Before we begin this December blog, we want to invite you to check out Cricketstoreonline’s end of the year sales and important points to note before buying cricket shoes.
As you consider choosing the right cricket shoes, it is imperative for you to have knowledge beyond just the brand, to details such as shoe size and color. You should consider the anatomy of your feet and the purpose of the shoe. This will determine the shoe’s lifespan (more on this later).
The following is an outline of the topics we’ll discuss in this article:
- Why Having the Right Cricket Shoes is Important
-
The Foot’s Anatomy & Common Cricket Injuries:
- Flat Feet vs High Arches
- Common Injuries
-
What is the Purpose of the Cricket Shoe?
- Indoor facility vs Outdoor Field
- Rubber vs Steel Studs
- For Batting vs Bowling / Fielding
- Playing on Mat vs Turf
- Comfort, Heel Support and Style
- Overview of PAYNTR Shoes
- Summary
Why Having the Right Cricket Shoes Is Important
When it comes to creating a healthy and optimal cricket routine, sporting the right footwear is as important as actually setting out for those jogs, warm-ups, nets practice sessions or match day. Picking the right pair helps create a solid foundation for success on the cricket field, minimizing injury and being at your absolute best.
We understand that maybe it is easier said than done; at least that's how many people feel walking into a sporting shoe store, and staring at an endless wall of styles, (neon) colors and brands while contemplating the purchase. Feel familiar?
Let us help you make this process as smooth as possible by looking at the foot’s anatomy in the following section.
The Foot’s Anatomy & Common Cricket Injuries
The foot is the lowest point of the human leg. The foot’s shape, along with the body’s natural balance systems, makes us capable of not only walking, but also running, sprinting, and countless other multilateral movements necessary for every athlete.
Now...
The foot’s complex structure contains more than 100 tendons, ligaments, and muscles that move nearly three dozen joints, while bones provide structure and a solid base to bear our body’s weight and rigors of the game.
Do you have a natural flat or an arched foot? My education in physical therapy provided me with an opportunity to learn about many sports injuries, especially those associated with the feet, the wear and tear that goes on the ankle joint and its subsequent impact on our overall biomechanics and other complex joints in this order: Ankle --> Knee --> Hip --> Spine --> Shoulder
Research shows that flat feet are supposedly more common than high arches. However, having both flat feet or high arches may cause challenges for any athlete.
Here’s why:
Flat feet do not have enough arch in the foot while high arches have a substantial space between the bottom of the foot and ground. As you run, your gait is also an important indicator to consider.
According to McQuade, understanding your gait and running style is the most important thing that you can do when buying new shoes. "Running starts with your feet, so if you're already off alignment in your lower body, each step is another opportunity for you to get injured," said McQuade. "Having the right kind of shoe that's properly aligning your foot really sets you off in the right direction for healthy training."
Your running gait is so important that some running supplies stores will do a complimentary gait analysis for you. They will watch you walk and run while both barefoot and wearing a pair of neutral sneakers to see what your feet and ankles do mid-stance.
Check this out...
Gaits typically fall into three standard types: neutral, overpronated or underpronated. A neutral gait means a person's hips knees and ankles are all in alignment and their arch only flexes a little. An overpronated foot rolls too far inwards and would benefit from a stabilizing shoe. An underpronated foot rolls out and might require more cushioning.
Sometimes, our feet may not be in neutral positions and could cause abnormal load through the foot, lower limbs and subsequently your lower back leading to pain and/or inflammation. Some of the common injuries that might be prominent during or after the game for recreational and professionals include:
- Stress Fractures – Calcaneal and others
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome due to flat feet
- Achilles Tendinopathy
- Plantar Fascia Tear
- Plantar Fasciitis etc.
Let us now look at why knowing the purpose of the cricket shoe plays an important role in choosing the right shoe.
What is the Purpose of the Cricket Shoe?
The structure of the foot is similar to that of the hand. However, since the foot bears more weight, it is biologically stronger, less mobile and able to withstand more strain at the ankle joint.
Knowing what you want to use the shoe for before buying is a necessity. In fact, the most important things to consider are flat feet vs high arches along with the curvature, bone width and the length of your toes. Every time you put your foot down while you're running, imagine that weight three times:
- Depending on the amount of force you're generating and your speed as a bowler, or
- As a close-in fielder - the need to sprint quickly over a 10-20 yard dash or
- As an outfield player and the need to cover 20-30 meters stopping a boundary, or
- Running between the wickets and the need for spikes to be able to twist and turn with ease
- Trying out these things (as one would normally do with running shoes) is important to make an informed selection
The bottom line?
When browsing for shoes, it might be effective to know the surface you’d be playing on the most, the kind of spikes that could fit best based on mat or turf pitches, the cushioning of the heels, insoles and the tightness of the shoe after tying the shoelaces tightly.
Use the following points as a rule of thumb when selecting a cricket shoe:
For Batting vs Bowling/Fielding
Seasoned all-around players tend to use two different kinds of shoes, especially for bowling with more cushioning to absorb ankle knee impact as opposed to batting shoes suited for pitch surface grip and comfort.
Run Before You Buy
You should certainly try the shoes on before buying unless the store has a free return and money-back guarantee policy. Thankfully CSO has this policy and you can always check with our in house expert for any questions about product returns.
The Shoe Colour Does Make a Difference
Well, at least when it comes to the shoe sole. Black soles are made from carbon rubber-like those used in your car tires and are usually heavy but durable. White and colored soles are made from blown rubber, which is usually of lower-density softer material and may contain more air and less weight.
Choosing the Right Color
You need to consider the surface on which you typically run when choosing the shoe because of the reasons stated above. if you normally run on concrete or asphalt, which causes more wear and tear to your shoes, you should go for black soles.
If you normally run on a padded track, treadmill, grass, or dirt trail, colored soles will go a long way.
The Shoe’s Lifespan
A shoe typically lasts 300-350 days for a 6-8 hour day. Based on your foot type, you will notice significant wear on the inside or outside of the heels of your shoe because of overpronation or underpronation, respectively, and will differ from brand make, materials used and the quality of the stitching and soles for your comfort and fit.
A great example of a high-quality shoe manufacturer is PAYNTR. There are many aspects of these shoes that make them outstanding. Read on to find out why.
Shoe Laces and Appropriate Tension
The right shoelace lowers the risk of injury and also gives you a firm grip around your foot for optimal on-field performance.
Overview of PAYNTR Shoes
PAYNTR is a new cricket brand that has been making headlines in the cricket world with ex England skipper Michael Vaughan as their Brand Ambassador. Eddie Paynter, David’s great-grandad was pivotal in England regaining the infamous 1932/33 “Bodyline” Ashes Series.
PAYNTR™ was started by ex-professional cricketer David Edward Paynter and the great-grandson of England Ashes Legend Eddie Paynter. Cricket is steeped in the family heritage.
Eddie helped turn the series on its head, guiding England to victory, despite a severe bout of tonsillitis. In the fourth test at The Gabba, with England struggling in the 1st innings, he discharged himself from the hospital, took a few aspirins, washed down with a glass of champagne and hit 83 not out.
The best part?
In the 2nd innings, Eddie hit the winning runs, helping England retain the Ashes and was subsequently the first person to win a test and Ashes series by hitting a six.
To this day, Eddie has the 2nd highest all-time highest test batting average for an Englishman (59.23), which is the 7th highest in the world. He averaged 84.42 against Australia, a feat which no other Englishman has replicated with a 500-run cut-off.
PAYNTR’s commitment to changing the game is driven by their passion, heritage & in-depth knowledge. They use this experience to develop, evolve & innovate products to enhance your performance. This is their mission statement as their shoe line looks sleek, stylish and colorful from the outside.
Summary
In this article, we looked at the reasons why PAYNTR shoes are great. They have:
- Stable Support
- Light Weight
- Classic design made for cricketers
- Additional toe protection
- Combination of molded lugs and steel spikes based on your shoe picks
- FREE returns/ exchange if not 100% satisfied
- Recommendations: Shoes recommended or not especially for bowlers from PAYNTR experts
We saw that PAYNTR is one of the popular brands taking over the cricketing world, with shoes designed specifically for professional and recreational cricketers. PAYNTR shoes combine the classic white test match shoe look with athletic features providing optimal performance, comfort with a hint of bold neon colors.
When buying a cricket shoe, the following are the points you need to consider to make the right choice:
- Indoor facility vs Outdoor field
- Rubber vs Steel Studs
- For Batting vs Bowling / Fielding
- Playing on Mat vs Turf
- Classic White or Neon colors?
- Best buy for Junior or Senior cricket?
- Optimized for professional or recreational cricket?
- Any other follow up question(s)?
You can also ask our CSO expert who will walk you through the process to select the best fit that meets your needs, requirements, and budget.
At Cricketstoreonline, we are committed to providing you with the best quality cricket gear, including PAYNTR, Adidas, Gun and Moore (GM), Kookaburra, and others at surprisingly competitive prices, especially in the USA and Canada. We also ship products to Europe, South Asia, Australia and beyond. Check out our website for more information here.
