Pads

Three things: foam density, knee roll coverage, and strap security. High-density foam is the real differentiator between a mid-range pad and a budget one it distributes ball impact more evenly and doesn't compress flat after a season of use. The knee roll should cover your kneecap completely when you're standing in your batting stance. And the strap system should hold the pad firmly in place without rotating inward during footwork. A pad that spins to the inside of your leg mid-innings is both uncomfortable and unsafe. Check all three before buying.

Cricket batting pads are built for impact absorption. They're thicker, denser, and designed to protect against a fast-moving hard ball. Wicket keeping pads sacrifice thickness for flexibility keepers need to squat, lunge sideways, and dive, none of which is practical in batting pads. The two products look slightly similar but serve completely different purposes. If you keep wicket, you need dedicated keeping pads; batting pads behind the stumps will restrict your movement significantly and look immediately wrong to any umpire.

Measure from the centre of your kneecap to your ankle bone in centimetres. Compare this measurement to the size guide on the product listing our guides use this specific measurement because it's more reliable than height-based sizing. When the pad is on correctly, the knee roll should sit over your kneecap, the pad face should cover the shin fully, and the bottom of the pad should reach the top of your boot. If the knee roll sits above or below the kneecap, the size is wrong regardless of how the straps feel.

It depends on your leg shape and how much the pad moves during play. Two-strap batting pads are lighter, simpler, and feel more natural to many batsmen particularly those who prioritise footwork and don't want anything slowing their movement between the wickets. Three-strap cricket pads are more secure and better suited to taller players or anyone who finds their pads rotating during play. The third strap at the top of the calf locks the pad in position more firmly. If you've never had a rotation problem with two straps, stick with two. If you have, try three.

CA Sports cricket pads and MB Malik batting pads are the most consistently recommended across competitive club cricket in Pakistan. Ihsan and HS Cricket pads are excellent in the mid-range, particularly for school and junior players. MIDS produce some of the more lightweight pad options if mobility is your priority. All brands we stock have been selected on the basis of foam quality, stitching durability, and strap reliability not just price.

The honest answer is: at the mid-range and above, yes. The main things that improve as price goes up are foam density, overall pad weight, and strap quality. Better foam means better protection and longer pad life cheap foam compresses flat within a season and stops providing meaningful impact absorption. Better straps don't fray or lose their Velcro grip after heavy use. For regular club cricket, mid-range batting pads from CA Sports or Ihsan represent a solid investment. Budget pads are fine for very occasional use or net practice only.

Junior-specific cricket pads are not optional they're genuinely necessary. An adult pad on a young player means the knee roll sits somewhere above the knee, the pad extends onto the thigh rather than covering the shin, and the bottom of the pad drags on the ground. The protection looks real but isn't. Properly sized junior cricket pads from CA Sports or HS Cricket are proportionally designed to give younger players the same shin and knee protection as adults, just scaled correctly. This matters even more at youth level where fast bowling can be just as unpredictable.

Stand in your normal batting stance with the pads on and run through these checks: the knee roll should sit directly over your kneecap with no gap above or below it; the straps should hold the pad firmly without rotating when you take three or four quick steps; the bottom of the pad should not drag on the ground; and the pad face should not leave your inner leg or shin exposed when your feet are at their widest stance. If any of these aren't right, try a different size or strap configuration before assuming the pads are the problem.