Cricket: Light pads the future

Keeper BJ Watling strapped on hockey shinguards during the HRV Cup and said he immediately felt greater movement around the field.

The sight of Northern Districts wicketkeeper BJ Watling scampering about during the HRV Cup using hockey shinguards rather than bulkier pads, suggests an evolution.

Why do glovemen need the traditional outer protection when they're only engaged for 120 balls, few of which get through to the keeper? That's the question Watling asked ahead of ND's victorious campaign. The result for the former hockey player was a visit to sponsors Kookaburra who advised him to strap on shinguards. Technology means protection can be compressed and lighter - possibly signalling an end to using pads as an outer layer.

Watling strapped on the new additions beneath his trousers and felt greater movement around the field, including the ability to slide.

"The shorter versions of the game are faster and you need to be on your toes," Watling says. "You don't see as much of the ball because of the decent carry and evenness of bounce on consistently good batting wickets. Not many balls stay low and threaten your shins.

"They [the lighter pads] are also good when keeping up to spinners. If a batsman nudges the ball 10m, you can chase after it quicker, slide, get balanced and look for a run out. The only thing I might add in future is covering for my knees."

Former T20 international and renowned wicketkeeping innovator Peter McGlashan backs the move; he wore lighter pads and a face mask when standing up to the stumps.

"It's a matter of playing the percentages in T20 where the chances of getting hit are slim. The advantage is that BJ's more mobile. It's great to see players taking such initiatives; Brendon [McCullum] also experimented at international level."

Last year when Watling was injured during the Lord's test, McCullum kept to the pace bowling without pads, a move which caused much harrumphing by the traditionalists.

McGlashan says: "[In T20s] You have 120 deliveries where few balls get past the bat and perhaps a dozen dodgy throws which a quality keeper should fix. There are probably going to be one or two incidents where you risk getting hit on the shin or knee. In return, a keeper will gain time settling themselves while running back for a catch rather than having to dive."

McGlashan says opting for the lightweight option mightn't be sustainable in first-class cricket even though a keeper would expend less energy lumbering around.

"Getting hit early on a full day's play would be different because you've got to factor in the bruising and the time it takes to reduce the swelling. That could have a greater effect on performance for the rest of the game, whereas, with 20 overs, you can get off the park quicker."

McGlashan, who has worked as a sounding board for gear company Aero, is intrigued as to whether Watling's trend will take off commercially.

"[At Aero], we recruited a couple of engineering students one year to design wicketkeeping protective prototypes but manufacturing and marketing them is the challenge.

"If you can't sell them because Joe Bloggs thinks they're too radical or expensive for his needs then the product is dead in the water."