Cricket shoes

Cricket appeared at the end of the 16th century as you can read at https://cricmod.com/. This game was first heard of in the southeast of England; in the 18th century it already became a national sport, and in the 19th century it received global development, which lasted almost the entire 20th century. And even though cricket is the second most popular spectator sport in England, it has not been able to gain such widespread popularity in other countries. Perhaps this is precisely why it is difficult to acquire specialized equipment for this sport, in particular shoes, which have a rather complicated history of appearance.

What did you play cricket in before?

The history of cricket shoes is quite complicated. It is impossible to establish exactly when and how it appeared. The forefront here is always either running shoes (which, according to one theory, served as the first model for the creation of cricket boots) or boots (after all, most cricket shoes are equipped with spikes for better grip on the field surface). The pioneers in the world of running spikes, in the image and likeness of which cricket silhouettes in the future were created according to one version, were JW Foster and Sons (now Reebok). At the beginning of the twentieth century, it was this company that first introduced the world to leather sprint studs intended for Harold Abrahams.

But the world of sports shoes took a long time to get to this release, almost the entire 19th century. Conventionally, running shoes (which were a priority in those years) developed in two directions:

• professional-athletic direction;
• everyday-amateur direction.

Running at that time was not a way of entertainment or an activity that helped maintain one's physical fitness. Therefore, spikes were produced exclusively for those who were looking for shoes for competitive purposes. It is this category of boots that is important when we talk about cricket shoes. The improvement of this prototype of a cricket shoe was based on reducing weight and improving the studs, while the design of the boots remained unchanged.

The most interesting thing is that, despite the close connection between cricket and spikes, in the 19th century many people wore lightweight shoes for this game, suitable for tennis, badminton and other similar sports. Moreover, these silhouettes underwent a thorough redesign when new rubber processing technologies appeared. Later, such shoes would be adapted for everyday wear, for example, in the 1860s, cricket boots with canvas uppers and laces came into fashion.

Lobb's boots were a two-tone model of the then existing oxfords, but the familiar silhouette was equipped with through perforations. The heel and toe of these boots, which are subject to wear more than other areas, were made of black calfskin, and the rest of the boots were made of white.

Gradually, such shoes became fashionable and became known as Spectator Shoes, since they could most often be found in the stands of horse racing, golf and polo competitions. Brogues have evolved from cricket shoes to everyday footwear, following the fate of tennis shoes, basketball shoes and aerobics.

After the invention of studded boots (boots) by the Dassler brothers in 1925, the appearance and technological equipment of sports brogues also changed. They began to be equipped with spikes, so that the classic models were divided into two types: everyday silhouettes and specialized sports ones.

Today, it is quite difficult to find specialized cricket shoes. This may be due to the fact that players choose their golf cleats from the range of all-round golf cleats or golf shoes, as the design of these models is ideal for the sport.

Features of shoes

Many cricket fans find it difficult to find shoes that are suitable for the game. It’s really not easy here; even from large sports brands it’s not always possible to find something suitable (the range of specialized shoes is quite limited). That is why it is worth choosing universal shoes that have all the necessary characteristics for cricket. When choosing cricket boots, pay attention to the following parameters:

• Studded sole. Everything here, of course, will depend on the batters, bowlers and all-rounders. Typically, outsoles with strategically placed standard-sized spikes are used. The kit may include removable nickel-plated structures, which the wearer himself can equip his sneakers with depending on his playing style. Many cricket shoe models also contain half-spikes, which provide additional grip on the surface.
• Weight. The weight of cricket shoes should be light since the player will be actively moving throughout the match.
• Lining. Good shock absorption is important here, because the player will have to move a lot and quickly. At the same time, the insole must breathe so that the foot does not sweat or swell too much (this can lead to the appearance of calluses).
• Top of the case. Typically, all-round cricket shoes come with a mesh upper that makes the silhouette breathable. Sometimes manufacturers additionally equip shoes with synthetic overlays, which increase the stability of the midfoot and, accordingly, the comfort when wearing such shoes.

Manufacturers

There aren't many sports shoe manufacturers that specialize in cricket shoes, so you'll have to work hard to find something suitable for you in the mass market. Main brands:

• adidas,
• Kookaburra,
• Asics,
• Puma,
• Gunn & Moore,
• B.A.S.
• Gray Nicholls,
• New Balance.

Popular models

In the case of cricket, it is better to focus on universal types of silhouettes that are suitable for different styles of play.