Wicket-keeping
Keeping gloves, pads and the helmet on the ground
Only the keeper may wear gloves and leg guards. Glove webbing has limits, and a ball hitting a helmet left on the ground gives away 5 runs.
Updated 29 Sept 2026
The wicket-keeper is the only fielder allowed to wear gloves and external leg guards (pads). If any other fielder fields the ball while wearing gloves, the batting side is awarded 5 penalty runs.
Rules for the gloves
- Webbing is only allowed between the thumb and the first finger. The fingers must otherwise be separate.
- The webbing must be a single piece of non-stretch material, and it should lie flat when the thumb is stretched out, not form a pouch.
- Nothing may be added to the gloves to help catch the ball, such as extra padding that makes a scoop.
The helmet behind the keeper
Keepers often take off their helmet when a fast bowler comes on and leave it on the ground behind them. If the ball in play hits a helmet lying on the field, the batting side gets 5 penalty runs, plus any runs already completed. The ball becomes dead.
Club tip: put the spare helmet well out of the way, next to the sightscreen or behind fine leg, not directly behind the stumps.
Official source: lords.org ↗
This is a plain-language club summary for learning. For match decisions, the official ICC Playing Conditions and MCC Laws of Cricket apply.