THE JUNIOR CRICKET BAT BUYING GUIDE
By AJ Sports
Selection of a cricket bat is possibly the most exciting but also the most technical part of purchasing
cricket equipment. Choosing the right bat for the right age is essential for developing the technique
required to progress in cricket. This is especially true for young cricketers who are just starting off in
the game but also those who have played the sport for a while but may not have had the right
guidance when purchasing equipment. The following will try and offer a few simple guidelines to
follow when making a decision on getting the right bat.
1) Type of Willow
There are predominantly two types of willow which are used to make cricket bats – Kashmir willow
and English willow.
Kashmir willow tends to be hard wood with minimal natural stroke in the bat. This means that even
though these bats can be used with a hard ball, due to a lack of stroke, the player will need to use a
lot more strength when striking the ball. Therefore Kashmir willow bats are generally recommended
for beginners using a softer ball such as incrediballs, windballs or tennis balls.
English willow is a much softer wood which offers a lot more natural stroke and ‘give’ when striking
a hard cricket ball. This willow tends to help develop the right technique where timing the strike of a
cricket ball becomes essential. English willow bats are highly recommended for players who are
using a hard cricket ball or are about to use a hard ball.
2) Size
In order to get the right size, the full length of a cricket bat should reach just below the waist. Sizes
range from size 0 to size Harrow in junior bats and up to long handle in senior bats (please refer to
the size chart below).
Having the wrong size can adversely affect the learning and development of a child’s technique and
is a fundamental part of the bat selection process.