The Slazenger Select Test pads are a good alternative for anybody looking for a fairly inexpensive pair of batting pads with the general comfort of a quality pair of batting pads but without the price tag. These pads usually retail around the £39.99 mark, but many wholesalers such as Morrant, Romida or Bourne are likely to have them for closer to £30.
I used a set of these, which I had borrowed off a friend, for the indoor season (I play a lot of indoor cricket in Austria) and was very impressed with them. Pads have improved immeasurably, in the 15 years that I have been playing cricket, with buckles being replaced by Velcro fastenings, which can allow you to get the tightness of the pads more accurately. As regards the straps of these pads, they were great, with the bottom (ankle) and the middle (shin) straps being both 2 inches wide (on pads of this price range, the norm is still to have a narrow ankle strap), although the kneestrap is only one inches wide.
However there is a solution to this, namely that you can buy cushion straps (leather inserts that you can attach to the knee strap, that will then give the feel of having a wide knee strap. These cost about four of five pounds, and whilst that won't turn you into a Marcus Trescothick overnight, if you do occupy the crease for long periods, even if only to deprive your opponents of that elusive bowling point, the backs of your knees will thank you for them.
Do they actually do the job though? I wore these against the bowling machine, and whilst I was not having balls pinged down at high speed, I did not notice being sturck on the pads by fast deliveries. Against a spinner, when padding the ball away, the ball did not balloon away, which could prove useful if you have close fielder in for the bat/pad catch. The pads are a standard 7 cane arrangement and the hex tech side wing allows you additional protection on the leading side of your leg, although for a club bag the Super Test Range might be a good buy, as it has wings on both sides, making it an ambidextrous pad in theory, although when worn left handed, the straps may rub against each other. The only thing that they lack is extra instep protection, but this is not available on any pads of this pricerange.
Overall this is a good sturdy pad for the average club player, which should get a lot of wear and willsee you good for a few seasons, although I am looking forward to the shipment of my Newbery pads.
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Price
39.99
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