The Complete Cricket Bat Buying Guide 2025
Made for players. Backed by those who play.
Picking Your Cricket Bat
When you pick up a bat, it should feel natural. The weight. The shape. The balance through your hands. It's not just kit. It's your rhythm. Whether you're building an innings or going big, the right blade brings everything together. It flows with your movement. It responds when it matters. And when it feels right, it's yours.
This guide keeps it simple. Just the bats we trust at Pro:Direct Cricket. Chosen with purpose. Used by players. Delivered fast.
Start with the one that feels right in your hands. That's where your game begins.
What the Pro:Direct Cricket Office Looks For in a Bat
“As soon as you pick it up, you just know when it is right for you. Some want a light pickup to maneuver the field and pick the gaps. Others want the weight to help them power the ball to the boundary. If it swings clean and feels right, that's your bat.”
It’s not just about specs. It’s about feel. Every bat in this guide has passed that test, picked by the cricketers in our office who live it week in, week out.
Quick Bat Finder
Don’t overthink it. Start here. Match your style to the blade that fits — then dig deeper below.
| Style | Best Bats | Pickup |
|---|---|---|
| All-Round | Kookaburra Kahuna, Gray-Nicolls Stratos | Balanced |
| Power | Chase Vortex, DSC Split, New Balance DC | Heavier |
| Lightweight | DSC Pearla, Newbery Kudos | Light |
| Control | adidas Incurza Control, GM Psyche | Smooth |
Pick your playstyle. The right bat will do the rest.
Know Your Bat Shape
- Mid Blade: Balanced feel, suits strokeplayers all around the wicket
- Low Swell: Best for front-foot power and aggressive intent
- High Spine: Keeps weight central and controlled for back-foot shots
- Concaved Profile: Weight taken out of the back of the blade without losing edge size, adds balance
- Full Profile: More wood behind the ball, more punch in the shot but adds weight
You know the profiles. You know what suits your swing. Whether you like it light and fast through the hands or heavy with a high middle, you've got a feel for what works. Now it's time to back it.
Every bat below has been selected with purpose. Stocked, tested, and trusted by players who live this game day in, day out. From touch players who time it late to big hitters who clear the rope, there's a shape here that fits your style.
Balanced pickup. Clean contact. Power where you need it. These are bats that turn feel into flow and instinct into timing.
Shape it your way. When the blade feels right, everything follows.
Gunn & Moore Cricket Bats
Crafted in Nottingham and shaped with GM’s DXM milling process, these bats are engineered for repeatability and finished for feel. Clean looks. Sharp shapes. Ready to go from the first net.
- Diamond: Inspired by Ben Stokes. Mid swell, thick edges, serious control
- Psyche: Sharp and light. Mid-to-low profile made for confident timing
- Verva: Massive low middle which means boundless power to dominate the bowler
From control to chaos — GM’s lineup covers every style of player.
Gray-Nicolls Cricket Bats
Where heritage meets innovation. Gray-Nicolls continues to evolve with pro-tested shapes and game-changing handle tech — perfect for the modern player chasing precision and power.
- Stratos: Mid-middle with a long swell perfect for maximum bat speed
- Ventus: Mid-low swell, devastating power — based on the favoured “pro player” shape
- Neocore: New handle tech offsets bat weight — bigger bats with lighter feel
Innovation backed by legacy. These bats carry both weight and pedigree.
Kookaburra Cricket Bats
Kookaburra bats have shaped cricket history. Built for power, dominance, and balance, they carry the energy of legends — and the tools to create your own legacy.
- Kahuna: Iconic and dynamic — big edges, high spine, minimal concaving
- Ghost: Big bow, thick edges, and a lower middle — a dominating profile
- Stealth: Low middle with a shorter blade and longer handle — maximum power
Responsible for some of the most iconic bats in the game — ingrained in cricket culture.
DSC Cricket Bats
Rising fast and hitting hard. DSC bats bring energy, intent, and serious presence to the crease. Lightweight feel. Heavy-hitting performance.
- Split: Full mid-low profile. Made for aggressive players
- Pearla: Elongated sweet spot for great balance and manoeuvrability
- Blu: Hard-hitting profile with a tapered toe for greater balance
If you want to lead with intent, DSC bats are built to back you.
adidas Cricket Bats
The three stripes don’t miss. adidas bats are precision-built with a focus on feel, flow, and finishing shots clean. Bold shapes. Confident design. All-in on intent.
- Incurza Control: As the name suggests — made for accurate and precise shot making
- Incurza Heat: Mid-low sweet spot, designed to attack and dominate
When adidas steps in, you know the standard is high.
New Balance Cricket Bats
Trusted by the best in the world — Joe Root, Steve Smith — New Balance bats bring a perfect balance of pickup, power, and pro-level consistency.
- TC: Joe Root’s bat of choice — Mid blade swell, made for balance and dominance
- DC: Low middle made for more power
- Heritage: Full shape and thicker handle — adds power and control to your game
Used by the best. Built to deliver when it matters most.
Chase Cricket Bats
Handmade in Hampshire, Chase bats are crafted with purpose. From weight distribution to willow grade, every detail is shaped for performance. Traditional feel, modern fire.
- FLC: Top-grade willow, mid-low swell. Pure control and feel
- Vortex: Short blade and long handle. Made to clear the boundary
- A-10: New for 2025. Shorter blade, thicker swell yet picks up like a dream
Engineered to perform. Handmade to feel personal.
Newbery Cricket Bats
A brand that breathes cricket. Newbery bats carry legacy in every grain, but move with the modern game — built for timing, touch, and the ones who value feel over force.
- Navarone: Full profile and low swell — made for clean striking
- Kudos: Light and balanced — great for touch players who time the ball
A historic brand with an unrivalled legacy — and the balance to match.
Cricket Bat FAQs
What is the best cricket bat for beginners?
No need to break the bank. Just find the profile and weight that feels right in your hands. The best bat is the one that suits your game.
Which cricket bat is best for power hitters?
There’s no single “power bat,” but some profiles pack more punch. Look at the Chase Vortex, Gray-Nicolls Ventus, GM Verva, and Kookaburra Ghost — all built with low swells, big edges, and serious intent.
How do I choose the right cricket bat weight?
Light bats (2lb 6oz–2lb 9oz) are great for younger players or those who play with touch and placement. Heavier bats (2lb 10oz+) suit strong players looking to clear the ropes. But the real secret? Pickup. Some bats feel lighter than their weight, others feel heavier — trust how it moves in your hands more than the number on the scale.
What's the difference between English willow and Kashmir willow?
English Willow - Grown in England, this is the willow trusted by pros. It's softer than Kashmir willow, which means a more responsive feel and a lighter pick-up. English willow bats are graded on how they look as well as how they perform, but even lower grades can still offer top-level performance when knocked in properly.
Kashmir Willow - Kashmir willow shares many characteristics with English willow but tends to be denser and harder. That makes it feel a little less responsive off the bat, but still more than capable of finding the boundary. A solid choice for players on a budget, and a great alternative if you're just starting out or building up your game.
Which handle type should I choose: oval or round?
Oval Handle: Offers control and stability. Reduces bat twist on impact — perfect for players who drive straight or through the V.
Semi-Oval Handle: A hybrid feel. Adds balance and control with just enough give for flexibility. A popular pick for all-rounders.
Round Handle: Suits players with a wristy technique. Allows for maximum manoeuvrability — ideal for flicks, sweeps, and subcontinent-style play.
Handle shape changes the feel — pick the one that fits your grip, your shots, your flow.
Ready to Find Your Bat?
This is your line-up. Every bat at Pro:Direct Cricket is chosen by players who know the game. We back the brands that bring quality, feel, and performance.
Adult and junior sizes, ready to ship with next-day delivery.
Complete your kit with batting gloves, batting pads, and bags that match your style. Then tag @prodirectcricket when you walk out for your first knock of the season.
Unlock sport. This is your season.
