How to choose the Cricket bat that suits your gameplay?

We will discuss bats – the types of bats available and the essential aspects one should pay attention to.

Bat size: The bat’s size is crucial for one’s gameplay; choose a bat according to the batsman’s height. Below is a table showing the co-relation between batsman’s height and Bat size.  

Type of Willow: In layman’s terms, this is the wood the bat is made from. When it comes to cricket bat selection, the popular choice of bats are English Willow and Kashmir willow bats. English willow bats are lighter and have a springy effect compared to the Kashmir willow bats.

English willow bats favour fair stroke play from a batsman’s perspective and are the popular choice amongst professional cricketers. Kashmir willow bats are suitable for beginners to intermediate levels.

The number of grains: Manufacturers usually specify the number of grains the bat is made of, Bats with more grains indicates good quality, but unfortunately, they are not the most durable. On the other hand, bats with fewer grains are durable, but there is a dip in quality.  

We have to mention that this is not the thumb rule as some premium bats have fewer grains with excellent quality. With that thought in mind, one should pick up bats with consistent grain spacing, and the grain profile on the front and rear of the bat should match.

Handle of the Bat – As a batsman, you want to choose a bat that you can grip comfortably. A good handle can absorb shocks, especially those high impact fast balls.  

 Nowadays, there are bats available with cane and/or carbon inserted into the bat handle that make it better adaptable in shock absorption and are lighter on the hands. Some handles have titanium that’s convenient for stroke play.

Short vs. Long Handle – The popular choice is the short handle bat. However, if the batsman is tall, over 6 ft 2′ in height, we recommend the long handle bats (See table above to decide on this factor).

Bat Grip: Never play with a bare handle bat, as they are prone to slippage, have lesser shock absorption, and can cause injury. Most bats are available with rubber grips; if one feels that the grip is not adequate, he can always opt for additional grips as per requirements. The down side of course, is that it would marginally increase the weight of the bat.

The bat’s sweet spot – this is the area on the bat which is the thickest. Most bats for beginners to intermediate level have the sweet spot around the centre of the bat.

This does work well for most players, as one develops his/her gameplay, and with experience, the batsman could choose a bat where the sweet spot matches his/her stroke play.

Bat weight: The English willow bats tend to be lighter than the Kashmir counterparts. True that heavier bats are more conducive for stroke play and for hitting those fours and sixes. However, it’s also dependent on the batsman’s strength and timing.  

As a user, you don’t want to be choosing a bat that is heavy and conventionally believed to be better for stroke play when you would be more comfortable with a lighter bat that you could better handle and deliver the same results.

We favour picking up a bat with the correct sweet spot rather than factoring the weight alone. If one has to decide on weight alone, bats below 1.2 Kgs are our recommended choice.

Factor in the type of ball – In Indian Tennis and rubber  balls are most commonly used unless, of course, you play professional leather ball cricket.

When it comes to tennis or rubber ball cricket, choose Kashmir willow, or Plastic alloy bats. If it’s a more professional environment involving a leather ball, then English willow bats are the ideal choice.

Toe Guard – The toe of the bat is not as strong as the middle portion of the bat. This makes the lower portion of the bat more prone to dents or could even get split in a worst-case scenario.

Most premium bats have a toe guard; if not available, one can easily fit a toe guard to make the bat more durable.