How Do You Select a Cricket Bat?

We have had plenty of young cricketers attend the centre with the wrong cricket bat. When I say the wrong bat it could be the incorrect size, weight or even the wrong type of willow. All these variables can have a massive impact on a player’s performance.

Type of Willow

Let's start with the type of willow (wood). There are two types of willow commonly used for manufacturing cricket bats - English (White) Willow and Kashmir Willow. Willow is the only type of wood that can provide the strength and compression needed for a cricket bat. There are big differences in the performance of the two types of willow.  Firstly, English Willow trees are grown in England whereas Kashmir Willow is grown in the Kashmir area of north west India. English willow is specifically grown for manufacturing cricket bats and they are visibly different to Kashmir willow bats. English willow is white while Kashmir willow is brownish in colour. Kashmir willow bats are heavier than English willow bats and much cheaper to buy. They don’t 'ping' like English willow bats and junior cricketers certainly don’t get the value for their shots with Kashmir Willow bats..

Willow Grading & Cost

Some cricket bats cost more than others because willow comes in different grades. As a rule of thumb, the softer (narrow grain) willow has excellent performance qualities but has a shorter lifespan, whereas the harder (broader grain) willow tends to last longer but takes time before you get optimum performance from it. All bats are made from a natural material so the grain structure can vary.  Every piece of willow is graded as follows:

Very best Grade 1+ English Willow - This is the best willow that money can buy. The blade is unbleached and usually has 8 to 12 blemish free straight grains. The price of one of these bats can be in excess of $1000 for a full sized (short handle) blade. It is very rare that Junior bats are produced using Grade 1+ Willow. This level of willow is also referred to as Players Grade.

Grade 1 English Willow - High quality unbleached English willow. As above but with a slightly broader grain and sometimes a slight red edge.  Typically 7-10 straight grains on the face. 

Grade 2 English Willow - Unbleached English willow with some minor blemishes, red wood on the edge and a slight irregular grain. Again, can be 6 to 10 grains.

Grade 3 Willow - Some of these bats will be bleached English willow to cover up a more irregular grain and more blemishes.

Grade 4 Willow - This will be bleached English willow which is often covered up with a protective facing and sold as "non oil" bat.

Kashmir Willow - Kashmir Willow is harder and generally heavier than English Willow, so doesn't perform as well.  This type of bat is ideal as a starter bat for use against a softer ball (Incrediballs, tennis or taped ball, Wonderballs etc.) For these reasons they are cheap to buy and a lot of Rookie level or Under 12 C and D grade players use them. Players don't get the optimum outcome when they hit a leather cricket ball with these bats. 

BAT SIZE
Bat size depends on the height and age of the player. The table below is a useful guide. 

Bat Size
Approx Age
Height of Batter Bat Length in cms Bat Width in cms
0
3-4
to 123cm
62.8 to 64.7
9.5
1
4-5
123-130cm
67.9
9.5
2
6-7
130-137cm
70.1
9.5
3
8
137-145cm
73
9.6
4
9-11
145-150cm
75.9
9.6
5
10-12
150-157cm
78.8
10.2
6
11-13
157-163cm
81.1
10.2
Harrow
12-14
163-175cm
82.8
10.4
Full SH
15+
175-188cm
85.2
10.8
Full LH
15+
over 188cm
87
10.8


WEIGHT
The weight of the cricket bat is very important and can have huge impact on the performance of a player. A heavy bat for a young player will make it hard to lift and swing which will limit their ability to play horizontal blade shots like the cut and pull. Senior players make the same mistake and you should never buy a bat without the player picking it up. Bats might tip the scales at the same weight but depending on the shape of the blade they can pick up very differently. As a guide, senior bats can weigh anywhere between 2lb 6ozs to 3lb 2ozs.


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Praneeth V wrote:
9 Mar 4:39am
The part that Kashmir willow is dryer than EW is wrong I believe. KW is heavier because they have more moist than EW.

Also, KW is less in performance when compared to EW, but have more endurance and long lasting.
NotGonna TellU wrote:
30 Dec '23 2:18pm
Is I bleached or bleached grade 4 English willow better?
Fatima Zaheer wrote:
21 Sep '23 7:59pm
Is this English willow that has been grown in England or English willow that has been grown in Pakistan?
Dutoit Visser wrote:
16 Feb '22 11:44pm
What is a good method to determine the bat
Weight for my son. He plays first team and loves batting. He only turns 16 today and is 1.83m. He opens bowling for his and hence a allrounder. He is not as strong as a 20+ year old but the same height. I want to buy him a good bat that is not to heavy, as the Kookaburra bat he currently playes which
Is far to heavy.
James Anthony wrote:
15 Aug '21 5:45am
Cricket bats are divided based on the willows they are made. They are English Willow cricket bats and Kashmir willow cricket bats. If you don't have any idea, check out cricketstoreonline.com for details.