typically high-density polyethylene — with foam padding inside to absorb impact. They are faced in white or coloured PU leather or canvas.