Section 2: Equipment
The Ball — Law 4 (MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 Code, 6th Edition)
The cricket ball must be made of leather and have a prominent seam. Its specifications are strictly defined:
- Weight: Not less than 155.9 g (5½ oz) and not more than 163 g (5¾ oz).
- Circumference: Not less than 22.4 cm (8 13/16 in) and not more than 22.9 cm (9 in).
- Colour: Red for Test matches and first-class cricket; white is used in limited-overs cricket. A pink ball is used for day-night Test matches.
- Condition: Under Law 4.3, the fielding side may polish the ball using only the accumulated sweat and saliva on the ball. As of the 2022 6th Edition, the use of artificial substances (including saliva) on the ball is explicitly prohibited; only natural sweat from the body may be used (updated in response to COVID-19 protocols formalised in this edition).
- Ball change: Under Law 4.4, a new ball must be used at the start of each innings. In Tests, the fielding side may request a new ball after 80 overs have been bowled with the current ball (ICC Test Playing Conditions, Clause 4).
- Lost or damaged ball: Under Law 4.5, if a ball in play is lost or becomes unfit, the umpires may replace it with one of similar condition to that of the original ball at the time of replacement.
The Bat — Law 5 (MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 Code, 6th Edition)
The bat consists of a blade made of wood (traditionally willow) and a cane handle. The 2017 Code formalised dimensional limits that had existed informally for many years:
- Overall length: Must not exceed 96.5 cm (38 in).
- Blade width: Must not exceed 10.8 cm (4.25 in) at its widest point.
- Blade edge: Must not exceed 4 cm (1.57 in).
- Blade depth: Must not exceed 6.7 cm (2.64 in).
- Handle length: Must not exceed 52% of the overall length of the bat.
- Protective covering: Under Law 5.3, a non-solid protective covering (e.g., a facing or binding) may be applied to the blade, provided it does not exceed 0.04 cm (1/64 in) in thickness.
- Bat gauge: Umpires may use a bat gauge to check compliance; this practice is formalised in ICC Playing Conditions.
Stumps and Bails — Law 8 (MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 Code, 6th Edition)
Three stumps are pitched at each end of the pitch, with two bails resting on top in grooves:
- Stump height: 71.1 cm (28 in) above the playing surface.
- Total stump width: The three stumps combined must present a total width of 22.86 cm (9 in).
- Individual stump diameter: Each stump is nominally 3.49 cm (1 3/8 in) in diameter at the top.
- Bail length (standard): Each bail has an overall length of 10.95 cm (4 5/16 in), with the barrel (the section resting in the groove) being 5.40 cm (2 1/8 in) long.
- Bail length (junior/youth): Each bail has an overall length of 10.01 cm (3 15/16 in), with a barrel of 4.60 cm (1 13/16 in).
- Dispensing with bails: Under Law 8.5, if the umpires decide that the use of bails is impractical (e.g., due to high wind), they may dispense with them. A stump will then be held to have been put down only if a stump is struck out of the ground by the ball.
Protective Equipment
While the Laws specify equipment for play, standard protective gear includes batting pads, batting gloves, a helmet with a faceguard, a box (abdominal guard), thigh pad, arm guard, and chest guard. Under Law 27.2, wicket-keepers are the only fielders permitted to wear gloves; under Law 27.3, a fielder may field the ball with a hat only if it has been removed from the fielder's head before the ball is delivered.