Batting Glove and Pad Size Guide for Juniors and Adults

Learn how to size cricket batting gloves and pads for juniors and adults. Measure at home, check fit properly and avoid costly mistakes when buying online.

15 min read

To size batting gloves and pads, measure the player's hand length and width for gloves, and the distance from ankle to mid-thigh for pads, then compare against the brand's own chart. Gloves should fit snugly with fingertips reaching the ends. Pads should centre the knee roll on the kneecap and finish over the top of the foot.

Most sizing pages give you a bare chart and leave you to guess. A chart is only a starting point. Size labels differ between Kookaburra, Gray-Nicolls, GM, SS and SG, so a "Mens" glove from one brand can feel quite different from another. This guide shows you how to check fit yourself, so the gear protects properly and feels natural at the crease.

It is written for parents buying a child's first or next set, and for adult club and social cricketers replacing worn gloves or pads, often online without a fitting. Bat sizing is a separate topic, covered in our Cricket Bat Size Chart, so we stay with gloves and pads here.

Key Takeaways

Fit matters more than brand. Protection only works where it actually sits on the hand or leg.
Gloves are sized by hand length and width, pads by leg length. Age bands are only a rough guide.
Brands publish their own size ranges and they differ, so always check the chart for the specific brand and model.
Pads should have the knee roll centred on the kneecap and finish over the top of the foot without touching the ground.
Never buy two sizes up for a growing junior. Oversized gear slips, twists and reduces both protection and confidence.
Run a movement test in full gear before committing: jog, turn, squat and hold a bat.

Summary Table

Item	What to measure	What good fit looks like	Most common mistake
Batting gloves	Hand length and width, both hands	Snug fingers, firm grip, secure wrist strap	Buying too large so the glove shifts on the handle
Batting pads	Ankle to mid-thigh	Knee roll centred on kneecap, foot covered	Buying too long so the pad hits the ground
Left or right hand	The player's batting hand	Padding sits on the correct side of each hand and leg	Ordering the wrong hand and finding protection in the wrong place
Growing juniors	Re-measure each season	Fits now with minimal spare room	Buying two sizes up to "grow into"
Movement test	Full gear, then jog and turn	Pads stay put, gloves do not slip	Skipping the test and finding problems mid-innings

Why Fit Matters More Than Brand

Fit matters more than brand because protection only works where it sits. A glove that is too big shifts and exposes knuckles. A pad that is too long or too short leaves gaps or restricts movement. Poor fit also hurts confidence, so players hesitate, change technique and take fewer risks.

Trusted brands such as Kookaburra, Gray-Nicolls, GM, SS and SG all make quality, durable gear. But a brand name cannot adjust itself to a player's hand or leg. The size on the label only helps if it matches the body wearing it.

Where poor fit leaves gaps

With gloves, extra room at the fingertips lets the fingers slide forward inside the sleeves. The finger rolls then sit behind the joints instead of over them, and the thumb protection drifts away from the thumb. With pads, a knee roll that sits too high or too low leaves the kneecap partly uncovered. A pad that stops short of mid-thigh leaves a gap between pad and thigh guard.

How poor fit changes technique

Players adapt to bad gear without realising it. Pads that clip the ground make a batter shorten the front-foot stride. Gloves that rotate on the handle cause the bat to twist on contact. A player who feels exposed will tend to back away from short balls instead of working out how to play them. None of this shows up on a size chart, but all of it shows up in the scorebook.

Batting Glove Sizes Explained

Batting glove sizes usually run Youth, Small Boys, Boys, Mens and Large Mens, though exact labels vary by brand. Choose by measuring hand length and width, then comparing with the maker's chart rather than relying on the player's age. Two players of the same age can need different sizes.

Typical size labels

The common labels run from the smallest junior size through to Large Mens. Some brands add Youth or Junior steps, and some use numeric or age-based labels instead. Treat the label as a name for a size band, not a promise that it matches another brand's band.

How to measure hands at home

You need a ruler or tape measure, a pen and a sheet of paper. It takes a few minutes.

Rest the hand flat on the paper with fingers together and relaxed.
Mark the wrist crease and the tip of the middle finger. Measure the distance between the marks for hand length.
Measure across the widest part of the palm, just below the base of the fingers, for hand width.
Repeat with the other hand and use the larger measurement.

Record the figures in centimetres and keep them with you when you open a brand's size chart. If the length points to one size and the width points to another, the width usually matters more for comfort, because a glove that is too narrow pinches and a glove that is too wide slips. Always check the specific model's notes if the brand offers them.

Why sizing varies between brands

Manufacturers publish their own size ranges for gloves, and Kookaburra, Gray-Nicolls, GM, SS and SG do not all draw the lines in the same place. One may label by age band, another by hand measurement, another by a mix. Cut also differs: some models run narrower through the palm, some have longer finger sleeves. That is why a Boys glove in one brand can fit like a Small Boys in another.

The practical advice is simple. Use the maker's chart for the brand you are buying, not a generic chart from another site. If your measurements sit between two sizes, think about the player's level and how often they bat, then ask for advice before ordering.

Left-hand versus right-hand batting gloves

Left-hand versus right-hand batting gloves refers to the batter's handedness, not which single glove you are buying. A right-handed batter buys a right-hand pair and a left-handed batter buys a left-hand pair. The two gloves in a pair are built differently, and the protection is not symmetrical.

A right-handed batter holds the top of the handle with the left hand, and that lead hand faces the bowler. The lead-hand glove therefore tends to carry extra protection around the thumb and back of the hand, while the bottom-hand glove usually has lighter padding to keep grip and flexibility. A left-handed batter has the mirror arrangement. Exact layouts vary by model, so read the product description.

Buying the wrong hand is a common online mistake. The padding ends up on the wrong side of each hand, and the thumb protection no longer lines up. If you are unsure whether you are right- or left-handed for batting purposes, go by which hand sits lower on the handle in your natural stance, and ask us if it is still unclear. Some players bat opposite to the hand they write with, so do not assume.

How Batting Gloves Should Feel

A well-fitted batting glove feels snug but not tight. Fingertips should reach the end of the finger sleeves without bunching, the palm should grip the handle without sliding, and the wrist strap should close firmly. If the player cannot hold the bat comfortably for a few minutes of shadow batting, the glove is wrong.

Finger length and thumb fit

Fingers should sit fully into the finger sleeves, with the fingertips at or very close to the ends. Big gaps at the tips mean the glove is too large. Fingers jammed against the ends, or the finger rolls pulling tight when the hand closes, mean it is too small. The thumb protection should sit over the thumb, not beside it.

Palm and grip

The palm should wrap the handle without folding into creases across the grip. Excess material in the palm is a sign of a loose glove, and it will shift when a ball hits the bat. New gloves feel stiff at first, because palm materials soften with use. Stiffness alone is not a problem. Pinching, numb fingers or a strap that leaves deep marks are.

Wrist coverage

The cuff and strap should close the glove around the wrist so it cannot slide off the hand. Check where the cuff finishes against the forearm. A gap between the glove and the sleeve or forearm guard leaves skin exposed to a rising ball. If the strap only closes on its last point, the glove is probably too large.

Checks to do with a bat in your hands

Fit is easiest to judge with a bat in hand, so have one ready, even an old one.

Take your normal grip and hold your stance for a minute. The glove should not shift or twist.
Play a few slow shadow drives and defensive shots. Look for bunching across the palm.
Open and close the hands. The fingers should close without the sleeves fighting you.
Have someone gently tug the fingertips of each glove. They should not slide off.

Batting Pad Sizes Explained

Batting pad sizes use similar labels to gloves, but you choose by leg length, not age. Measure from the ankle bone to mid-thigh, then check the knee roll sits centred over the kneecap and the bottom of the pad covers the top of the foot. Always confirm against the brand's own chart.

Measuring from ankle to mid-thigh

Have the player stand upright with their back against a wall, wearing the socks and shoes they bat in. Use a tape measure from the ankle bone to the middle of the thigh. Mid-thigh is roughly halfway between the knee and the top of the leg. Measure both legs and use the longer one if there is a difference.

Compare that measurement with the maker's pad chart. Kookaburra, Gray-Nicolls, GM, SS and SG each publish their own ranges and the pad lengths for each label are not identical. If you are close to the boundary between two sizes, check the pad's overall length in the product details and consider how much the player is likely to grow this season. For adults, pad height should be judged against stance and comfort, not just the label.

Centring the knee roll on the kneecap

The knee roll is the shaped, padded section of the pad designed to cover the knee. It should sit directly over the centre of the kneecap when the pad is strapped on and the player is standing. Then ask the player to bend into their stance and check again. If the roll slides to one side or rides up above the knee, the pad is the wrong length, the straps are too loose, or both.

Positioning the pad over the top of the foot

The bottom of the pad should cover the top of the foot, finishing around the ankle and the front of the shoe, without touching the ground when standing or walking. If it drags, hits the ground in stride or traps the toes, it is too long. If the lower edge finishes well above the foot, leaving the instep exposed, it is too short. The player should still be able to bend the ankle and lift the toes freely.

Left-hand and right-hand pads

Pads are made for right-handed or left-handed batters, and the two are mirrored. The wing and strap layout is designed for the front and back leg of that batter, and the pads are not interchangeable. Check the label before ordering and match it to the player's batting stance. Lightweight models and heavier, more protective models also differ in shape, so read the details for the model you are buying.

How the straps should sit

Straps should be firm and sit flat against the leg without cutting in. The pad should not swing or rotate when the player walks. Straps that need to be pulled to their last point to hold the pad in place suggest the pad is too big. Straps that barely reach the buckle suggest it is too small or the wrong shape for the leg.

The Running Between Wickets Test

The running test checks whether pads and gloves stay comfortable over a full innings. Have the player jog, turn and run a few simulated twos in full gear. Pads should not twist, flap or catch the ground, and straps should hold without cutting in. Weight matters too, because heavy or oversized gear tires players quickly.

Batters spend a lot of an innings running, turning and diving for the crease. A pad that feels fine standing still can feel very different after a few runs. Test in the conditions you will bat in: shoes on, gloves on, helmet if possible.

What to test

Jog and sprint: the pads should not slap, rotate or ride up the leg.
Turn quickly: the straps should hold, and the pad should not catch on the other leg.
Squat and stand: the knee roll should stay over the kneecap.
Grip the bat while running: the gloves should not shift or loosen.
Walk for a few minutes: note any pressure points, rubbing or heat build-up at the straps and wrists.

A common fit mistake

Here is a pattern we see regularly in grassroots sport. Imagine a nine-year-old whose parent, wanting the pads to last, buys a size well above what the child needs. The player takes guard, looks fine, and then runs the first single. The pads swing, the bottom edge clips the ground and the child stumbles on the turn. By the third run they are thinking about their legs instead of the ball.

The advice in that situation is always the same. Swap to the size that fits now, accept that the child may need a new set in a season or two, and treat spare years of use as a bonus, not a plan. A correctly sized set that the child can move in will protect them better and build confidence faster than a bigger set that stays pristine in the bag.

Growing Juniors: When to Size Up and When Not To

Do not buy two sizes up for a growing junior. Oversized gloves slip and pads twist, which reduces protection and control. Buy the size that fits now, or at most a small amount of growing room, then check fit at the start of each season and size up once the gear shows clear signs of being outgrown.

Why "growing into it" backfires

The appeal of buying big is obvious: cricket gear is not cheap and children grow. But oversized gear creates three problems. Gloves that are too big let the hand shift inside, so grip and bat control suffer, and the padding moves away from where it is needed. Pads that are too long catch the ground and limit movement. And any gear that is awkward to wear can make a junior less keen to bat, which is the opposite of what grassroots sport needs.

Signs it is time to size up

Re-check fit at the start of every season and after any visible growth spurt. Look for these signs:

Fingertips press hard against the ends of the finger sleeves, or the finger rolls pull tight.
The thumb protection no longer lines up with the thumb.
The wrist strap leaves red marks or will not close comfortably.
The knee roll sits below the kneecap, or the top of the pad no longer reaches mid-thigh.
The pad finishes above the top of the foot and leaves the instep exposed.
The player complains about pinching or reduced movement.

Ways to manage the cost

A sensible approach is to match the gear to the player's level and use, not to buy the most expensive set on the shelf. A younger player in social or in-school cricket often gets better value from a durable, well-suited mid-range set. Hand-me-downs from siblings or team-mates can also work, as long as they pass the fit checks above. If a club or school offers shared gear for juniors, use it to trial sizes before buying. Our Cricket Equipment Checklist, Best Cricket Bats for Juniors and team order options for players, coaches, clubs and schools can help plan the whole set.

Quick Fit Checklist Before You Buy

Before you buy, confirm six things: the player's hand and leg measurements, the brand's own size chart, left or right-hand orientation, the finger and wrist fit of the gloves, the knee roll and foot position of the pads, and the returns policy. A few minutes with a tape measure prevents many sizing mistakes.

Gloves checklist

Measured hand length and width on both hands.
Checked the brand's own chart for that specific model.
Chose the correct left-hand or right-hand pair.
Fingertips reach the ends without bunching or jamming.
Thumb protection lines up with the thumb.
Wrist strap closes firmly without cutting in.
Grip feels secure with a bat in hand.

Pads checklist

Measured from ankle bone to mid-thigh.
Checked the brand's chart for that specific model.
Chose the correct left-hand or right-hand set.
Knee roll sits centred on the kneecap.
Pad covers the top of the foot and clears the ground.
Straps hold the pad firmly without twisting.
Passed the jog, turn and squat test.

Buying online with confidence

Buying online without a fitting is normal now, and it works well if you measure first and ask questions before ordering. Browse Highmark Cricket's batting gloves and pads by size, and contact the team for honest sizing advice before you order. Send us the player's measurements, age, level and batting hand, and we will help you choose a set that suits their level and playing style. We dispatch fast from Melbourne stock, and our returns policy covers size exchanges if the fit is not right (see the policy for conditions).

Why a Mid-Range Set That Fits Beats a Premium Set That Doesn't

For most juniors and club players, a well-fitted mid-range set protects better than a premium set that is the wrong size. Price buys materials, weight savings and finish. It does not buy fit. Suited to your level and playing style, a correctly sized mid-range set is usually the better value.

That is my honest view after years of talking to players, parents, coaches, clubs and schools about gear. The industry pushes the most expensive option because it is easy to sell. But a junior playing weekend cricket does not need the lightest, most expensive pad. They need pads that fit, stay put and survive a few seasons of real-world use.

The same logic applies to adults. A social cricketer replacing worn gloves is better off with a durable, correctly sized pair from a trusted brand than with a premium pair that is a size too big. Quality, durability and value matter, but only in the right size.

We use the same approach for gloves and pads that we use when guiding customers through English Willow bat selection online. For bats, we ask about age, playing style and level of cricket, and share photos, weights and pickup feedback on shortlisted options. That personalised process has built real confidence for customers ordering from interstate. For protective gear, the questions are simpler: hand and leg measurements, batting hand, level and budget. Answer those honestly and most sizing mistakes disappear.

It is also worth saying that good advice sometimes means selling less. If a parent asks whether to buy a bigger size so it lasts, we will say no. If a social player does not need the premium option, we will say that too. Fast dispatch matters, but long-term trust comes from product knowledge and support that helps customers buy confidently.

A note on scope: this guide covers batting gloves and pads. Wicketkeeping gloves and pads are sized separately, and cricket shoes use their own sizing, so check those charts independently.

References

Kookaburra Sport Australia, Size Guide: https://www.kookaburrasport.com.au/team-kookaburra/size-guide/
Gray-Nicolls Australia, Cricket Gloves Size Chart: https://www.gray-nicolls.com.au/pages/cricket-gloves-size-chart
Cricket Warehouse Australia, Size Guide: https://cricketwarehouse.com.au/pages/size-guide

Frequently asked questions

What size batting gloves does a child need?

Measure the child's hand length from the wrist crease to the tip of the middle finger, and the width across the palm. Compare these with the brand's size chart. Age bands are only a rough guide, because children of the same age can have quite different hand sizes. Fingertips should reach the ends of the sleeves without bunching.

How should cricket batting pads fit?

Batting pads should sit with the knee roll centred on the kneecap and the bottom of the pad covering the top of the foot without touching the ground. The top should reach roughly mid-thigh. Straps should hold the pad firmly without cutting in, and the pad should not twist when the player runs or squats.

Are left-hand and right-hand batting gloves different?

Yes. Gloves are made as a pair for either right-handed or left-handed batters, and the protection layout is not symmetrical. The lead-hand glove often carries extra thumb and back-of-hand protection, while the bottom-hand glove tends to be lighter for grip and flexibility. Always buy the pair that matches the batter's stance, and check the model details.

Is a Mens size the same across every brand?

No. Kookaburra, Gray-Nicolls, GM, SS and SG each publish their own size ranges, and they differ in measurements, cut and labelling. A Mens glove or pad in one brand may fit differently from another. Use the chart for the specific brand and model you are buying, and ask for advice if you fall between sizes.

Should I buy bigger pads for my child to grow into?

No. Pads that are too long catch the ground, twist on the leg and make running harder, and gloves that are too big slip on the handle. Both reduce protection and confidence. Buy the size that fits now, re-check at the start of each season, and size up when the gear shows clear signs of being outgrown.

What if I order the wrong size online?

If the fit is not right, contact the Highmark Cricket team. Our returns policy covers size exchanges, and the team can help you work out the right size from the player's measurements. Check the policy for conditions before you order, and try the gear on indoors to keep it in saleable condition.

Batting Glove and Pad Size Guide: How to Get the Right Fit for Juniors and Adults