Description

Leather and aluminium cricket box. Triangular with ridged metal front and leather lining and padded edges.

Display caption

6.3 What does Don Bradman have in common with General Custer? It appears that they both wore what Bradman called the ‘Confidence Producer’ in his book The Art of Cricket. 2017 marks the 160th anniversary of the first published mention, in Lillywhite’s 1855 Cricket Guide, of a ‘private guard’. Also known as the abdominal guard, protective cup or box, but rarely mentioned, it is a must for all hard-ball playing sportsmen and women. For all the confidence wearing one may produce there are also the inevitable horror stories. The most well-known possibly David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd’s crushing box disaster from a ball by Jeff Thomson at the WACA in 1977. TN.2008.668 Litesome Abdominal Protector of D G Dyer Pale pink plastic, Len Hutton model TN.2008.669 Litesome Abdominal Protector of D G Dyer Pink plastic, Len Hutton model TN.2008.121.4 Abdominal Protector of Mike Brearley, 20th century White plastic M.2015.614 Abdominal Protector, 1970’s Leather and aluminium M.2013.26.617 Abdominal Protector of Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2013 White plastic and leather padding. Any information or suggestions about any of our exhibits is most welcome. Please ask a member of staff for a form or for contact details.