Gray Nicolls Nova XE Junior Cricket Bat

Choosing a cricket bat comes down to four things: size, weight, willow and how it feels in your hands.

• Size: most adults use a Short Handle bat. For juniors, choose by height, and if they're between sizes, go smaller.
• Weight: pick the heaviest bat you can swing comfortably for a whole innings, not the heaviest you can lift.
• Willow: English willow is lighter and livelier for hard-ball cricket. Kashmir willow is tougher and more affordable, great for a first bat.
• Knocking in: a new English willow bat needs knocking in before you face a leather ball, unless it's sold as Play Now or Match Ready.

Read the full cricket bat buying guide

Prefer to talk it through? Visit us at Western Sports Centre in Derrimut or call 0450 227 972.