Man, that moment hits you right? When you’re scrambling for the ball during nets last Tuesday and you feel the sole of your old cricket shoes basically waving goodbye. Yeah, that was me. Proper tread gone, cushioning flat as a pancake. Knew it was time. No way around it. Needed new boots, sharpish.
First thing I did was grab my phone, right there on the field between balls, sticky fingers and all. Typed in “Best Adidas cricket shoes 2024” like my life depended on it. Dead simple. Needed the top dogs, the ones players actually swear by this year. Saw the usual suspects pop up – bunch of models with fancy names and bright colours.
The Big Three I Seriously Looked At
Based on what I read and what felt right for my bowling-heavy game:
- Adidas Twenty22: Kept popping up everywhere for “all-round performance.” Everyone said they’re the solid, reliable type.
- Adidas Vector Pro: The name just screams “fast!” Reviews confirmed it – lightweight, built for sprinting between wickets, which… yeah, I need help with sometimes.
- Adidas Gripball Elite: Kept hearing “grip, grip, grip” from the folks who sweat spin. As a spinner myself, that pricked my ears up proper.
Actually Getting My Foot In ‘Em
Forget just reading. You gotta feel these things. Went down to the sports store on Saturday afternoon. Place was packed with kids, but I found the cricket section. Told the young lad there I needed the big three in my size, 10 UK. He hustled them out.
- Tried the Twenty22s first. Slipped ’em on. Whoa. Comfy straight out the box. Like putting your feet into a cloud. Padding thick around the ankle and cushioning felt springy under the heel. Did some quick side steps in the aisle – felt grounded. Serious all-round vibes.
- Switched to the Vector Pros. Light? Mate, felt like wearing slippers! So light. But… padding felt a bit thin, especially around the sides. Did some pretend run-ups. Man, they felt quick! But then I thought about those long practice sessions… would my feet hold up? Felt maybe a bit flimsy for my old bones.
- Lastly, the Gripball Elites. Focus? That sole. Chunky rubber pattern, looked mean. Put them on and seriously tried twisting my feet on the store floor. Gripped like glue. Felt solid, sturdy around the foot. Definitely a spinner’s boot. Downside? The stiffest of the lot. Needed a proper break-in period, you could feel it.
Stood there like a muppet for 10 solid minutes, shifting my weight, doing little bowling actions. Got a weird look from a kid buying football boots. Tough.
The Winner (For Me)
Left the store empty-handed? Yeah. Wanted to chew it over. But honestly, that Adidas Twenty22 feeling stuck with me. That comfort, that “ready to roll” feel without needing weeks of suffering to soften them up. Felt like it covered bowling pace, spin, fielding – the whole chaotic mess of it.
Ordered the Twenty22s online the next morning (blue colour, obviously). Arrived Friday. First run-out Saturday league match? Solid as a rock. My feet weren’t screaming at me after 40 overs in the field, that’s the real win. The grip held firm on a dry pitch. Comfy from ball one. Yeah, happy with that call.
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