Why Wicket Keepers Wear Inner Gloves
Keeping wicket for 50 overs in summer heat means one thing: sweat. Without inner gloves, your outer keeping gloves get soaked, the leather degrades, and your hands slip inside the glove — costing you catches. Inner gloves absorb moisture, provide cushioning against the constant impact of the ball, and extend the life of your expensive outer keeping gloves by 2-3 seasons.
We stock inner gloves from SG, SS, Gray-Nicolls, and Kookaburra — the same brands that supply Test match keepers. Every pair we carry is sitting in our Edison, NJ warehouse and ships within 1 business day.
Inner Glove Materials: Cotton vs Chamois
Cotton Inner Gloves (Budget-Friendly)
Cotton inners like the Gray-Nicolls Club Cotton Padded ($14.99) are the entry point. They absorb sweat effectively and provide basic cushioning. Best for: club keepers on a budget, junior players who are still growing, or as a spare pair in your kit bag. Cotton inners typically last one full season before the padding compresses.
Chamois Plain Inner Gloves (Professional Feel)
Chamois leather is a thin, supple sheepskin that molds to your hand over time. The Gray-Nicolls Pro Chamois Plain ($19.99) offers a bare-hand feel with moisture-wicking properties. Chamois breathes better than cotton and doesn't get crusty after multiple uses. Best for: serious club and league keepers who keep for long spells.
Chamois Padded Inner Gloves (Ultimate Comfort)
The premium tier. Chamois outer with foam padding at the palm and finger joints. The Gray-Nicolls Pro Chamois Padded ($19.99) and Kookaburra Chamois Padded ($17.99) are the choice of representative keepers. The padding absorbs the sting from fast bowlers and reduces hand fatigue during long days behind the stumps. If you keep to bowlers at 75+ mph, this is your category.
Our Complete Inner Glove Range
| Model | Material | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| SG Test | Cotton/Synthetic | Adult | $16.99 |
| SS Supertest | Cotton/Synthetic | Adult | $14.99 |
| Gray-Nicolls Pro Chamois Plain Inners | Chamois Plain | Adult | $19.99 |
| Gray-Nicolls Club Cotton Padded Inners | Cotton Padded | Adult | $14.99 |
| Gray-Nicolls Pro Chamois Padded Inners | Chamois Padded | Adult | $19.99 |
| Kookaburra Chamois Padded | Chamois Padded | Adult | $17.99 |
| SS Supertest Junior / Youth | Cotton/Synthetic | Junior | $14.99 |
How to Choose the Right Inner Gloves
1. Material first. If you keep in hot/humid conditions (common in US summer leagues), chamois is worth the upgrade — it wicks moisture better and stays comfortable when wet. Cotton works fine for cooler conditions or shorter formats (T20).
2. Padded vs plain. Padded inners add bulk inside your outer glove. If your outer keeping gloves already have thick internal padding, plain chamois inners might fit better. If your outers are competition-weight (thin padding for better feel), get padded inners for impact protection.
3. Sizing. Inner gloves come in Adult and Junior. Junior inners are proportionally smaller — a 13-year-old keeper should be in junior inners, not adult ones that bunch up inside the outer glove. The SS Supertest Junior ($14.99) is purpose-built for youth hands.
4. How many pairs? Serious keepers own at least two pairs. Rotate them between innings or between match days so each pair has time to dry completely. Wet inner gloves breed bacteria and break down faster.
Why Buy from TopCricketStore?
We're a real cricket store — not a marketplace listing. Every pair of inner gloves in our inventory has been inspected, photographed, and is ready to ship from Edison, NJ. You get USA delivery in 3-5 business days with free shipping on orders over $100. Our team includes active cricketers who keep wicket on weekends; we know what works and what doesn't.
Need Help Choosing? Talk to a Real Person
Call or WhatsApp us at 1-732-250-3598. Tell us what outer keeping gloves you use, what level you play, and whether you keep in T20 or multi-day formats. We'll recommend the right inner gloves and size — no upselling, no pressure.
Wicket Keeping Inner Gloves: What the Pros Use
Professional keepers are particular about their inner gloves because they wear them for 6+ hours per day during Test matches. Here's what's common at the elite level:
Test cricket: Chamois padded inners (like the GN Pro Chamois Padded, $19.99) — maximum cushioning for long days behind the stumps against fast bowlers. Keepers typically rotate 2-3 pairs during a day's play to keep hands dry.
White-ball cricket: Chamois plain inners (like the GN Pro Chamois Plain, $19.99) — enough moisture management for 50 overs without the bulk of padding, since white-ball keeping involves more movement (standing up to the stumps more often).
Club cricket: Cotton padded inners (like the GN Club Cotton Padded, $14.99) — budget-friendly, effective for Saturday afternoon fixtures where you're keeping for 40-50 overs. The cotton absorbs well and the padding is adequate for club-level pace.
Inner Glove Care: Extending Their Lifespan
Inner gloves fail for two reasons: bacteria buildup (from sweat left to fester) and padding compression (from never being allowed to recover between uses). Here's the care routine that gets you an extra season:
After every match: Remove inner gloves from your kit bag. Don't leave them crumpled inside your outer gloves — they need airflow. Hang them or lay them flat in a ventilated area.
After 3-4 uses: Hand-wash in cold water with mild detergent. Squeeze gently (never wring — it tears the stitching). Air-dry for 24 hours minimum. The chamois leather needs full drying time to prevent mildew.
Off-season storage: Wash, dry completely, and store in a sealed plastic bag with a silica gel packet. This prevents humidity damage during months of non-use. Don't store leather inners in a damp basement or garage.
Wicket Keeping Inner Gloves: Price vs Performance Matrix
If you're budget-conscious, here's exactly what you get at each price point:
Under $15: Cotton inner gloves (GN Club Cotton Padded, $14.99; SS Supertest Junior, $14.99). Absorb sweat effectively, provide basic padding, last one season. Perfect for juniors, occasional keepers, and as backup pairs. You're not getting premium materials at this price but you are getting a perfectly functional product.
$15-$18: Entry-level chamois or premium cotton (SG Test, $16.99; Kookaburra Chamois Padded, $17.99). The SG Test uses a cotton-chamois blend that bridges the gap between the two material types. The Kookaburra is genuine chamois at a surprisingly accessible price point. This is the sweet spot for club keepers on a budget.
$19.99: Full chamois (GN Pro Chamois Plain, GN Pro Chamois Padded). Professional-grade materials, best feel, longest lifespan. The $5 difference between the SG Test ($16.99) and the GN Pro Chamois ($19.99) gets you noticeably better leather quality and stitching. If you keep 20+ overs every weekend, this is where you should be spending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need inner gloves for wicket keeping?
Yes, if you keep regularly. Inner gloves absorb sweat that would otherwise soak into your outer gloves, causing the leather to crack and the inner lining to degrade. They also add cushioning against ball impact and reduce hand fatigue.
How often should I wash my inner gloves?
After every 2-3 uses. Hand-wash in cold water with mild detergent, squeeze (don't wring), and air-dry completely before reusing. Never machine-wash — the agitation destroys the padding and stitching.
Can I use batting inner gloves for wicket keeping?
Batting inners are thinner and have different padding placement (more on the back of the hand, less on the palm). Keeping inners are designed for palm impact and prolonged sweat absorption. They're different products for different roles.
How long do inner gloves last?
Cotton inners: 1 season. Chamois plain: 2 seasons. Chamois padded: 2-3 seasons. Rotating between two pairs extends lifespan significantly since each pair dries fully between uses.
Which brand makes the best keeping inner gloves?
Gray-Nicolls leads with their Pro Chamois range — consistent quality, excellent chamois leather that molds to your hand. SG Test inners ($16.99) are the best value pick — genuine quality at a mid-range price. Kookaburra chamois inners ($17.99) are favored by Australian-grade keepers.
Should I buy a size up in my outer gloves to fit inner gloves?
No — buy your regular outer glove size. Inner gloves are thin enough (1-2mm) that they don't require sizing up. If your outers feel tight with inners, your outer gloves are too small, not the inners too thick.
Wicket Keeping Inner Glove Comparison: Cotton vs Chamois
| Feature | Cotton (GN Club) | Chamois Plain (GN Pro) | Chamois Padded (GN Pro Padded) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweat absorption | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Comfort / feel | Basic | Premium soft | Premium cushioned |
| Padding | Light | None (bare feel) | Medium |
| Durability | 1 season | 2 seasons | 2-3 seasons |
| Price | $14.99 | $19.99 | $19.99 |
| Best for | Budget, juniors | Club/league keepers | Fast bowling, long format |
How Many Pairs of Inner Gloves Do You Actually Need?
Casual/recreational keeper (T20, occasional keeping): 1 pair of cotton inners ($14.99). You're not keeping for long enough to soak through them, and the budget matches the usage frequency.
Regular club keeper (40-50 overs weekly): 2 pairs minimum — one chamois padded for matches ($19.99), one cotton for practice ($14.99). Rotate the match pair with a spare so you always have a dry pair available during the innings break.
Tournament keeper (multiple matches per day): 3 pairs — two chamois padded ($19.99 each), one cotton ($14.99). Switch at every innings break. Three pairs means every pair gets at least 2 hours to dry between uses.
Junior keeper: 2 pairs of cotton ($14.99 each). Juniors grow out of inner gloves faster than they wear them out — don't overspend on chamois for a 12-year-old who'll need a new size in 12 months.
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