Choosing a Cricket Bat
Also known as: how to choose a cricket bat, buying a cricket bat, cricket bat buying guide, which cricket bat should I buy, picking a cricket bat
Choose a cricket bat by size first, then weight and pickup, then willow and profile. Size goes by your height, using the maker's chart. The bat should feel light and balanced in your stance, not just light on the scales. English willow suits hard-ball cricket. Kashmir willow suits beginners and soft-ball play.
Bat size is based on the player's height. Makers publish charts that run from size 0 for small children up to adult short handle and long handle. A quick check is to stand in your stance with the toe of the bat against the outside of your back foot. The top of the handle should line up with the inner groin of your front leg. Weight comes next. Bat makers say how a bat feels in your hands matters more than the number on the scales. That feel is called the pickup.
English willow is the traditional choice for hard-ball cricket. Kashmir willow is denser and more durable but lacks some of the 'ping' of English willow. Willow grade mostly describes how the wood looks: its grain, colour and marks. Profile describes where the thickest part of the blade, the middle, sits. A low middle suits front-foot players on low, slow pitches. A high middle suits back-foot players on quicker pitches. A mid middle is the all-round choice.
Every bat must meet Law 5 of the Laws of Cricket. The overall length can be no more than 38 in (96.52 cm). The blade also has limits on width, depth and edge thickness. Laminated bats, known as Type D, may join up to three pieces of wood. The Laws allow them only at levels set by each country's governing body. From 1 October 2026 that can include open-age cricket, not just junior cricket. If you are starting out or playing recreational cricket, an entry-level bat is a sensible choice. Whatever you buy, knock it in before using it against a hard ball.
Tips by skill level
Try several bats in your stance. Play a few shadow shots with each and pick the one you can swing freely and control, not the heaviest or most expensive.
Match the profile to your game and your pitches. Front-foot drivers on slow pitches often prefer a lower middle. Back-foot players on bouncy pitches often prefer a higher one.
Example
A 12-year-old moving up to hard-ball cricket is 4 ft 10 in tall. Using the maker's chart, his parents choose a size 4 English willow bat. They check he can hold it out at arm's length with his top hand.
Why it matters
The right bat makes good technique easier. A bat that is too big or too heavy drags the hands, slows the swing and can build bad habits.
Common mistakes
- Buying a bat that is too big or too heavy for a junior to grow into
- Choosing on the weight printed on the label rather than how the bat picks up
- Using a new bat against a hard ball before it has been knocked in
- Paying for a top grade when the player is starting out and an entry-level bat would do
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a cricket bat?
Start with size, using the maker's height chart. Then choose a weight you can control, judging the pickup in your stance rather than the number on the label. English willow suits hard-ball cricket and Kashmir willow suits beginners. Pick a profile that matches how you bat.
What cricket bat should a beginner buy?
A beginner or recreational player does not need a top-grade bat. A correctly sized entry-level bat that feels light in the hands is a sensible start. Kashmir willow suits juniors starting with a soft ball. A lower-grade English willow bat suits hard-ball cricket.
What is the maximum size of a cricket bat?
Under Law 5, a bat can be no more than 38 in (96.52 cm) long. The blade can be at most 4.25 in (10.8 cm) wide and 2.64 in (6.7 cm) deep, with edges up to 1.56 in (4.0 cm). It must also pass through the official bat gauge.
Sources
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 5.7 (Bat size limits) and Law 5.8 (Categories of bat), pp. 22-23; Appendix B.7 (Type D bats), p. 162
- MCC: new edition of the Laws from 1 October 2026, legalising laminated bats in open-age cricket (posted 3 Feb 2026)
- Gray-Nicolls: How do I choose a cricket bat? (pickup, profile, budget)
- Gray-Nicolls: How to choose a junior bat (Kashmir willow for soft-ball juniors, English willow for hard ball)
- Kookaburra: Kashmir willow bats (density, durability, ping)
- Kookaburra: junior bat selector (stance height check and top-hand weight test)
Related terms
- Cricket Bat SizesCricket bat size is chosen by height, not age. Junior bats run from size 0 to size 6, then Harrow, and adult bats come in sizes such as short handle and long handle. A 10-year-old usually needs a size 3 or 4, depending on height. In your stance, the top of the handle should line up with the inner groin of your front leg.
- Bat Weight and PickupBat weight is what the bat weighs on the scales. Pickup is how heavy it feels when you lift it in your stance. It depends on how the weight is spread along the bat. Choose a bat you can swing freely and control. A simple check is holding it out at arm's length with your top hand.
- English Willow GradesEnglish willow grades describe how the wood in a bat's blade looks, mainly its grain, colour and marks. Higher grades have straighter, more even grain and fewer blemishes. Lower grades show more coloured wood, knots or specks. Each maker uses its own scale. Compare bats by feel and pickup as well as grade.
- Kashmir WillowKashmir willow is willow grown in the Kashmir region and used for many entry-level and junior bats. It is naturally denser and more durable than English willow but lacks some of its 'ping'. It suits beginners, juniors and soft-ball cricket. English willow is the usual choice for regular hard-ball play.
- Knocking In a Cricket BatKnocking in compresses the fibres in a new willow bat so it is less likely to crack against a hard ball. Tap the face and edges with a bat mallet or an old ball in a sock, starting gently and building up. Allow several hours. One major bat maker advises at least 4 to 6 hours.
- BackliftThe backlift is the upward movement of the bat before the batter plays a stroke — the height, direction, and angle of the backlift influence bat path and ultimately the direction of the shot.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.