Best Cricket Gear in the USA: What to Buy and Where to Start

Cricket is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, and more American players, parents, clubs, and schools are buying gear every season. This guide is written for cricket buyers across the USA and North America. It walks through what gear you actually need, how to choose the right bat, ball, and protection, and where to start if you are building your first kit or outfitting a whole team.

Bolt Cricket is an American cricket equipment brand. We build and supply cricket gear for players, parents, clubs, academies, schools, and teams, and we ship from Wheeling, Illinois. We are an online-first store, so you can browse and order everything from home and have it delivered — there is no walk-in showroom to visit.

Be Brave. Be Bolt.

What cricket gear do beginners need?

If you are new to cricket, you do not need everything at once. A practical first kit for most beginners is:

  • A cricket bat sized to the player's height and the format they play.
  • A cricket ball suited to how you'll practice (more on ball types below).
  • Basic protective gear — at minimum a helmet, batting gloves, and batting pads once you start facing a harder ball.
  • A bag to carry and protect everything.

If you would rather not assemble the pieces yourself, a pre-built starter kit takes the guesswork out of it. Our beginner cricket starter bundle is built specifically for new players, and you can browse ready-to-go options in the starter kits collection. For a fuller walkthrough aimed at first-time players, see Best Cricket Bat for Beginners.

How to choose a cricket bat in the USA

The right bat depends on three things: size, willow type, and the format you play.

  • Size is set by player height (and sometimes age for juniors). Use our cricket bat size guide to match a player to the right size before you buy.
  • Willow type is usually English willow or Kashmir willow. English willow bats are generally chosen for higher-level and leather-ball play; Kashmir willow bats are harder-wearing and more budget-friendly, which makes them popular with newer players. Our English willow vs Kashmir willow guide explains the trade-offs in detail.
  • Format matters too — leather-ball cricket, tape-ball, and tennis-ball cricket all favor slightly different bats. If you play tape-ball, start with the tape-ball cricket gear guide.

When you are ready to shop, browse the full cricket bats collection or go straight to English willow bats. Still unsure? Our how to choose a cricket bat guide breaks the decision down step by step.

Cricket balls for training, matches, and practice

The ball you should buy depends on what you are doing:

  • Leather cricket balls are used for match play and serious practice. They are harder and require full protective gear.
  • Training balls are designed for practice, drills, and net sessions, often with added durability or visibility.
  • Tape balls and softer balls are popular for casual, indoor, and beginner play, and need less protective gear.

Browse the cricket balls collection to find the right ball for your level and format. If you are practicing on your own or running net sessions, a training or softer ball is usually the easiest place to start before moving up to a leather ball.

Protective gear: helmets, pads, gloves, and guards

Once you start facing a harder or faster ball, protective gear is essential. The core pieces are:

  • Helmet — protects the head and face; required for facing hard balls. See cricket helmets.
  • Batting pads — protect the legs and knees. See batting pads.
  • Batting gloves — protect the hands and fingers. See batting gloves.
  • Abdominal guard and additional guards — thigh guards, arm guards, and inner protection for added coverage.

You can see the full range in the protective gear collection. Wicket-keepers have their own specialized gloves and pads — browse wicket-keeping gear.

Cricket bags and accessories

A good bag keeps your kit organized and protected between sessions. Browse cricket bags for duffles, wheelie bags, and backpacks sized for a full kit.

Accessories round out your setup — bat grips, bat covers, scuff sheets, stumps, and more. Browse cricket accessories, and find stumps in the cricket stumps collection for practice and match use.

Teamwear, custom jerseys, and club orders

Bolt Cricket supports clubs, academies, schools, leagues, and teams across the USA and Canada with apparel and custom teamwear. We produce sublimated custom cricket jerseys and team uniforms in your club's colors and design.

For a custom quote, share your design needs, quantity, size breakdown, logos or artwork, and your deadline through our contact page, and we'll help you through it.

Junior and starter cricket gear

Younger and newer players need gear that fits and is easy to start with. Junior bats are sized down for height and age, and junior protective gear is sized for a smaller frame.

Buying cricket gear online in the USA

Bolt Cricket is online-first. You can browse the full catalog, choose your gear, and check out from home — your order ships to you from Wheeling, Illinois. There is no walk-in store to visit; everything is handled online and shipped to your door.

Whether you are an individual player, a parent buying a first kit, or a club outfitting a squad, you can order directly through the site. For large team or bulk orders, you can also reach out for a quote so we can help match the right gear and quantities.

Shipping and support

Online checkout is currently supported for the United States, Canada, and India. If you are ordering from another country, please contact us for a manual quote and we'll do our best to help.

For shipping timelines and details, see our shipping policy. If you have a question about gear, sizing, an order, or a team request, our FAQ page answers the most common questions, and you can always reach us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

What cricket gear do I need as a beginner?

At a minimum, a beginner needs a cricket bat sized to their height, a ball suited to how they practice, and basic protective gear — a helmet, batting gloves, and batting pads — once they start facing a harder ball. A bag keeps everything together. If you'd prefer an all-in-one option, a starter kit or the beginner cricket starter bundle covers the essentials.

Where can I buy cricket gear in the USA?

You can buy cricket gear online from Bolt Cricket, an American cricket equipment brand that ships from Wheeling, Illinois. We are online-first — browse bats, balls, protective gear, bags, apparel, and teamwear and order directly for delivery across the USA.

What is the difference between English willow and Kashmir willow bats?

English willow bats are generally chosen for higher-level and leather-ball play and tend to offer better performance, while Kashmir willow bats are harder-wearing and more budget-friendly, which makes them a popular choice for newer players. Our English willow vs Kashmir willow guide explains the differences in detail.

What cricket ball should I use for practice?

For practice, a training ball or a softer ball is usually the easiest place to start, especially for newer players or net sessions. Move up to a leather ball for match play and serious practice — and wear full protective gear when using a hard ball. Browse the cricket balls collection to compare options.

Do I need protective gear for beginner cricket?

Yes — once you start facing a hard or fast ball, protective gear is essential. The core pieces are a helmet, batting gloves, and batting pads, with additional guards for more coverage. For softer-ball or casual play, you need less protection. See the protective gear collection.

Does Bolt Cricket support clubs, academies, and teams?

Yes. Bolt Cricket supplies gear and custom teamwear for clubs, academies, schools, leagues, and teams across the USA and Canada. For bulk equipment and team orders, see club & team ordering, and for custom jerseys see the custom teamwear page.

Does Bolt Cricket ship outside the USA?

Online checkout is currently supported for the United States, Canada, and India. If you are ordering from another country, please contact us for a manual quote.

Can I order custom cricket jerseys or teamwear?

Yes. We produce custom sublimated cricket jerseys and team uniforms in your club's colors and design. Share your design needs, quantity, size breakdown, logos or artwork, and deadline on the custom teamwear page or through our contact page, and we'll guide you through the process.