Some of us measure the year in football seasons. Cricket fans measure it in summers: long afternoons at the county ground, a flask of tea, a scorecard full of pencil marks and the soft clunk of leather on willow drifting across the boundary. Christmas lands right in the middle of the long wait for April, so this guide rounds up eight retro cricket gifts that keep the summer game alive through the winter, from cosy fleeces to suitcase covers for anyone following a winter tour.
Why Cricket Gifts Make Brilliant Christmas Presents
Football fans get their festive fix with Boxing Day fixtures and a packed holiday programme. Cricket fans have to be a bit more patient. The domestic season is months away, and the winter is mostly about following an overseas tour at odd hours.
That makes a cricket-themed present a lovely thing to unwrap. It shows you know what they care about, even when the covers are on. Our cricket range is designed with retro colours and county and international styles in mind, and everything is printed and made to order in Yorkshire by our family-run team. You can browse the full range in our cricket gifts collection.
8 Retro Cricket Gifts for Christmas
1. County Cricket Cushion
What it is: A soft faux suede cushion in county colours, available in two sizes, hand-sewn with a zip closure and a removable inner made in-house. Our Yorkshire Cricket Cushion is a favourite close to home, and there are matching designs for Lancashire, Kent, Somerset, Surrey, Essex, Hampshire, Glamorgan, Nottinghamshire and more.
Perfect for: The member who has had the same seat at the county ground for years, or anyone who talks about their county the way football fans talk about their club.
Why it works: It brings a bit of summer colour onto the sofa all year round, and it is priced from £13.99, which makes it a strong Secret Santa or stocking-stuffer option for the cricket lover in the office.
Personalisation idea: Think about the year they first got a membership, or the season their county did something special, and check the product page for the personalisation options available.
2. Legend Collection Circle Cushions
What it is: A 14-inch round cushion with a removable, machine-washable cover, printed with retro county designs. Try the Yorkshire Cricket Rose circle cushion or the Surrey Cricket 1845 circle cushion, both £13.99.
Perfect for: Reading nooks, garden rooms and the armchair where all the cricket watching happens.
Why it works: The round shape is a little different from the usual square cushion, so it stands out in a pile of presents.
Make it personal: Tuck in a handwritten note about a day at the cricket you shared.
3. England Cricket Legend Collection Fleece Blanket
What it is: A generous 150cm x 150cm blanket printed edge to edge on plush 370gsm fleece and hand-sewn in Yorkshire. See the England Cricket Legend Collection Fleece Blanket (£34.99). There are also designs for Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and other international sides, plus county versions such as Essex.
Perfect for: The fan who stays up late or gets up early to follow a winter tour on the other side of the world.
Why it works: It is the most practical gift on this list for December. Wrap up on the sofa through the winter, then take it to a summer match as a picnic blanket. Take a look at our wider fleece blanket range too.
Make it personal: Fold it up with a pack of their favourite biscuits and a flask for the full early-morning-session survival kit.
4. Cricket Player Mini Me Doll
What it is: A cushion-style doll, around 18 inches tall, in a cricket player design. You upload a photo of their face using the online designer, and the finished doll is handmade at our Yorkshire factory. Look for the Cricket Player Mini Me Personalised Doll (£24.99) in our Sports Mini Me collection.
Perfect for: Club cricketers, captains, coaches and anyone with a good sense of humour about their own batting average.
Why it works: It is guaranteed to get a laugh on Christmas morning.
Personalisation idea: Choose a clear, well-lit, high-resolution photo of their face. A big grin after a fifty works perfectly.
5. Legend Collection Beach Towel
What it is: A 75cm x 155cm microfibre beach towel, printed edge to edge on one side and hand-sewn. The Lancashire Legend Collection Beach Towel (£21.99) is a good example, and there are international versions too.
Perfect for: Fans planning to follow a tour in the sunshine, or anyone who already has next summer's fixtures circled.
Why it works: Cricket fans are always looking forward to next season. Microfibre is light and quick-drying, so it packs easily. Browse all our beach towels.
Make it personal: Roll it up with a printed copy of next season's fixture list and a note picking out the first day you will go to together.
6. Cricket Caseskin Luggage Cover
What it is: A stretch spandex suitcase cover with an adjustable buckle, available in small, medium and large to fit different case heights. Try the Glamorgan Cricket Caseskin Luggage Cover (£18.99 to £20.99), with designs for other counties and international teams in the same range.
Perfect for: The travelling fan who books a winter tour, or a cricket club heading off on a pre-season trip.
Why it works: It is practical, it protects the case from scuffs, and it is impossible to miss at the airport. More designs are in our luggage covers collection.
Make it personal: Add a luggage tag and a travel guide for the place they have always wanted to watch cricket.
7. England Cricket Legend Collection Golf Towel
What it is: A 63cm x 30cm microfibre golf towel with a non-rust clip. See the England Cricket Legend Collection Golf Towel (£15.99).
Perfect for: The cricketer who swaps the bat for a set of clubs over the winter. There are a lot of them.
Why it works: It is a neat crossover gift that shows off their cricket loyalties on the golf course, and at under £16 it fits most budgets. If golf is their main passion, our golf gifts for Christmas guide has plenty more ideas.
Make it personal: Pair it with a sleeve of golf balls and a note about their best ever innings.
8. International Cricket Cushion
What it is: The same two-size faux suede cushion style as our county range, in international team colours. Choose from designs including the India Cricket Cushion, Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa and West Indies (from £13.99).
Perfect for: Families who support different sides, and fans whose loyalties go back to where they or their parents grew up.
Why it works: A cushion in the right colours is a small but meaningful nod to their side.
Make it personal: Gift a pair to a household that supports two different sides.
Tips for Choosing the Right Cricket Gift
- County or country? Some fans live and breathe their county, others only really switch on for international cricket.
- Think about the season: In December, fleeces and cushions get used straight away. Beach towels and luggage covers are gifts to look forward to.
- Mix with football: Plenty of cricket fans follow a football club in winter. Our Christmas football gifts guide can help you build a bundle.
- Team not listed? If you cannot find their side, our upload your own design option lets you create something of your own.
Things to Consider
- Who it might not suit: A cricket gift is wonderful for a real fan, but it is a bit of a miss for someone who only watches the odd highlights package. Rugby fans may prefer our rugby gifts for Christmas guide.
- Sizes: Check cushion sizes and luggage cover sizes against the product details before ordering. Luggage covers are sized by the height of the case.
- Spelling and photos: Double-check the spelling of any names you add, and remember emojis are not supported in personalisation. For the Mini Me doll, use a high-resolution photo to avoid a blurry face.
- Timing: Everything is made to order, so allow time for production and check the delivery information on our site for current timings before the Christmas rush.
Bowl Them Over This Christmas
Cricket fans spend the whole winter waiting for the first ball of spring, so a gift that keeps the game close is always well received. Have a browse through our full cricket gifts collection and find something in their colours. Shopping for a football fan as well? Our retro Crystal Palace gifts guide is fresh off the press today.
All club, league, competition and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used for descriptive purposes only. Retro Sports Factory is an independent, family-run business. Our products are original designs inspired by classic kit styles and are not official or licensed merchandise, nor affiliated with or endorsed by any club, league or brand.
