This article was originally published here.

So you've just started playing the game more seriously, you may or may not have got the gear and equipment yet but you're wondering if there's anything else you need to add? Here's a checklist for you to be sure that you've got it all ready.  
1. For Leisure

You literally just need two things to begin the game:

1. Ball

Any softball- mostly soft tennis ball/ Hard Tennis ball

2. Bat

Basic Bat - Plastic bats/ Poplar / Poplar Willow
2. For Performance

If you wish to play on a more performance level, you'll need the right gear and equipment regulated by the laws of cricket. Here's a list that could help you begin.

1. Ball

On a performance level, the ball usually used in cricket is a cork ball covered in leather.  In terms of color, there are two. Red balls used in Test Cricket and for First Class Cricket while white is used in one-day matches. Be on guard because these balls are very hard and can cause injuries upon impact with the body. 

2. Bat

Cricket Bats are made of flat wood not longer than 96.5cm. The width of these bats is restricted to 10.8cm. While there is no standard weight, most bats range from 1.2 kilograms to 1.4 kilograms. 

3. Clothing

A white polo t-shirt is required for every Cricket Match. In the colder seasons, long-sleeved polo t-shirt is also sometimes worn. 

This is usually paired with white long trousers.

Headwear that includes baseball caps or cricket caps/ sun caps is also recommended. For shoes, wear spiked shoes in order to improve traction on the playing area.

4. Protective Equipment

Like every other sport, protective gear is absolutely required to ensure safety and stay injury-free.

1. Body Protective

Batsmen and Wicketkeepers wear an abdomen guard to protect themselves from the impact of the ball hitting their body. Leg pads or shin pads are common batsmen, wicketkeepers as well as the fielders stationed near the batsmen.

2. Helmet

A helmet, sometimes with an attached visor is worn by batsmen and fielders to protect their head. It is recommended for wicketkeepers to wear protective eyewear as well. The impacts of the ball hitting the wicket can be major with the bails getting dislodged after the impact.

3. Gloves

Batsmen and Wicketkeeper have different gloves. The ones worn by batsmen are very thickly padded at the tip of all five fingers when it's compared to thinner wicketkeeping gloves. The wicketkeeper gloves have webbed fingers to help catch the ball.