All you need to play a game of cricket is a bat, a ball, stumps, bails and a pitch. However, if you wish to hold a proper game of cricket more items of equipment are needed. Firstly and most importantly, you'll need 11 players on each team. They will have to be wearing cricket whites and spiked trainers to improve grip.
The batsmen will need to be fully equipped in order to protect themselves against injury from the hard ball. This protection consists of leg pads, helmet, elbow guards, thigh pads, batting gloves and a cricket "box" (to protect the most delicate area). Additionally batsmen can wear some sort of chest guard if they feel it necessary. Although all bats have the same general shape, try to find one that has good balance and feels comfortable. Bats also come in a choice of weights, which normally vary from 2lb 7oz to 3lb (1.1 to 1.4kg). A heavier bat will let you hit the ball harder and further but lighter bats allow for quicker reaction times. Different bat weights are all down to personal preference.
Bowlers need no protection at all, but close in fielders should have to wear a box, shin pads and a helmet just in case they get hit. The wicket keeper will need a helmet, box, keeper pads (smaller versions of batting pads) and wicket keeping gloves.
