Cricketers have to be absolutely cautious when they play the sport. This is because they are dealing with a hard ball made of cork whose trajectory varies in each event of a delivery. First, the bowler releases this ball at a height of nearly 8 feet which later bounces on a surface made of dust, grass, and soil. Second, the batter makes contact with the ball by transferring the force of the shot on the ball. A ricocheting bullet, the cricket ball can be lethal. Yet, of the ten fielders on the ground, only the wicket-keeper has the liberty to wear gloves.
In contrast to baseball, cricketers catch the ball with their bare hands. The wicket-keeper dons leg guards or pads and regularization webbed gloves to collect the ball. No other fielder is allowed to wear protective equipment. If at all a fielder has suffered from an injury, then they can wear a protective equipment only after taking the umpire’s consent.
Both batters are allowed to wear gloves. The rules state that the gloves are considered as an extension of the bat. Thus, if the ball is deflected off the gloves, the batter is deemed out should a fielder catch the ball. Likewise, if the batter’s gloves make contact with the ball unintentionally, then the batter is allowed to score runs. These runs are added to the batter’s total.
Fielders are not allowed to wear gloves for a simple reason. They need to learn the art of catching through the correct technique. The correct method is witnessed when the fielder coaxes the ball by cupping it at a time when the impact of the ball is least on the fielder’s hands. The employment of this technique rids the fielders of the pressure of wearing a protective equipment. Though cricket has seen many injuries due to the ball, gloves are not allowed simply because the manner of catching the ball is a skill that is unique to a cricketer.
