Cricket Box: Protection and Comfort in One

Although the official cricket game being played today is about 111 years old, the roots of cricket date back to 1725. This is when the earliest version of cricket is documented being played by schoolboys in England. Throughout the years, cricket as a game has changed but so has the wardrobe and equipment.

One type of protective equipment called a box which is also known as an Abdo guard is used to protect the groin area. This is a padded cup worn under the jockstrap which absorbs the shock when you get hit either by a cricket ball or a bat. Cricket balls can travel at high speeds and you don’t want to put yourself in danger by not wearing an Abdo guard.

When Was the Cricket Box Invented?

Cricket boxes as we know them today have been around since 1874. Although the ones from 1874 were not as comfortable, they were still good at protecting the genital area. Cricket boxes were used 100 years before the first helmets were introduced in the game. You’ll hear people joke about this by saying that it took men 100 years to realise that their head was important too.

Do Women Cricketers Wear a Box?

Yes, women batters and wicket keepers do wear a cricket box which has a similar shape to the one men wear, it is just flatter. A female version of a box kit includes the cricket female box guard, an abdomen guard and a cup.

How to Wear Cricket Box?

Putting on a box guard isn’t that hard and once you do it you won’t ever forget how it’s done. First off, you need to take off your pants. Although you have the option to wear it either underneath your underwear or over it, doing so with the guard underneath provides better protection. The guard might make you feel a little bit uncomfortable at first, but you’ll usually adjust to it quickly.

Place the guard with the narrow end facing downwards with the cup encasing the genital area with a snug fit. The guard should cover everything up. If you have a box with an athletic cup then you need to secure it beneath the compression shorts or jockstrap. Ensure that the guard is tight enough so it doesn’t slip. Don’t overtighten it as it can dig into your hips.

When you have placed the guard properly, put on your underwear and compression shorts/ pants back over it and check if it sits well. Try moving around or running with it to make sure it fits both comfortably and securely. Otherwise, the guard may slip when you’re playing which can cause you discomfort.

Other Types of Protective Equipment in Cricket

Helmet

Back in the old day, helmets came without a faceguard and today they come with one. Some might say that faceguards obstruct your field of view, however, most helmets come with face guards that offer additional protection whilst providing optimal viewing angles.

Chest Guard

A chest guard is made out of similar materials as the ones used to make elbow guards, more on that in a bit. This type of protective equipment is worn on the left side by left-handed cricketers or on the right side by right-handed cricketers. This is to provide better protection for the batsman from the side that is more exposed to the ball. They are not mandatory or worn by all batsman since chest guards can cause discomfort around the waist.

Gloves

A pair of well-padded gloves is as essential as all of the above equipment, especially if you’re a batsman. If you don’t wear gloves, you could easily get your fingers broken. Modern cricket gloves are made with padded areas even in each finger without being too heavy as well as thumb padding on the bottom side.

Elbow Guard

That uneven bounce a batsman gets can easily cause serious injuries to the elbow. With an elbow guard, you get protection made of materials tougher than the padding on the gloves. Wearing an elbow guard is a matter of personal preference and it is not mandatory equipment since it causes discomfort. But it is a good idea to wear one if think you can put up with the discomfort.

Thigh Pad

This type of guard is a lightweight piece of equipment that is worn on the outside. Wearing a pad keeps you from experiencing the pain and bruises you get from a low impact ball. The guard or pad is held in place by two straps, one around the waist and another placed around the inner thigh. While thigh pads aren’t used as much by batsmen, they are perfect when you want an additional level of protection.