How to choose your cricket bat

The most important piece of cricket equipment in one’s cricket bag is one’s cricket bat. This is the tool of the batsman’s trade. It is to a batsman what a wand is to a magician or a baton to a conductor. It is what you weave your magic with in the pursuit of that elusive century!

Choosing a bat is a very personal thing and depends on your height, your strength and what your major scoring areas are. Knowing these details will help you find the best piece of cricket equipment for a cricket present.

As a rule of thumb juniors should use a bat that is no longer than their hip-bone when standing upright and light enough to play both straight strokes with a full face as well as cross bat strokes such as cutting and pulling. On the lighter side if faced with a choice; a heavy bat can be the ruin of up and coming youngsters. At Cricket Specialists we offer many varied types of cricket bat's see if we have your next bat here!

Adults should use a short handle bat if of average height, but some players may prefer a super short handle or a long handle, depending on their stature and the preferred feel those two bats might offer.

If you play all around the wicket, a bat in the middle of the weight range (2 lbs 9 ozs – 2 lbs 10 ozs) with a balanced “middle” (that is, the weight of the bat is balanced in the middle of the blade) is recommended.

Those players who score frequently square of the wicket, cutting, pulling and hooking, might look to choose a lighter bat (2 lbs 6 ozs – 2 lbs 8 ozs) with a slightly higher “middle” which allows more freedom playing cross-bat shots.

Batsmen who ideally like to score “down the ground”, in the V, might consider a heavier blade, greater than 2 lbs 10 ozs with a slightly lower “middle”, to allow them the greater bat momentum when hitting over the top.

In all instances, it is really about how the bat feels: Does it have a balanced pick up and “feel”? Is it the correct weight (not too heavy and not too light)? Can you envisage yourself taking on the quick stuff, “dibbly dobblers” and spinners alike with confidence in your willow? If you can say yes to all the above, you have found your perfect blade!

Once you have chosen your cricket bat, according to your height, strength and scoring areas, it is vital that the bat is looked after and maintained to give you as much service as possible.