Things to Consider When Buying Indoor Cricket Shoes

Cricket is England’s national summer sport which is now practised around the world but mainly in Australia, India, West Indies, British Isles and Pakistan. It’s believed that it has begun in the 13th century and luckily, it still goes strong, especially here in Australia. It’s an exciting sport that a lot of people love practising even for fun. If you love cricket and would like to play it recreationally, you’ll need to stock on the right shoes.

What Are Cricket Shoes Called?

Cricketers are supposed to wear special cricket shoes which are specially designed for this sport. They are sturdy and can provide players with the needed support. Although I thought that there was only one type of cricket shoes, I’ve found out that there are separate shoes for indoor and outdoor use.

What Are Indoor Cricket Shoes?

In winter, when the weather doesn’t allow it, cricket is practised indoors instead of outdoors and with it, comes the use of specially designed indoor shoes. Depending on the type of floor surface, you’ll need to choose the right indoor cricket shoes. Since these shoes are designed for indoor use only, you should also pay attention to the shoes’ outsole since some of them can leave coloured lines or scuff marks on the floor. Some indoor venues require ‘non-marking shoes’, so before you buy them, you need to check with the seller whether the chosen model of shoes is non-marking or not. This could save you a lot of trouble and money in future (I’ve learned it the hard way).

What Are Cricket Spikes?

Some types of cricket footwear have spikes on their outsole in order to provide players with a better grip. Usually, the spikes are made of steel because it’s a durable and long-lasting material.

Choose Shoes Based On Your Game’s Position

It’s essential to choose the footwear based on the player’s position since there is a great choice of indoor cricket shoes. Generally speaking, there are three types of cricket footwear: batsman, bowling and fielding shoes.

Batsman Shoes

Batsman shoes are lightweight types of shoes that allow the player to be fast. They have a normal height of cut which means that they don’t’ go over the ankle. These shoes have spikes on their outsole which can be arranged differently, giving you the ability to choose the right pair for your needs. For instance, you can choose between a pair that has a full set of spikes which is useful on pitches. They can also provide a better grip when running, however, it’s said that these shoes are not the perfect choice for hard pitches.

You can also choose from a pair of batsmen shoes with a partial set of spikes on the front or heel part of the foot. The last option you have is to choose shoes with no spikes at all which are great for extremely hard pitches. Generally speaking, these shoes only have a rubber dimple design on the outsole, however, some pricier models offer the ability to choose spike cricket shoes where the spikes can be removed entirely.

Bowling Shoes

Unlike batsman players, bowler players must always wear shoes with spikes on the outsole in order to offer a great grip all the time. These shoes go over the ankle which is why they are usually referred to as boots, offering greater support. Besides the regular types of bowler shoes, you can also choose from the special ones which are mainly designed for those bowlers who have high impact actions.

The one thing I didn’t know about these shoes is that you can choose your very own shoe height which can be lower or higher. That way, you’ll be able to choose your very own bowlers shoes that can meet your personal needs. These shows are also known as specialist bowling shoes because they can be customised. Now, regardless of your personal needs, you should keep in mind that your ankles should have the needed support when playing. When in the search for the right bowling shoes, make sure to choose ones that are made of quality material that offers great impact absorption while maintaining a lightweight feel.

Fielding Shoes

Also known as ‘all-rounders’, these shoes are mainly designed for fielders, however, it’s said that they can be used by all players when needed. The reason for this is their lighter weight which isn’t the case with the other two types of shoes.

Consider the Material

Besides choosing the right type and size of cricket footwear, the last thing to have in mind is the shoes’ material. Just like for any other type of sports shoes, these types also have to be made of material that offers breathability, comfort and durability.

Upper Shoe

When in the search for the right shoes, make sure the upper material is breathable in order to prevent overheating and excess sweating. Some of the most common materials used for the upper part of these shoes are polyurethane (PU) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Usually, both of these materials are combined with synthetic leather in order to make them look more appealing.

Midsole

The midsole of these shoes can mainly depend on the type of shoe and the player’s position. For instance, bowling shoes should be made of a midsole that offers greater protection, while fielder shoes don’t need to offer that much protection. Generally speaking, the midsoles can be made of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or phylon, solyte, etc. Both EVA and phylon are quite lightweight types of midsoles that are also waterproof and UV protective. Solyte midsoles are also lightweight, offering increased cushioning. They are sturdy and long-lasting.

Outsole

Being the one and only layer of the shoe that is constantly in contact with the ground, meaning that it needs to be made of robust material that can withstand constant impact. The most commonly used material for outsoles is polyether block amide (PEBA) which is a high-performance thermoplastic elastomer that is flexible and low-density material. The heel of these shoes should be made of stiffer materials that can also offer greater support and impact protection.