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Top 10 Cricket Bats

Cricket is one of the many sports played around the world, and it is such a popular sporting game that it needs no introduction to show why it is a favorite of people of all ages. It doesn’t matter whose country was the first to develop this sport; it is now a global phenomenon. Cricket is a game that requires not only the talents of its players but also a decent supporting kit to play with, and as a result, each player places a premium on it before stepping to the field. Aside from the strategic game pitch, each participant looks for everything from hand gloves to head-wear to a comfy shirt and, most significantly, a decent condition bat.

Evolution of Cricket Bats

We all know that the bat and ball are the most important aspects of cricket. However, it is also crucial to note that the game of cricket has seen numerous modifications, not only in terms of rules but also in terms of equipment. As the world of cricket changed, it became necessary to upgrade the bats as well.

The number of companies that manufacture cricket sports equipment has also expanded over time. As a result, the evolution continued, and different bats manufacturing firms continued to offer new collections of bats to meet whatever demands and obstacles the players faced.

The first cricket bat is thought to have been used around 1620 when a batsman whacked a fielder with a bat to prevent him from collecting the ball. The bat resembled modern hockey sticks in shape.

In the late 1700s and early 1800s, it began to take on a rectangular shape. By that time, the rules had altered, and bowlers could now swing their arms over as they do in contemporary cricket. At that time, there were no constraints on the size and shape of the bat.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns the copyright to the Laws of Cricket, fixed the breadth of the bat at 4 and a quarter inches in the early 18th century. This followed an Englishman representing Ryegate stepping in to bat opposite Hambledon with a bat as broad as the stumps in 1771.

The bats were crafted using English Willow trees, notably the heartwood part, which was thick and thus looked darker and were estimated to cost roughly £5 at the time.

When English bat maker CC Bussey began employing sapwood trees in the late 1800s, the methodology changed. As a result, bats got lighter and hence easier to control. From then on, the production method evolved as more and more producers favored sapwood, sometimes known as ‘white willow’ back then.

At the beginning of the 20th century, players like Don Bradman, Vijay Merchant, and Wally Hammond arose. They employed bats that were comparable in size but differed in weight. The average bat was 2 lbs and 2 oz in weight.

Billy Ponsford, on the other hand, was known for his use of a 2.9-pound bat known as the “Big Bertha.” By the 1960s, however, players such as Clive Lloyd and Graeme Pollock were using bats weighing more than 3 pounds.

This caused certain shots to be tougher to play, which is why some players still favor lighter bats. The leg glance was discovered by the Great Ranjitsinhji thanks to a light bat that could readily steer against a heavier willow.

The spread of cricket to different countries contributed to the evolution of bats. Manufacturers began experimenting with local wood, and the English Willow was unsuccessfully attempted to be grown in Australia and New Zealand.

English willow trees have customarily been used to make cricket bats. It is the most durable material and provides the players with a better ‘feel’ when they strike the ball. A greater sweet spot is also possible with English willow.

In the mid-19^th century, a massive bat revolution began. In the 1970s, the first Kashmir Willow growers began to emerge. The Kashmiri willow gained popularity in India and Pakistan because it was similar in weight to the English variety; however, it was thought to be less robust. Because this is a more fragile substance, bats will not last as long, and the sweet spot will be smaller. The Kashmir willow, on the other hand, can move the cricket ball further when it strikes that sweet spot, which is why some players like it.

The major transformation occurred when bat producers began to experiment with weight distribution.

The rear of the bat featured a large depression, with additional wood around the margins. The “sweet spot” was highlighted as a result of this arrangement.” The sweet spot on a cricket bat is a location on the bat where the ball is hit with impeccable timing and accelerates off of the bat.

The sweet spot was in the center of the bottom half of the bat at the time, where the timber was dense. Consequently, the bat would now exert full power on the ball. Bats possess so many sweet spots these days that they could easily be mistaken for a bakery.

After determining the sweet spot, the effort shifted to lowering bat weight. Sachin Tendulkar and Lance Klusener, for example, employed huge bats that contributed to back ailments. As a result, the focus shifted to developing lighter bats with the same amount of power.

The willow’s dryness was regarded as a critical feature in this case. Bats became lighter while keeping the same power efficacy by reducing the moisture level of the willow. Bats these days are not as heavy as they were in the 1960s, although they have broader margins and more depth.

The bat’s durability was a major problem in the early 1900s, but it is no longer an issue. Bats’ efficiency is influenced by the length of time the wood is pressed. The bat becomes less efficient as it is pushed, but it becomes more durable. Modern bats aren’t as heavily pressured to meet the demands of cricketers; therefore, they’re less robust yet extremely effective.

Bats have altered once further with the advent of T20 cricket. Many are significantly heavier than before, with bats weighing in at around 3.2 pounds.

Two concerns caught the eye of the International Cricket Council as the new millennium progressed. The thickness of the new bats and the size of the corners were both sources of concern.

In 2017, the International Cricket Council (ICC) adopted new guidelines governing the size of cricket bats. The length stayed unaltered at 38 inches under the new regulations. Bats should not be more than 108mm wide, 67mm deep, and 40mm wide on the edges, according to the most recent legislation in metric units.

Overall, this has resulted in massive bats in the twenty-first century, largely tipping the balance in batsmen’s favor. The MCC has moved appropriately to limit bat sizes, which will take effect on October 1 this year.

The List of Top 10 Cricket Bats

Let us now discuss the top ten cricket bats used by our top players in order to gain a better understanding of them and to be certain before acquiring one.

1. Kookaburra Pace PRO

• The Kookaburra Shadow cricket equipment line includes bats for professional players, social payers, youths, and children who enjoy the game. The Pace PRO is one of the brand’s most popular bats.
• It’s also composed of the greatest quality hand-selected English willow that is dried naturally after harvesting.
• The bat has a massive profile but, unexpectedly, is incredibly light.
• It features a handcrafted design and an optimal power pick-up ratio.
• It has an English Willow blade and is rated a grade 1 bat. It has a weight range of 1-1.1 kg.
• It has a 13-cm width, a 62-cm height, and a 5-cm depth.
• This bat was designed with new-age stroke creators in mind.
• Its dynamic power curved face makes it easier to play forceful strokes.
• The bat has a Sarawak cane handle and a Big Edge Square edge profile but surprisingly features a light pick-up that offers mobility.
• It may be purchased with its bat cover and is intended for Advanced, Recreational, and Intermediate players.
• Kookaburra bats are mostly used by Australian players, including former Australian captain Ricky Ponting and other players like Maxwell and Chris Rogers, to name a few.

Used and promoted by: Simon Katich (Australia)

2. Spartan CG Authority

• The Spartan CG Authority is one of the top cricket bats in the market, with players from all over the world using it. Furthermore, this bat has been built to withstand even the most destructive force of the most powerful stroke makers.
• It has been designed in such a way that it is ideal for current cricket’s power-hitting approach.
• The Cg Authority Cricket Bat is an English Willow Grade 1+ bat.
• Its Mid-Sweet Spot assures edge thickness and side profiling for power and precision, as does its whole profile.
• The Extra-Thick Toe renders Outstanding execution.
• The flat front with minimal curvature ensures a uniform dispersion for precise positioning.
• Slightly bowing the pick-up creates a perfectly balanced pick-up with more power.
• A 9-piece cane is used to construct the bat.
• It features a square toe, which helps to distribute weight and force during the swing.
• It’s the best bat for hitters with a lot of aggression.

Used and promoted by: Chris Gayle (West Indies)

3. Reebok Centurian English Willow

• Reebok is a well-known sports equipment manufacturer that offers a high-end bat line. The Centurian is regarded as one of the best cricket bats produced by Reebok.
• The bat is constructed in a conventional manner, with a substantial shape, but its pick-up is surprisingly light.
• To create this bat, Reebok combines the experience of the top designers with the most up-to-date bat technology.
• The Reebok Centurian English Willow Cricket Bat is composed of high-grade English willow, ensuring long-term durability.
• There are 8 to 12 straight grains in this cricket bat.
• It has a curved blade with thick margins.
• The imported 9 piece cane handle on this Reebok bat delivers exceptional shock absorption and jerk-free play.
• This bat weighs between 1180 and 1250 grams.

Used and promoted by: Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, and Gautam Gambhir (India)

4. SS Ton Gladiator

• Sunridges is a cricket bat manufacturer in India that has been around for a long time. It has a lot of reputation and popularity among domestic cricketers. The SS Ton Gladiator is a highly sought-after bat due to its exceptional power, balance, and impact.
• It’s composed of hand-selected super grade I English Willow, and the handle is made of a Sarawak combination cane, which increases power while also absorbing shock.
• SS maintains the moisture content in this bat well so that the player achieves the optimal amount of moisture in the bat, resulting in maximum longevity and output.
• The weight of the bat ranges between 1140 and 1240 grams.
• Any bat’s handle is crucial, and it must be robust and lasting enough to withstand the heavy impact induced by a ball strike. It should also transmit as much energy as possible to the cricket ball. To create the bat, SS employed a 12-piece cane handle.

Used and promoted by: Shikhar Dhawan (India) and Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka).

5. Adidas Libro 5.0

• Adidas is a well-known name in the sports world for producing a wide range of sports-related products, including excellent cricket bats.
• The Libro 5.0 is among the most sought-after bats in world cricket, with excellent pick-up and balance attributed to outstanding edges.
• It is manufactured of Grade-B English willow and is ideal for cricketers who prefer to play in an attacking stance. It has distinctive visuals that are pleasing to the eye.
• This Adidas Libro 5.0 bat was released in 2018 and weighed around 1170-1200 gms. The bat profile was created with the most recent game laws in mind, as evidenced by the fact that it has a 34 to 38 mm edge, generating full power to hits.
• The bat grip is also vital, and this bat has a relatively easy Sarawak cane grip that provides the finest balance of firmness and mobility, enabling effective transfer of energy from the blade to the cricket ball.

Used and promoted by: Kevin Petersen (England), Sachin Tendulkar, and Ravindra Jadeja (India).

6. Gray Nicolls Kaboom

• Grays and Nicolls merged to become the new Gray-Nicolls, which is based in Robertsbridge and is a highly regarded English cricket equipment and clothing business, as well as a unit of Grays International. Colored bat labels were first introduced by this company.
• Because of its outstanding balance, lightweight design pick-up, and strong edge, the Gray-Nicolls Kaboom can perform at any level.
• This bat is made of fine Kashmir willow, and it was created with David Warner’s input to allow for power play and powerful shots.
• This bat is approximately 1 kg in weight, with a width of 10.41 cm, a height of 84.07 cm, and a depth of 10 cm.

Used and promoted by: David Warner, Alastair Cook, and Cameron White.

7. Puma Evopower

• Puma SE, also known as Puma, is a German multinational business that produces a variety of sports equipment. In 1948, Rudolf Dassler established this company. It is well known for its athletic shoes and gear, as well as casual footwear.
• Its cricket bat has manufactured of grade A unbleached English Willow and is considered one of the best in the industry.
• The bat’s handle is crafted of Puma-specific cane, which has a significant impact on power, balance, and precision.
• The Puma bat weighs between 600 and 1 kg and is usually below 1160 grams, despite the fact that it comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, making it appropriate for even the most powerful batters on the field.
• This bat’s base plate is approximately 11 cm in diameter, and its Chevron grip provides optimal stability even when we start to sweat.

Used and promoted by: Adam Gilchrist (Australia), Yuvraj Singh (India), and Brendon MacCullum (New Zealand).

8. Gunn and Moore Icon

• GM, or Gunn & Moore, has been making cricket bats for over 125 years and employs some of the top artisans in the world.
• GM is the only brand capable of combining cutting-edge DXM technology with 125 years of cricket bat manufacturing expertise.
• The GM icon is built of the most advanced materials and features an unrivaled design.
• This bat’s form is extremely concave, making it ideal for hitters.
• It has a Treble spring multi-piece cane handle that is not only flexible but also provides excellent grip.
• It has a mid-to-high swell, making it ideal for all-around use.
• This bat has a mid-to-high swell, making it ideal for all-around use.
• Its ToeTek finish makes it a beauty to see, and along with a weight of over two pounds, this is a lighter bat that one might want to try if one is a tough player who doesn’t have the power to clear the boundaries consistently.

Used and promoted by: Shane Watson (Australia), Ross Taylor (New Zealand), and Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa).

9. Sanspareils Greenlands Savage Xtreme

• Sanspareils Greenlands, or SG, is the biggest manufacturer of cricketing equipment. It is also India’s most popular cricket gear brand. This manufacturer has now released a bat with a mid-level protrusion that is suitable for players who enjoy improvising.
• The blade of the SG Savage Xtreme is composed of high-quality English willow, while the handle is made of high-quality imported Sarawak cane, which improves control and power.
• It has a classic shape and style that provides optimal stability when playing shots.
• It has a flat shape with no concavity, making it ideal for ground shots.
• This bat has a 40mm edge, which is perfect for stroke creators.
• Its weight ranges from 1160 to 1200 grams approximately.
• It has a full-size length of around 85.7 cm.
• It also contains up to 8 straight grains, which help to improve the sweet areas on the front face.

Used and promoted by: Hardik Pandya and Suresh Raina (India).

10. Kookaburra Kahuna

• Kookaburra is a cricket bat manufacturer that is famous among cricketers from all around the globe. It boasts a vast variety of bats, with the Kahuna being the greatest of the bunch.
• With a blade crafted of premium Kashmiri willow and a 12-piece circular Sarawak cane handle, the Kookaburra Kahuna is unquestionably one of the finest.
• It also has a distinctive toe shield that is great for absorbing moisture.
• It offers a large hitting surface with uniform, evenly separated grains that combine light pick-up with excellent power and create maximal knock.
• Its perfect layout and square face, along with the border width and gorgeous bow, help create exquisite sweeps.
• Owing to the use of high-grade Kashmir willow, this bat is incredibly light, weighing only about 1090 gm.
• It is long-lasting and provides consistent control.
• It renders excellent shot control thanks to the imported Sarawak cane utilized in the handle.
• It has a 40mm flat face that is able to create additional power when necessary.

Used and promoted by: AB de Villiers (South Africa) and Ricky Ponting (Australia).

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