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Beginner guide

How to get into cricket

Most people don't quit cricket because it's too hard — they quit because the first month was badly set up. This guide covers exactly what to do in weeks one to four, what gear is genuinely necessary, and how to find a beginner-friendly session near you.

Find cricket sessions near youExplore your city

Quick facts

Cost to start
Club subs around $80–250 a season, plus match fees; a starter bat $80–150.
Fitness needed
Low continuous demand; bursts of sprinting and throwing.
Learning curve
Batting takes time; bowling and fielding get you picked much sooner.
Session length
T20: ~3 hours. 50-over: a full day
Best entry format
T20
Where to train
Cricket grounds or Club ovals

Start here

Indoor cricket leagues run through winter and are a fast, forgiving way to learn the basics.

The right first step in cricket is smaller than most beginners assume. Do these things in order.

  • Join a club's indoor nets in preseason — that's where they meet new players
  • Learn to bowl a consistent line before adding pace or spin
  • Buy a box, gloves and a bat; clubs usually have shared pads and helmets
  • Ask for the 3rd or 4th XI first — the standard is genuinely welcoming
  • Field well: it's how new players earn selection

What to buy — and what to skip

Buy the minimum, use it for a month, then upgrade what actually limits you.

  • Bat
  • Pads and gloves
  • Helmet
  • Whites or coloured kit
  • Box

Where to train

These are the venue types to search for locally. Clubs and gyms in the SportConnect directory list their sports, levels and session times, so you can filter for beginner-friendly options.

  • Cricket grounds
  • Club ovals
  • Indoor cricket centres
  • Nets

Pick the right format

Beginners who choose the wrong format usually decide the sport isn't for them. Start with T20, or an easier variant.

  • T20
  • 40 and 50-over
  • Test/multi-day
  • Indoor cricket
  • The Hundred

Why it's worth it

What people get out of cricket once they're past the first month.

  • Roles suit specialists — batters, bowlers, keepers, fielders
  • Strong club culture with social fixtures built in
  • Indoor leagues make it a year-round sport
  • T20 fits an evening rather than a weekend
  • Clubs almost always need extra players for lower XIs

Find people to train with

Nothing keeps a new sport going like other people expecting you. Create a free profile with cricket as your sport and your level, then browse players, coaches and clubs in your city and message the ones running beginner sessions.

Your first month

  1. 01

    Week 1 — find a local club

    Almost every club has a colts or lower XI short of players. Email the club secretary — they always reply.

  2. 02

    Week 2 — indoor nets

    Nets are low-pressure and let you bat and bowl repeatedly with feedback.

  3. 03

    Week 3 — pick a discipline

    Focus on bowling accuracy or straight-bat defence. Trying to do everything slows both.

  4. 04

    Week 4 — play a lower XI match

    Turn up available for selection. Availability is the number-one selection criterion in club cricket.

Find people to train with

SportConnect is free: set your sport and level, browse players, coaches, clubs and gyms near you, and message the ones running beginner-friendly sessions.

Find cricket sessions near youExplore your city

Frequently asked questions

Am I too old to start cricket?

Almost certainly not. Adult beginner groups exist in cricket at every level, and clubs generally value reliability far more than raw ability.

How often should I train as a beginner?

Two or three sessions a week is the sweet spot for cricket. It's frequent enough to progress and infrequent enough to recover and stay interested.

How much does it cost to start?

Club subs around $80–250 a season, plus match fees; a starter bat $80–150.

Do I need to be fit first?

Low continuous demand; bursts of sprinting and throwing.

Do I need experience to join a club or session?

No. Most local clubs, gyms and open sessions run beginner groups and are used to people arriving with zero background. Say you're new when you message them — it changes how they set the session up for you.

Is SportConnect free?

Yes. Creating a profile, browsing players, coaches, gyms and events, and messaging other members is free.

How do I find people at my level nearby?

Set your sport, level and city on your profile, then browse players, coaches and gyms in your area. Filtering by level is the fastest way to find sessions you'll actually enjoy.

Find a cricket coach

A few sessions with a coach shortcuts months of guesswork. Every coach on SportConnect lists their sport, location, session formats, rates and availability, so you can compare before you message.

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What is lacrosse?What is mma?What is yoga?What is padel?What is pickleball?What is boxing?What is running?What is swimming?What is cycling?What is basketball?What is soccer?What is american football?

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