Why are inner gloves recommended?

Inner gloves absorb sweat, reduce friction to prevent sore hands, and extend the life of your main batting gloves by keeping moisture away from the foam padding.

Cricket Batting Gloves Size & Buying Guide

Q: Can you buy left handed cricket batting gloves?

Yes, you can buy left handed cricket batting gloves. All of our cricket batting gloves are available in a range of sizes and in right and left handed batter options. The thumb of the dominant hand - right thumb for a right handed batter, and left thumb for a left-handed batter, will feature more cushioning and reinforced padding; whilst the non-dominant hand glove, will be lighter. This is because the dominant hand usually generates the power in a shot/stroke, whereas the non-dominant hand requires more dexterity to control and direct the shot.

Q: Can you machine wash cricket gloves?

In the vast-majority of cases you cannot wash cricket gloves including cricket batting gloves in the washing machine. If unsure, check the label, there are some lower-spec synthetic gloves that you may be able to machine wash.

Why The Right Pair of Cricket Batting Gloves Matter

Whether you are a beginner, or a seasoned pro, getting the right pair of cricket batting gloves can make all the difference. Cricket gloves aren't just for show, they protect your hands from the impact of speeding cricket ball deliveries. Without batting gloves, there would be a range of hand and wrist injuries after every match.

As top fast bowlers are able to deliver the ball at speeds of around 150 km/h, delivering forces of over a tonne on impact, gloves are important. Getting the right gloves that fit correctly, will protect your hands and will your grip steady. This leaves you free to focus on the ball, free from distractions and with the peace of mind that comes with knowing your hands are protected.

As this guide covers quite a lot of information, you can use the quick links below to navigate to the part of the guide you need:

Introduction
Cricket Batting Glove Sizes & Measuring
How Should Batting Gloves Fit?
Padding Types & Materials
Key Protection Features
Durability, Cleaning & Storage
Inner Gloves & Extra Comfort
Cricket Batting Gloves FAQs
FORTRESS Batting Gloves

Cricket Batting Gloves Sizes

Getting the right size cricket gloves is important for safety and performance. Follow the steps below and use the size charts to work out what size gloves you need for yourself, or a loved one.

Getting gloves that are the right size, is the foundation of everything else that the glove offers. Gloves that are too tight can restrict movement and to a certain extent, even blood flow. Tight gloves can also be uncomfortable and distracting. Gloves that are too big can be an issue too. Gloves that are too slack can bunch up, slip and negatively impact performance and protection.

Here is a simple way to measure your hand

Equipment required - Tape Measure

Your dominant hand is normally the one that needs the most precise fit. Measure this one first.
Take the tape measure and measure from the base of your palm to the tip of your middle finger.
Record the number in cm - take two or three readings and use the largest.

Cricket Batting Gloves Size Chart

Cricket Batting Gloves Sizes
Glove Size	Measurement
Junior	16-17cm (6.3-6.7in)
Youth	18-19cm (7.1-7.5in)
Small Adult	19-20cm (7.5-7.9in)
Adult	20-21cm (7.9-8.3in)
Large Adult	22-23cm (8.7-9.1in)

How Should Cricket Batting Gloves Fit?

If you are buying for a child avoid choosing a size that is too big just so they can grow into it. Oversized gloves twist, slip and give less protection. A secure close fit is much safer, and comfortable.

A batting glove should feel comfortable, almost like an extension of your hand.

Snug but not too tight. You should be able to move your individual fingers freely.
Full finger coverage. Your fingers sit neatly inside the rolls or splits with no excess space.
Secure wrist closure. High quality wrist strap that keeps the glove stable and in place and wrist protected.
Even padding. The knuckles and fingers are equally padded, with no bulging or bulky parts.
Natural grip. Your normal range of motion in terms of gripping the bat, should not be impacted by the gloves.

If you rotate your wrist the glove should stay in place.

Key Features of High-Quality Batting Gloves

Padding Type

Traditional sausage-finger padding provides a high level of protection. The continuous tubular padding, encases each finger with foam. This provides maximum protection but restricts movement in some instances.

Split finger designs offer full movement and dexterity, but can lack the maximum protection offered in the sausage design.

Cricket Batting Glove Padding Types

Glove Type	Benefits	Drawbacks	Rating	FORTRESS Comparison
Sausage Finger	Maximum protection. Strong, durable padding.	Less flexible. Bulkier feel.	★★★★☆	The FORTRESS Original 200 uses high-density foam like a sausage glove but adds pre-curved splits for flexibility. This removes the bulky, stiff feel while keeping elite-level protection.
Split Finger	Excellent mobility. Lightweight and breathable.	Slightly lower surface coverage.	★★★★☆	Unlike many pure split gloves, the FORTRESS Original 200 reinforces high-impact panels with fibre inserts, fixing the main split-finger weakness while keeping superb movement and grip.
Hybrid	Balanced protection & flexibility.	Slightly heavier than full splits.	★★★★★	The FORTRESS Original 200 is effectively a premium hybrid: sausage-level protection on key fingers + split flexibility elsewhere. This makes it the best all-round choice for modern players.

Palm Material

Premium leathers including - English Pittard, offer a soft feel, a strong grip and control of moisture. The ability to wick away sweat helps with grip, comfort and the ability to remain focused. Microfibre and synthetic palms work well as durable and cost-effective alternatives.

Sidebar Protection

Extra reinforcement on the sides of the gloves helps protect against any deflections. The FORTRESS Original 100 Batting Gloves feature a three-piece side bar protection on the outside of the top hand & inside of the bottom hand.

Thumb Design

The thumb is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body when batting in cricket. The thumb can often take the brunt of rising deliveries, inside edges, and short-pitched balls. Its design is crucial for protection and control. A well-structured two-piece thumb design offers important advantages. Allowing for natural movement, players can comfortably wrap their hands around and grip the bat handle. The ability to do this without any undue effort or restriction is important, as it prevents the grip from fatiguing during a long innings.

The thumb absorbs plenty of glancing blows, so the multi-layered foam and fibre inserts in a two-piece layout - spread and absorb forces without restricting movement. In fact the design of FORTRESS batting gloves may even enhance grip. As it supports the thumb in a semi-locked position, helping others keep a firm, consistent hold through drives, flicks and defensive shots.

In terms of injury prevention, a correctly designed two-piece thumb on a batting glove will bend naturally, in the 'correct' direction, whilst restricting movement in the opposite direction. This reduces the risk of hyperextension or any jarring from mistimed shots or ball impacts. FORTRESS batting gloves use a pre-curved, two-piece thumb piece built from high-density foam for shock absorption.

Ventilation

When the heat is on, especially in Australia, you need gloves that work for you, not against you. Make sure your batting gloves feature mesh panels, airflow gussets, and perforated palms. These design features allow air to move in and out to keep your hands as fresh as possible.

This can make a real difference to how well you play, and how much you enjoy batting on a given day. A sweaty unreliable grip can be uncomfortable, frustrating and can impact your performance negatively. With FORTRESS batting gloves mesh sections sit in the areas of highest temperature, gussets between fingers create channels of air flow and perforated palms let moisture escape. These details work together to keep your grip 100% and comfortable.

Wrist Support

A high-quality strap keeps the gloves locked in position. This prevents unwanted shifting during play, which in turn can give better control of the bat. A well designed wrist-strap will support movement without restricting it. Modern batting technique relies on control, as well as power. A well designed wrist-strap gives support without stiffness. FORTRESS gloves use a reinforced Velcro strap that keeps the glove fixed firmly in place. The gloves also feature added padding around the wrist cuff to provide protection from inside edges and other ball impacts.

Durable Materials & Design

Durability is a key factor when choosing batting gloves, particularly for amateur players who want long lasting equipment that don't need replacing constantly. Not only that, but it takes time to break in a pair of gloves and mold them to your hands and specific grip.

Fortress batting gloves are built to last for several seasons. They use pitted leather palms which grip better and wear very slowly. The high density foam inside absorbs a virtually unlimited number of ball impacts. The premium PU overlay on the exterior keeps moisture and dirt out of the foam where it breaks things down. When you store and maintain them properly, they will last through multiple seasons.

Having explored the key components of cricket batting glove design - materials, protection zones, thumb structure and airflow, the table below shows how each FORTRESS glove model brings these elements together. The table should help you to match the right gloves to your needs.

David Lloyd pro cricketer wearing yellow batting gloves

FORTRESS Batting Gloves – Model Comparison

Model	Best For	Palm Material	Protection Level	Key Features
Original 100	Pro & elite club players	English Pittard leather	★★★★★	Test grade protection, multi-piece split fingers, HD foam padding, double-layered wrist band.
Original 200	Serious club & county players	Indian Pittard leather	★★★★☆	Two-piece fingers & thumb, county grade protection, cotton lining, ventilated sides & palms.
Original 300 (Junior/Adult)	Beginners & developing players	Leather palm	★★★★☆	One-piece or two-piece finger padding (model dependent), great value, strong protection with good airflow.

How to Break in Your Batting Gloves

After selecting the gloves you want, you'll have to get them ready for match day. Whilst brand new batting gloves look great, they will likely feel hard and uncomfortable the first time you use them. You will need to break them in first, otherwise that stiffness will fight against your grip during an innings, instead of helping you to grip the bat handle more comfortably.

Breaking in your gloves means softening the materials, and molding them to the shape of your hands and grip. Once they start to flex after a few uses, they will start to feel comfortable, and they will not fatigue your hands or grip.

The best way to break in your batting gloves is to wear them in training. You can wear them at home and loosen them up to a certain extent by just opening and closing your hands, but wearing your gloves for an hour or more during a batting training session is really what breaks them in completely. The gripping and batting does the work, loosening everything up. The gloves will also mould to the specific shape of your hands as you grip the bat handle.

Wear Your Gloves in Training

Whilst wearing your new gloves at home when you first get them, and opening and closing your hands multiple times can start to make the gloves more pliable, wearing them for an hour or more during training sessions should significantly soften the gloves and make them much more flexible and comfortable.

In addition, the fact that you’ll be gripping and hitting a cricket ball with a bat during training, will ensure that the gloves mould to the specific shape of your hand when you are batting. In addition, the friction and vibrations of hitting the cricket ball will help to soften and ‘loosen’ the stiff palms of the gloves making them more comfortable. With this in mind, it’s important to start with batting gloves that are the correct size.

How to Clean Your Batting Gloves

Look after your gloves and they will look after you. That sounds simple but it is true. Regular cleaning keeps them in good condition for longer and stops sweat and dirt from breaking down the materials from the inside.

Before you start, check the manufacturer instructions on your gloves. Different brands have different recommendations, and you do not want to damage anything by using the wrong method. This is a general guide, but your gloves might need something specific.

What You Will Need

Get these basics together first.

Mild soap
Lukewarm water
Clean sponge or cloth
Bowl or bucket
Towel
Dry leather brush

You can also grab baking soda if you have stains you want to shift. White vinegar works for odours. Some people prefer a proper leather cleaner or sports glove cleaner instead of mild soap, and honestly, that is fine too. Pick what works best for your gloves and your budget.

The Basic Glove Cleaning Process

Fill your bowl or bucket with lukewarm water and add a small amount of mild soap. Do not make it too soapy. Dip your cloth or sponge in and gently wipe down the outside of the gloves, paying attention to the palms where most dirt and sweat sits. Work between the fingers where grime builds up.

For the inside, use a damp cloth to wipe the interior padding gently. Do not soak the gloves. You want damp, not wet. Too much water gets trapped inside and takes forever to dry.

Rinse with a clean damp cloth using plain lukewarm water until the soap is gone. Then pat everything dry with a towel and leave them to air dry completely in a cool place. Never stick them in direct sunlight or near heat because that can damage the leather and foam.

Once they are fully dry, use a soft leather brush on the palms to bring the finish back. That simple step keeps them looking good and feeling responsive.

Additional Scrub if Required
If the exterior of the gloves still has stains on it once the gloves are dried, you can try using a specific cleaning agent/cream, like a glove or sports glove cleaner, or try using baking soda.

Baking soda is deodorising, mildly abrasive and eco-friendly and non-toxic.

Always check the manufacturer's instructions before using any cleaning agent, including baking soda. You may also wish to test a small, hidden/inconspicuous area and leave the gloves for 24 hours to ensure they are not damaged by baking soda in any way.

Other Tips for Keeping Your Gloves in Top Condition

Remove surface dirt & debris
Straight after your training sessions or match, clap your hands together to remove any debris and/or dirt that may have accumulated to the exterior of the gloves.

If you have to wait until the end of a match, you can air them out if possible, to prevent the moisture from creating unwanted smells and causing damage to the interior. Don’t place the gloves in direct sunlight however.

When you are at home, gently brush any leather areas of the gloves gently with a dry leather brush or a soft bristle brush. Most high-spec gloves will have leather palms.

Prepare a cleaning solution
Prepare a solution of lukewarm water with a mild soap - for example a mild hand soap. Add 2 or 3 drops of the mild soap to every 2L of water.

You can add a drop of white vinegar to the solution if the gloves have a potent/unpleasant odour (white vinegar contains acetic acid which kills smell-producing bacteria).

Soak a cloth in the water, wring out the cloth and wipe down the exterior of the gloves.

Keeping Gloves Smelling Fresh

Always consult the manufacturer's instructions. Here are some general tips that may help keep gloves smelling pleasant:

Use talc or cornstarch on your hands when you play to absorb sweat
Leave a silica pouch in the gloves overnight to draw out moisture
Spray an anti bacterial spray on them after use
Add a drop of essential oil to the water when you clean them
Use a dedicated glove deodoriser if the smell gets stubborn

Maintaining the Glove Leather

The leather exterior takes a beating during play. Looking after it keeps your gloves in better shape for longer.

Apply a leather conditioner to keep the material supple and protected
Use a leather cleaning wipe on the exterior to remove dirt and sweat marks

Inner Cricket Gloves

Inner gloves for batting are completely optional. Some batters wear them, some do not. It comes down to what feels right for you.

Providing a barrier between your skin and the gloves, the inner gloves reduce friction on your hands during long innings, especially in hot and humid conditions. Over time friction can make your hands sore. The cotton liner keeps things smooth.

The inner gloves help keep your hands drier by absorbing sweat before it gets trapped against the padding. Less moisture means your grip on the bat stays more reliable. Your hands do not feel as slippery when you need control.

They also cushion the impact when you hit the ball or take a catch. That reduction in vibration takes stress off your hands, which can lead to overuse injuries if you are batting for hours in the nets or in a match.

Another big advantage of using inner gloves, is that they will usually protect your 'main' batting gloves. By keeping sweat away from the foam and reducing the grinding action of your hands moving inside the glove, inner gloves genuinely extend how long your batting gloves last. The inner gloves will usually pay for themselves in terms of the money they save you on new batting gloves.

Storing Batting Gloves

Avoid leaving your cricket batting gloves in a bag, or in the car after a match or training session. Let the gloves dry out completely before storing them away. Dry your gloves by hanging them up - in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight and away from direct heat like radiators. Lay them flat or hang them up by the wrist. Once they are fully dry, store them in a cool, dry place such as a ventilated glove bag or a storage box. Any type of box or bag that allows air to circulate while still protecting the gloves is perfect. Avoid squeezing or compressing the gloves in any way once they are in storage. Some cricket players will add silica gel packs or glove deodorisers, or even a couple of drops of essential oil to gloves in storage to keep them fresh. Always check the manufacturer's instructions before using gels, oils, etc.

Cricket Gloves FAQs

Can you buy left handed cricket batting gloves?

Yes, cricket gloves are required for safety reasons. Without gloves breaks, fractures, bruising and soft tissue injuries to the hands and wrists are far more likely. Almost all clubs, schools and colleges require that batters wear gloves.

Can you buy left handed cricket batting gloves?
Yes, left-handed gloves simply reverse the padding layout so the top hand (right glove) has the additional padding. FORTRESS lets you choose - left-handed or right-handed batting gloves. With left-handed gloves, the extra protection and padding are placed on the correct top hand. For left-handed batting gloves, the extra padding is on the right glove.

Can you machine wash cricket gloves?
In the vast-majority of cases you cannot wash any type of cricket gloves in a washing machine. If unsure, check the label and the manufacturer's instructions. There might be some lower-spec synthetic gloves that you may be able to machine wash.

Can fielders wear gloves?
No - fielders can't wear gloves. According to the ICC rules, no fielder other than the wicket keeper is permitted to wear gloves during a regulated match.

Getting the Most From Your Batting Gloves

Look for gloves that offer a high-level of ventilation so your hands stay cool in the heat. Pitted leather palms give you that sticky grip that does not slip. In order to do their main job of protecting your hands, you'll also want to make sure the gloves have high quality padding. HD foam for example, protects your hands and absorbs impact when you are batting hard. These details add up on matchday and over a career.

Be sure to measure your hands, so that you get the right size.

Looking After Your Gloves

Clean your gloves regularly and store them properly between uses. This keeps them fresh, stops bad smells from developing, and makes them last longer. That is straightforward stuff but it makes a real difference.

Wearing cricket inner gloves is one of the best things you can do if you want your batting gloves to last. The inners absorb sweat before it gets trapped inside the padding. Less moisture means less breakdown of the foam and other glove materials over time. They also make cleaning and maintaining your gloves easier because you are not dealing with sweat soaked gloves after each match.

Get these details right and your batting gloves will perform well for you season after season. Check out the range of FORTRESS Batting Gloves below: