1. What is the best cricket bat?

Few factors may look minor but have major impact on the performance of a bat. So, we always recommend choosing a reliable brand or it is better to purchase from a trust worthy vendor. Some of the best brands for cricket bat are *Wolfer *MRF *Elevar *Kookaburra *Spartan *Steller *Gray-Nicolls *SG

2. Which cricket bat is suitable for leather ball?

For leather ball, we recommend to opt for English willow cricket bat.

3. What does knocking do in a cricket bat?

Knocking-In procedure ensures the fibers and grains of the cricket bat are compacted enough. This ensures the bat can handle the force and pressure of cricket ball. If knocking procedure is not done, then the bat can get damaged or split while playing.

4. What are some common breakage caused with cricket bats?

There are several reason for cricket bats to break or split. Some of the common reasons are… *Knocking procedure not don’t properly *If oiling is not applied regularly *If the edges get wet *Low quality willow wood is used

5. Which factors determine the weight of the bat?

Of all the factors that constitute the weight of any professional or normal cricket bat, the following six are the most important factors to be considered before buying a bat, Those are Moisture content in the wood Density of the chosen wood. Process of how the bat is made Curvature of the blade Thickness of the edges Handle material

6. In a cricket bat, how many grains is good?

Number of grains for one bat is different from another. Generally, a typical bat would have between 6 and 12 grains on the strike side. This is an indicator of good quality. A 6 grain bat is slightly softer than a 10 or 12 grained bat.

7. Which Willow wood is better for a cricket bat?

Quality of the bat is dependent on the quality of the wood used. Highest of the quality bat is that of the English willow. Following that is the Kashmiri willow which has moderate quality and is used to make budget friendly bats. Below at the bottom of all bats is the popular willow bat. This is used to make bats for kids or for recreational usage.

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How To Choose Best Cricket Bat

Updated by

Leela Prasad

on Dec 18, 2020

Below is a comprehensive buying guide explaining every factor in detail. Read the information carefully to pick up the best cricket bat for your requirements.

Table of Contents

1. Bat Size

Cricket bats are available in different sizes and you should choose the size as per your height and age. If you are tall, then you would find that handling a taller bat is easier. If you are short, then you will find that a simple small bat is perfect fit for your playing requirements.

Below is table representing suitable cricket bat size according to age and height.

Age of Player (years)	Height of Player (feet)	Bat Size	Bat Length (inches)	Bat Width (inches)
4 – 5	Up to 4’ 3”	1	25 ¾”	3 ½”
6 – 7	4’ 3” to 4’ 6”	2	27 ¾”	3 ½”
8	4’6” to 4’9”	3	28 ¾”	3 ¾”
9 – 11	4’9” to 4’11”	4	29 ¾”	3 ¾”
10 – 12	4’11” to 5’2”	5	30 ¾”	4”
11 – 13	5’2” to 5’6”	6	31 ¾”	4”
12 – 14	5’6” to 5’9”	Harrow	32 ¾”	4 1/6”
15 and above	5’9” to 6’2”	Full SH	33 ¾”	4 ¼”
15 and above	6’2” and above	Full SH	34 ¾”	4 ¾”

2. Willow Wood Type and Quality

Cricket bats available in India are made up of either English willow wood or Kashmir willow wood. English wood is light in weight and has springier action which provide more stroke and power. This is the reason; it is the most preferred choice. Kashmir willow type bats are very hard and don’t provide same level of performance as English willow. They don’t last longer time period. They are perfectly suitable for beginners. When it comes to price, English willow cricket bats are expensive than Kashmir Willow.

When it comes to quality, cricket bats are divided into grades. Below, we have mentioned different grades and what makes them different from one another.

Willow Grade 1 – It is the most expensive and top grade quality cricket bat as they are not blemished or bleached. 8 to 12 grains are present on the face of the bat. But it is the most expensive willow bat.
Willow Grade 2 – It has at least 6 broader straight grains. And it doesn’t come with minimal or no blemishes on the face of the bat.
Willow Grade 3 – Though quality of this type is excellent, it has irregular grain patterns. When compared to grade 1, it has irregular grain patterns.
Willow Grade 4 – Due to affordable price, this is the most widely used grade. It has irregular grain patters (4 to 6) and a little discoloration on the face of the bat.
Willow Grade 5 – It has fewer grains than other grade types. Butterfly stain and marks are present on the face of the bat.

3. Grains

Play ability and durability of a cricket bat depends on number of grain lines present on the face of the bat. These grain lines usually run from top to bottom of the bat. They represent the age of the wood used for making the bat. For better performance, choose a bat with more number of grains. But more grains mean less durability. So, ideal option for durability and performance is considered between 6 to 10 grains.

Apart from grain number, you should check whether space is consistent between the grain lines. And also make sure the grain profile is same on the front and back of the bat’s face.

4. Tennis Vs Leather Ball

Which ball do you regularly use for playing cricket – a tennis ball or leather ball? If you use tennis ball, then Kashmir willow bat is sufficient. But for the leather ball, it is better to go for English willow as it is thicker and springier.

Tennis Vs Leather Ball

5. Bat Weight

Weight of the bat also plays an important role in terms of performance. Heavier bats are more durable and provide more power to shots. But lighter bats allow the player to play all types of shots. They also allow better control and faster speed of the shot.

Based on weight, full size English willow bats are categorized into 3 types.

Light (0.94 to 1.14 Kg) – Suitable for touch players who wants to time the ball instead of hitting hard. You can choose this bat if you want good control over the strokes.
Medium (1.14 Kg to 1.26 Kg) – Perfect for control and balancing power. If you are looking for good maneuverability and solid power, then this is the right choice.
Heavy (1.26 Kg and more) – Ideal for power players are they are heavier and thicker. If you are a professional cricket player, then this is the right choice.

As a standard, any good standard cricket bat should be of the weight which falls between 1.2 to 1.4 kg. Lower or higher of this range is pure personal customization preference.

6. Cricket Bat Blades

Blade is the main part of a cricket bat. Back part of the cricket bat blade has articulated outward ben which is known as spine. It provides weight and unbending nature to the cricket bat. Front side of the cricket bat blade provides fundamental striking surface. Thickness of the cricket blade also plays an important role in terms of performance. Thickness is divided into two categories…

Flat Face – As it has leveled out striking area, it has more mass in the back of the bat. This in turn improves power profile.
Rounded Face – Slightly rounded face yields less expanded profile. This is the reason why this type of cricket bat blade is more preferred by traditional players.

7. Batting Style and Sweet Spot

Before purchasing a cricket bat, it is also important to determine how you play the game – Front foot or back foot dominant. Based on the style, you can get the sweet spot positioned in order to increase the stoke play value. For front foot dominants, sweet spot should be placed mid to low. For back foot dominant, sweet spot should be placed mid to high. Below are the standard rules for sweet spot positions…

Low Type: A perfect fit for those going for a straight and drive based shots.
Medium Type: Usually chosen by and suited to all-rounders. This type is an amalgamated mix of low and high bat types for the sweet spot. All-rounders prefer this type to play on their front foot.
High Type: The sweet hitting spot for the high type bats is present not in the middle but towards the handle, right below the grip. This is for players who are habituated to give a cut or hook based shots.

8. Cricket Bat Spine

It is present on the back of the cricket bat. It