Why Wicket Keepers Go Through Gloves Faster Than Anyone Else
A wicket keeper takes 200-400 deliveries in a typical one-day match. Each one transmits impact through the outer glove, through the inner glove, into the palm and fingers. After 50 overs, the webbing between thumb and index finger is raw. By the third day of a multi-day match, keepers are taping their fingers. The difference between a good keeping experience and a painful one often comes down to a single layer: the inner glove.
Inner gloves serve three functions: impact absorption (reducing the sting of fast deliveries), moisture management (wicking sweat so your hands don't slip inside the outer glove), and blister prevention (creating a friction-free interface between skin and outer glove lining). Get this layer right and you can keep for 90 overs without thinking about your hands. Get it wrong and you're adjusting your gloves after every delivery. This guide covers every wicket keeping inner glove we stock at TopCricketStore.
Material Types: Cotton, Chamois, and Padded — What's the Difference?
Cotton Inners: The classic. Plain woven cotton that absorbs sweat and provides a thin barrier between hand and outer glove. Pros: cheap ($10-15), breathable, machine-washable. Cons: zero impact protection, wears through in 6-8 matches at the friction points (thumb webbing, palm heel). Best for: junior keepers, training sessions, and as a backup pair in your kit bag.
Chamois Inners: Chamois leather (sheep or goat skin) is naturally moisture-wicking, grippy when damp, and conforms to your hand shape over time. Pros: excellent grip even when wet, durable (lasts 2-3 seasons), molds to your hand. Cons: more expensive ($15-20), requires hand-washing, takes longer to dry. Best for: serious club and competitive keepers who want maximum feel through the gloves.
Padded Inners: Chamois or cotton with foam/gel padding sewn into the palm and finger zones. Pros: genuine impact reduction, protects fingertips from fast bowlers, extends your keeping session. Cons: slightly bulkier, reduces feel for the ball, costs more. Best for: keepers standing up to the stumps for medium-pace, anyone keeping to 75+ mph bowling, and keepers with recurring finger injuries.
Every Keeping Inner Glove We Stock: Compared
| Model | Material | Padding | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SG Test | Cotton | None | $16.99 | Club keeping, training |
| SS Supertest | Cotton+Chamois palm | None | $14.99 | All-round club keeping |
| GN Pro Chamois Plain | Chamois leather | None | $19.99 | Maximum feel & grip |
| GN Pro Chamois Padded | Chamois leather | Foam palm+fingers | $19.99 | Premium protection |
| GN Club Cotton Padded | Cotton | Foam palm | $14.99 | Budget padded |
| Kookaburra Chamois Padded | Chamois leather | Gel palm+fingers | $17.99 | Long-format keeping |
| GM Chamois Padded | Chamois leather | Foam palm | $19.99 | Competitive club keeping |
| EM GT 1.0 | Cotton+PU | Light foam | $11.99 | Budget all-rounder |
SG Test ($16.99): The standard cotton inner that keeps it simple. The cotton is a mid-weight weave — thicker than a dress sock, thinner than a sweatband. Absorbs sweat effectively but needs to be swapped out at the drinks break on hot days (or bring two pairs). The wrist elastic is firm without being tourniquet-tight. If you're keeping for the first time or need a reliable backup pair, this is the default choice.
SS Supertest ($14.99): A clever hybrid: cotton body for breathability with a chamois leather palm overlay where the grip matters most. The chamois patch covers the palm heel and extends up to the base of the fingers — exactly where the ball impacts on a standard take. At $14.99, you're getting chamois benefits at a cotton price. The cotton back allows heat to escape, which matters when you're keeping in full sun for 50 overs.
GN Pro Chamois Plain ($19.99): Full chamois leather construction. This is what you buy when you want the ball to feel like an extension of your hand. Chamois gets grippier when it's slightly damp — counterintuitively, your sweat improves the grip rather than degrading it. The plain (unpadded) version gives you maximum feel for the ball's seam position and velocity. Serious keepers who stand back to fast bowlers generally prefer plain chamois because the feedback through the gloves helps them read the delivery earlier.
GN Pro Chamois Padded ($19.99): Same chamois leather as the Plain, but with foam padding sewn into the palm, thumb webbing, and finger stalls. The padding is unobtrusive — you'll still feel the ball but the sting is taken out. At the same price as the Plain version, your choice comes down to feel vs comfort. Keepers who stand up to the stumps almost universally prefer padded, because medium-pace deliveries taken at close range transmit more impact than fast deliveries taken from 20 yards back.
Kookaburra Chamois Padded ($17.99): Kookaburra uses gel padding instead of foam in the palm and fingers. Gel distributes impact over a wider area — think of it as the difference between getting hit with a single knuckle vs a flat palm. The gel doesn't compress permanently like foam, so these inners maintain their padding thickness for longer. At $17.99, they're excellent value for keepers who play multi-day cricket or back-to-back weekend matches.
GM Chamois Padded ($19.99): GM's take on the padded chamois format. The chamois is slightly thicker than the GN and Kookaburra equivalents — 1.2mm vs the standard 0.8-1.0mm. This makes them marginally warmer but also more durable. If you've worn through chamois inners in a single season, try the GM — the extra thickness translates directly to longevity.
EM GT 1.0 ($11.99): The budget pick that covers the basics. Cotton body with a PU (polyurethane) palm patch and light foam padding. The PU doesn't have the grip of chamois, but at under $12 it's the cheapest padded option. Good for junior keepers who are still growing, or as a loaner pair in your club's kit bag.
Junior Wicket Keeping Inner Gloves
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| SS Supertest Junior | $14.99 |
| EM GT 1.0 Junior | $9.99 |
Junior keepers don't need the same impact protection as adults — the bowling speeds are lower — so cotton-based inners work well. The EM GT 1.0 Junior at $9.99 is our most popular junior inner glove. At this price, buy two pairs so your young keeper always has a dry pair ready.
FAQ
Do I really need inner gloves for wicket keeping?
Yes. Keeping without inners causes blisters at the thumb webbing within 15-20 overs, and your sweat will degrade the lining of your outer gloves much faster. Outer keeping gloves cost $50-150 — a $10-20 inner glove protects that investment and keeps your hands comfortable.
How many pairs of inners should I own?
Minimum two: one to wear, one drying. If you play multi-day cricket or tournaments where you're keeping for 70+ overs in a day, three pairs. Swap at every drinks break on hot days — the moisture buildup inside the glove is what causes the skin to soften and blister.
How do I wash chamois inner gloves?
Hand-wash in cold water with a small amount of mild soap. Gently squeeze — don't wring or twist, which damages the leather fibers. Roll in a towel to remove excess water, then air-dry flat in shade. Never machine-wash chamois and never put it in a dryer — the heat shrinks and hardens the leather permanently.
Can I use keeping inners for batting?
You can, but batting inners are cut differently — they're shorter in the finger and have a reinforced thumb panel for the bottom-hand grip. Keeping inners are longer in the finger and have padding concentrated in the palm, not the thumb. Using keeping inners for batting works in a pinch but isn't ideal for long innings.
Real Talk: From Our Edison NJ Store
We stock all the inners in this guide and we keep for fun in our local NJ league. The one piece of advice every experienced keeper gives: buy chamois inners. Cotton works, but after your third or fourth match you'll wish you'd spent the extra $3-5. The grip improvement alone — especially when your hands are sweaty in the 35th over — is worth it. And if you're keeping to anyone who bowls above 70mph, get the padded version. Your fingers will thank you on Monday morning.
Free shipping on orders $100+ anywhere in the continental US. Questions about sizing or which model fits your keeping style? Call or WhatsApp us at 1-732-250-3598.