8 best cricket bats that are worth getting your whites on for

Best: Overall

The Tour de Force is a bat that really should command a much higher price. Handmade in Woodstock’s Shropshire workshop, bats are made using the same processes that founder John Newsome used in his back garden workshop more than a decade ago. The Tour de Force was recently rated highly in Cricketer Magazine’s “Gear of the Year” issue, and we can see why: it’s bulky without being too heavy, with a large swell towards the toe that produces explosive hitting, perfect for front foot players. It also happens to look beautiful, coming in 10 different colour ways. There’s a quintessentially English feel to the Tour de Force, perfect for striding in to bat – and if you’re like us, most likely swiftly striding back to the clubhouse. At least you’ll look good doing so.

Best: To channel Joe Root

If it’s good enough for the England captain, it’s good enough for us. Joe Root’s bat of choice when stepping out to the crease, the TC 1260 is made from Grade 1 English willow. Those of us who like to swat away at bouncers will gain confidence from the high placement of the sweet spot and the resulting light pick-up will help us ping it along the floor to the boundary (in theory).

Best: Budget bat

It’s astounding that Newbery has managed to include everything it has in the N-Series for under £100. The bat has a huge profile, considering its price, with thick edges and a weighty toe. Its low sweet spot helps batters with a solid, strong connection, and Newbery gives customers a choice of 11 colour ways to customise their batting experience. It’s a very handy bat at an even handier price, perfect for late-order batters or those just beginning their cricketing life.

Best: For Twenty20

A maximum weight of 2lb 8 1/2 oz makes Kookaburra’s Kahuna Lite a matchstick maestro, perfect for players who need to score runs as quickly as humanly possible. The shorter blade and longer handle are geared towards this rapid scoring, creating faster bat speed and momentum. The oval grip also ensures that bat movement in the hand is kept to a minimum – until you hit a particularly good six that needs a showman’s twirl.

Best: For playing well and doing good

Willow Twin’s hand-made bats are among the most beautiful available, with stunning designs and quality materials. Our pick of the bunch is the Triton, combining a long profile and sharp spine with a generous sweet spot bang in the middle of the blade to offer a bat for the true all-rounder.

Besides the obvious quality of the brand’s bats, there’s an extra incentive to invest. When you buy a bat from the range, you become a “Willow Twin”, directly supporting a young person from the Change Foundation with your purchase. The Foundation’s programmes train, educate and support young people on the path to employment and personal fulfilment, all through playing the sport we love. Not a bad feeling to have every time you put on the whites.

Plus, right now you can pay just £1 – yes, you read that right – to try the bat before you buy.

Best: For Ashes reenactment

The Diamond profile of bats from lauded English bat maker Gunn & Moore was designed with one of England’s greatest all-rounders, Ben Stokes, in mind. You can see how his signature approach to the game comes through in the bat: the shorter blade and large sweet spot combine to produce a bat that will go anywhere and do anything you want it to. We can’t promise that you’ll quite manage to reenact Stokes’s magnificent 135 not out against Australia, but with this bat in your hand, you’ll definitely fancy yourself to give it a go.

Best: For handsy players

The Burn range has been a mainstay for New Balance for a while now, and we can see why. The blade is shorter than average, giving batters with quicker hand speed even more of an advantage. The sweet spot lands right in the middle, its versatility offering the opportunity to play all around the wicket with a consistent connection. This is for the handsy batter who’s noticed the opposition captain sneaking an extra slip in behind them.

Best: For junior players

When it comes to cricket, Gray-Nicolls is a name that you can trust. Many of the game’s finest players have used the brand’s bats and equipment, with Amelia Kerr and Sirs Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss all preferring the storied English label. There’s no brand better placed to start as a junior, and our pick is the blue MAAX 5 Star. It’s on the heavier side for a junior bat, but the large mid sweet spot helps heft any stray balls to the boundary and there’s a balance that creates a super-light pick-up. This bat is for enthusiastic youngsters that want to get to the crease ready to hit for the rope.