The Cricketer Good Gear Guide 2018

2018

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Welcome to the Good gear guide 2018 The first time I ever went round a bat manufacturers, I was fascinated.

It was the Slazenger factory in Yorkshire.

As a London lad brought up in a theatrical world of ‘luvvies’, I had never seen real manual labour before, except in a Laurel and Hardy film (the one in the timber yard where they keep walking into wood planks and finally their car is cut in half by a giant saw).

At Slazenger I was riveted by the presses and lathes and men with very sharp planes scooping shavings off the back of raw bats and the way the handle was carefully inserted and glued into the blade. I liked the painstaking nature of it all.

Bat manufacturing is more advanced now, and yet at Test grounds you can still visit the Gray-Nicolls stand and watch Alex Hohenkerk using traditional tools to sculpt a superb blade from virgin wood. Every bat is still lovingly crafted. It must be a very satisfying art to create a wonderbat from a piece of wood and see a cover drive whistle off it to the fence.

There are a bewildering variety of bats to choose from, and yet sports shops are not only harder to find but also more and more crammed with kit, so there’s precious little space even to

shadow-bat, never mind hit a few underarms back at your mate. (Someone should invent a small bat-testing cage for safe experimentation at the back of a shop.) With some bats now retailing at over £500 you can’t really expect: a) the shop to allow any old jock to have a few hits with it; and b) the purchaser to part with such amounts on a promise alone.

So that’s where the Good gear guide is invaluable. We do all the hitting for you. We are an assortment of people who have been around the game for 30 years or more and we’ve all tried every bat ever invented.

And the good news is that we found very few duds – or should I say ‘planks’ – in our testing.

All the bats that I tried – except one – were excellent. Some were heavier and less well balanced than others, some were ugly, some felt a little more like a railway sleeper than a bat, but all sent the ball flying off the middle in the general direction it was intended to go.

So rest assured: pretty much any of these ‘offensive weapons’ – as the Duke of Edinburgh referred to a bat used by David Warner when he opened the new (Pelham) Warner Stand at Lord’s last year – would serve you fine. It’s all just personal preference after that.

And if you get out for nought with one, remember what they say about bad workmen and tools…

Simon Hughes Editor @theanalyst

Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations

thecricketer.com | 3

Handcrafted Professional Bats

Woodstock Cricket Company are makers of the finest hand crafted professional cricket bats and kit. We bring traditional cricketing qualities and professional craftsmanship to today’s modern, competitive game.

• • • • •

Made in Shropshire, England, from the finest English willow Bats are fitted with the highest quality 12-piece sarawak cane handles Bespoke service for those who are after a custom fit Full gear for all ages including luggage, pads, gloves and balls Used by pro & amateur cricketers around the world

Woodstock Cricket Co. Red Furlongs, Clee St Margaret, Nr Ludlow Shropshire, SY7 9EB Mobile 01584 823575 Email john@woodstockcricket.co.uk Website www.woodstockcricket.co.uk

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Contents 7

How we tested

8-10

Haberdashers’ Aske’s School

12-13

Bats out of hell

15

Bats

16-18

Bats up to £180

20-21

Bats £180–£250

22

Bat-buying tips

24-26

Bats £250–£350

28-30

Bats £350+

32-37

Boutique bats

38-39

Gunn & Moore

41

Protective equipment

42-43

Gloves and pads

44-45

Wicketkeeping kit

486

Footware

48

Kit bags

51

Coaching

52-53

Spin-bowling masterclass

54-55

Katchet

56-57

Baseball

58

Teamware

60-63

Serious Cricket

64

Notices

66-67

Classic Sportswear

68-69

Total Play

71

Stockist list

thecricketer.com | 5

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Testing times How did our testing day work?

Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School allowed us access to their world-class facilities to test the latest bats on the market. The cricket nets, called the Solai Indoor Cricket Centre, are upstairs in the impressive multi-sport Medburn Centre. Each of the 32 bats were given about 20 throwdowns from the school’s 1st XI ranging from short-pitch deliveries to half-volleys and full tosses to test out a full range of shots.

Premium-quality Grade A balls were used, with ball ages ranging from 10 to 80 overs old. Our journalists then recorded the testers’ pithy and informed observations. We must stress that we are not trying to ruin a bat’s reputation, however.

Our observations were based purely on how the bats felt on the day. The testers were also put on the spot to be asked, “If the bat was a celebrity, who would it be?” Sometimes the explanation is obvious, sometimes it is not; sometimes the testers had a long think, sometimes it was the first thing that came into their heads. It was just a bit of fun, though, so if you are a fan of Zsa Zsa Gabor, do not get offended! A couple of thank yous. Firstly to Owzat-Cricket. One of the leading cricket retailers in the UK, the bats were handpicked off the shelf, with £10,000 of equipment handed to us. Gavin Young and your team – brilliant stuff! Likewise to Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, led by Stephen Charlwood and Jamie Hewitt, the former Middlesex seamer.

Your facilities were perfect and your pupils a credit to your school – we are very grateful for your hospitality.

The testers

Alex Tudor Played 10 Tests for England, and enjoyed a long first-class career with Surrey and Essex. His high spots for England were taking 4 for 89 on debut at Perth on the 1998/99 Ashes tour, and 5 for 44, also against Australia, at Trent Bridge in 2001; and scoring 99 not out as nightwatchman against New Zealand at Edgbaston in 1999. He is cricket professional at Kimbolton School, and runs Alex Tudor Coaching. He always has a smile on his face and provided some great coaching tips and advice to the pupils, as well as relaying tales of being floored horribly by Brett Lee at Perth (1998/99), and being stranded

by Graham Thorpe a run short at Edgbaston against New Zealand in 1999.

Chris Smith Has been at The Cricketer for five years and looks after all things finance and subscriptions based. He plays for Copford in Division Two of the Essex and Suffolk league. More of a caresser of the ball – you would rather him going in at 60 for 6 than needing 20 off the last two overs.

Tom gibbs Is business development manager at The Cricketer.

Currently playing as a batting allrounder for the dubiously named Borstal Cricket Club in Kent, he spent his formative years playing for Jersey, including in World Cup qualifiers. Ideally suited to the bat testing as he performs much better in the nets than when it actually matters in a match.

Also coaching

Jim Hindson Is managing director of CricketArchive, which is owned by The Cricketer. He had a professional career with Nottinghamshire for six seasons, taking 93 first-class wickets at 32.74 with his slow left-arm. He also played in New Zealand, and now plays in the Nottinghamshire Premier League.

Simon Hughes Was a seamer who played 12 seasons for Middlesex and two for Durham. He had a Botham-esque bowling arm and was knocking on England’s door early in his early 20s. He then forged successful careers in journalism and television. He wrote the award-winning A Lot of Hard Yakka. In television he is known as The Analyst. He pioneered innovative, more technical coverage of the game as part of Channel 4’s Bafta-winning team (winning the Royal Television Society’s Sports Pundit of the Year award in 2002), before moving to Cricket on Five.

Among the schoolboys were…. School captain Naresh Rasakulasuriar, a seambowling allrounder hoping to go to Cambridge.

Before that he is closing in on 100 wickets for the school first team. Aril Pandya is the wicketkeeper, and he also plays in goal for the Great Britain Under-19 and England Under-21 water-polo teams. Luca Ignatius is a seamer who hits the ball very hard indeed.

thecricketer.com | 7

Brilliant day of testing at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School T

here are not many schools that treat cricket as No.1. It is usually football in the state sector, or rugby union in the independent.

How refreshing, therefore, to spend a day at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, in Hertfordshire.

Cricket is king here – from the nets, with impressive video facilities, to a coaching staff topped by exMiddlesex seamer Jamie Hewitt, to the square in front of the stately home, Aldenham House.

It was a perfect venue for The Cricketer’s 2018 bat-testing day, providing the words for this Good gear guide. There were 20 of the newest bats, straight

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from the Owzat‑Cricket shelves, on show, plus 12 boutique models.

Our testing team was led by Alex Tudor, who famously struck an unbeaten 99 against New Zealand at Edgbaston in 1999, and included our own Tom Gibbs, who played for Jersey, and Chris Smith, who plays to a good level in Essex. Among the schoolboys was Luca Ignatius, a seamer recovering from a stress fracture of the back. Not that you would have noticed.

My, did he give the ball a wallop!

With 10 grand’s worth of willow at their disposal, they were like youngsters in a sweetshop. There was a big variance in price among the top five bats, proving it is not always the high price tag which will send a ball smoking to the fence.

Our testers were also put on the spot to be asked, ‘If the bat was a celebrity, who would it be?’ Watch out for Anthony Joshua, Matt Damon, Jimi Hendrix, Troy Tempest, Chesney Hawkes and Daryl Hannah cropping up in unlikely places.

For five to 18-year-olds, the school, near Elstree, was founded by silk merchants and tailors in the 17th century. The most prominent of these was Robert Aske. The school has won newspaper awards for best in the country in recent years, but specifically we were there for the cricket.

One of the first things you notice when you visit the school, known as Habs Boys, are the cows.

We thought we had driven to Milton Keynes by mistake. The bovine beauties, carved in plastic and painted splendidly, pay homage to various artists, including Salvador Dali, and are scattered about the ample grounds. They were made as part of an artist-enrichment programme. It shows life is not too po‑faced here, despite the undoubted academic success. There is work and play.

photos: Geoff Barton

Tudor reigns as The Cricketer team tries out the latest bats at the Hertfordshire boys’ school, reports Huw Turbervill

Aldenham House

The cricket square

The Quad

‘We think cricket helps academic studies. It certainly helps you get jobs. People who play cricket have to be well-organised if they are going to cop with academic demands and play the game’ Hewitt, the seamer who took 170 first-class wickets at 29 for Middlesex and Kent, has been cricket professional for five years. He played for Middlesex for eight years, with Angus Fraser, Mark Ramprakash and Phil Tufnell; then had two years at Kent, alongside Mark Ealham, Matt Fleming and Joe Denly. He knows a good thing when he sees it, and told us: “Cricket is the No.1 sport here. There are bright lads and sometimes it is difficult to convince them to pursue cricket rather than become a doctor or lawyer, but either way you can come here for 10 years of quality cricket.”

That message is amplified by Stephen Charlwood, master in charge of cricket for 25 years, ensuring each summer’s fixture list, nets, purchase of balls and anything else you can think of connected to the game, run like clockwork (and he teaches maths).

“Our school has spent £18m on sport in the last four years,” he says. “We think cricket helps academic

studies. It certainly helps get you jobs. People who play cricket here have to be well-organised if they are going to cope with academic demands and play the game. Our cricketers practise throughout the year and play matches in the summer. If they are wellorganised then they tend to do very well in cricket and academically. I have worked out that over the last 10 years, the boys’ average A Level grades for those playing cricket regularly is two A stars and an A, or thereabouts.”

Hewitt and head coach Dan Kerry are following in big footsteps. Minor Counties and Devon seamer Doug Yeabsley was a legend here from 1964–2013, while both his sons, Michael (now coaching at Aldenham School) and Richard (Oxford University and Middlesex) were pupils.

Also among the school’s old boys are Roger Moulding (six blues for Oxford between 1978 and 1983) and Dean Wilson, cricket correspondent thecricketer.com | 9

The Medburn Centre

of the Daily Mirror. Gavin Baker, who just pipped Dean as the school’s leading run-scorer, was briefly contracted to Northamptonshire. Tom Edrich (grandson of Bill) was captain in 2010 and 2011. Batsman Tom Colverd played for Cambridge University, and Ashley Sivarajah (8 for 52 v MCC in 2011) was bowling his left-arm spin for MCC YCs/ Lord’s Groundstaff last summer.

“Habs offers a great opportunity to play a team sport at a good level,” adds Charlwood. “Among the schools we play are Merchant Taylors’, St Albans, Berkhamsted, and Felsted. Our junior teams (we field three in each age group and could put out more) have enjoyed success at county level and represent Hertfordshire in national competitions. And the tours are a plus: we go to Devon every summer, and every two or three years we embark on a major trip

Cricket professional Jamie Hewitt

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overseas. They can be the highlight of school careers.”

Last October Habs toured Sri Lanka, winning four games out of seven, and playing at four Test grounds – the P Sara Oval in Colombo (home of the Tamil Union Club), the iconic Galle International Stadium and the old (Asgiriya) and new (Pallekele) Kandy venues. They also played and trained at the new grounds near Hikkaduwa, built by Surrey and MCC after the 2004 tsunami.

Captain Naresh Rasakulasuriar is a seam-bowling allrounder hoping to go to Cambridge. Before that he is closing in on 100 wickets for the first team. He enjoyed Sri Lanka. “The hosts’ spinners were making it spit everywhere, their fielders were diving around all over the place, and there was lots of talk around the bat which we didn’t understand!” he told us. “But they were lovely off the field. We even played rugby with them.”

In one of the games, against Southern Academy, the tourists needed 14 to win off the last over, 12 off four balls and finally two off the last ball, the only delivery faced by the No. 11 batsman…and they managed it!

Aril Pandya is also in the nets; he is the wicketkeeper, and he also plays in goal for the Great Britain Under-19 and England Under-21 water-polo teams.

He says similar skills are needed, with hand-to-eye coordination the key. He is joining the Army on an officer scholarship.

The cricket nets, called the Solai Indoor Cricket Centre, are upstairs in the multi-sport Medburn Centre. Built in 2015 alongside the existing sports hall, it cost £13m, and also houses a 25-metre pool, squash courts, fitness suite and a climbing wall. It is run by director of sport, Ryan McIntosh, and he allows various partners to use it, including Watford Water Polo Cub, the Jamie Hewitt Cricket Academy and Middlesex CCC. Everyone seems steeped in cricket, though. We break for lunch and sit with John McGuire, the deputy head. He was taught physics at Felsted School by former Lancashire and England batsman, Frank Hayes. “There was another physics classroom going on next door,” McGuire explains. “In there it was all about the velocity of trains and cars, but with Mr Hayes, it was all about Curtly Ambrose running in!”

After lunch, we finish reviewing the remaining bats, and then the youngsters take part in some spin classes (batting against it and bowling it), led by Tudor and Simon Hughes. Jim Hindson, the ex-Nottinghamshire spinner, then leads a vibrant fielding drill, before Tudor demonstrates some spectacular range-hitting. The lads are thrilled. It was good to go out with a bang.

Bats out of hell Always try-before-you-buy when you are spending that much money, suggests Huw Turbervill 12 | thecricketer.com

A

ny experienced cricketer who buys a bat without at least lifting it up is asking for trouble… but it seems to be a mistake many of us make.

I was given a Duncan Fearnley Magnum as a youngster because Allan Border used one; it was way too hefty for me, and numerous friends have similar tales of buying bats blind.

“I picked this GM Hero up in a shop and my enthusiastic dad bought it – it was only when we took it home that I realised it was 3lbs 2oz – not the most suitable model for a beanpole of a 16-yearold!” “I once bought a mail-order bat, size six. It was, despite the fetching orange grip, the most poorly made piece of c*** I have ever bought. Ruined my cricket for two years. The balance was so bad, it was like trying to bat with an anvil.” “To solve a slight case of homesickness early on in boarding school when I was 11, my mum allowed me to choose the bat I wanted: it was a size-6 but I thought I would grow into it. I used it until the age of 17 when it finally fitted perfectly… only to break in the first game of that season!” “It was a Slazenger V12 for me. Peter Willey used one and scored more runs than Sunday Grandstand could keep up with.” “I loved my DF VR5 after watching Viv bat in the Sunday League at Bath.”

And so on…

An ideal way to choose a bat would be to take part in The Cricketer’s bat-testing day, but, alas, only a lucky few have that opportunity! This year we tried out 32 bats, 20 supplied by Owzat-cricket, and 12 that came under our ‘boutique bat’ selection – those from the smaller companies. They ranged in price from £130

for the Kookaburra Blaze to £500 for the Slazenger V100 XRI. Some had strange names, like the Jedi Zaramax (“the force is strong with this one”, perhaps) to the Bear Polar (should that not be the other way around?), to a Viking Valhalla, a vicious-sounding blade if ever there was – popular for slaying village sides in the north, maybe.

The colour schemes ranged from the conservative – the Garrard & Flack from my beloved Suffolk had modest black and silver lettering, to the Puma Evo Speed 4… orange being the new black. Garish as some are, though, the worst excesses of the mid2000s have been avoided. Who recalls the Kookaburra Beast – with not a spec of wood to be seen by the wicketkeeper? It had a ‘Carbon fibre-reinforced polymer support’ on the back, until it was deemed illegal by MCC. Aesthetically speaking, one may as well have gone around to Dennis Lillee’s garage and asked him to flog you one of his aluminium ComBats.

The cricket layman asks – can a top-of-the-range bat be worth it? Can there really be that much difference between one at about £100 and another six or seven times as much (in 2013 we tried one that cost £600)?

The answer seems to be yes. It all seems to depend on where the Salix Caerulea or Alba Var English willow has been grown. Wetland areas in the SouthEast of England seem to be popular. Tiptree seems to be an epicentre (and you thought they just made jam there!), although there are prominent nurseries in Suffolk, Norfolk, Sussex and Kent. And willow is, of course, also grown on the subcontinent, most notably in Kashmir.

The best bats are made out of trees that are grown until the age of 12–15. The process of seasoning in the open air then takes place to reduce moisture content for nine months to a year (between 20 and 22°C, with about 50 per cent humidity), although clefts are now often kiln dried.

A great deal of love and care goes into the handle as well – with layers of rubber sandwiching the wood. For anybody who doubts the craftsmanship of batmaking, the tapered splice was apparently the 1880s invention of Charles Richardson, a pupil of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, no less.

How pressed the bats are depends on how long you want them to last. It is a common misconception that pros often receive them completely unpressed according to Robert James, of Robert James Cricket.

“Each cleft is pressed to achieve its own maximum performance. Some will take a couple of runs under the press, others take 20. No piece of wood is the same.

“Also the number of grains is a contributing factor to how the bat performs. More grains mean it will play better but not last as long. Fewer grains will take longer to play in and will last longer. Do you want a Formula 1 car for performance or do you want a family car that will go for 150,000 miles?”

But then there are those who think the science of bat selection is way too pernickety. A friend who has played a lot of premier league cricket told me: “Some people look at grain width, colour, handle length: a load of rubbish in my opinion. They just need to be 2.8 and soft as f***!”

Here endeth the lesson. thecricketer.com | 13

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THE T HE GRAY-NICOLLS GRA AY-NICOLL AYLLS LL S

CLASSIC RANGE available now at

Instore

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Mobile

Zappar enabled Download the app

BATS We test 32 of the newest blades

thecricketer.com | 15

Bats

Up to £180 KOOKABURRA BLAZE 250 RRP: £140.00

Chris felt the handle was a little thin for his liking, but that could be easily remedied by rolling on a second grip. In all other respects this was a glorious experience. All our testers were delighted with the performance of bat on ball, and Tom was especially impressed with the grains and build quality. All were flabbergasted to learn that this came in cheaper than a weekly Travelcard for zones 1–3 – leading to a string of 10s in the value stakes. A swing of 1.8 on the expect-o-meter tells it all.

Value award

Weight: 2lb 8oz Edge: 36mm If it was a celebrity…

Jofra Archer

8.9 EXPECT-O-METER

Performance relative to initial impression

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Up to £180 NEWBERY

GUNN & MOORE

Newbery have a reputation for classic craftsmanship and tradition, but on first glance this one looks a bit jazzier, with its hologram sticker (Chris was not a fan of the typography). It still wasn’t attractive enough for Alex, though, who thought it looked a bit boring. When he lifted it, however, he took on a different tone. “Beautiful pick-up.” It performed well, confounding its bargain price.

“Only £140? Wow!” said Tom.

Another to dramatically out-perform its price tag.

“Looks good and plays like an expensive bat,” says Tom. “I’m feeling the colours,” says Alex.

“Yep, that was good!” Chris is the most bowled over by it.

“Purple haze! An incredible middle, unreal! No number of expletives can describe how good that was.”

Weight: 2lb 9oz Edge: 36mm

If it was a celebrity…

Jimi Hendrix

PHANTOM RRP: £140.00

HAZE LITE RRP: £150.00

Best in class

Weight: 2lb 8oz Edge: 36mm

If it was a celebrity…

Mo Salah

8.9 8.8

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Up to £180 ADIDAS

PUMA

Adidas, once indivisible from Franz Beckenbauer and his twinkle toes, are carving a trail in cricket bats now, with Tom and Sam Curran both purveyors of the three stripes. Another very white blade, leading Alex to say it was in need of a good week in Malaga. But the black and white design was certainly striking. Our testers felt this was heavier than most, and a little unforgiving, though the performance off the middle was impressive. A solid option for the occasional cricketer.

The future’s bright. The future’s orange! “Wow, I need sunglasses,” says Tom. “It’s bright! It’s striking!” He likes it, though. “Nice piece of wood, that.” It grew on Chris as well, while Alex explained: “You have to find the middle. Young kids would like it – like PAW Patrol. Not bad for the price.”

XT WHITE 5.0 RRP: £160.00

EVO SPEED 4 RRP: £160.00

Weight: 2lb 10oz Edge: 39mm If it was a celebrity…

Sadio Mane

Weight: 2lb 8oz Edge: 37mm If it was a celebrity…

Twiggy

8.0 8.3 EXPECT-O-METER

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GRAY-NICOLLS

KOOKABURRA

Tom liked the look of this one – “a nod to the classic GrayNicolls”. He says “it is refined, classic with a thin handle, looks good, I love that!” Alex also liked it, with a note that it is “broad-bottomed”. Chris was less keen, though. “It is one of the prettiest bats, but did not perform well.”

Our reviewers were heartened to know that Kookaburra had stuck with the Kahuna brand – a reassuring old faithful for biffers the world over. Punters are well used to the solid build, green livery and minimalist angles on the stickers. For a bat this hefty, it is inevitable that it picks up a little heavy at the bottom, but if you give it a swing the results are as good as ever. “It would get me through a season at the very least,” said Chris.

CLASSIC SELECT RRP: £225.00

KAHUNA 600 RRP: £225.00

Weight: 2lb 10oz Edge: 39mm If it was a celebrity…

Anna Kournikova

Weight: 2lb 18oz Edge: 40mm If it was a celebrity…

Burt Reynolds

8.6 8.5

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£180 – £250 CHASE

NEW BALANCE

With a back inspired by a fin whale, this truly is a distinctive offering from the maritime and naval county of Hampshire.

The plunge down to the toe was like going back to the 1980s, and millennial Chris was unsure how it might hold up against a new ball, though was offset by a lovely light pick-up and a reassuring ping from the middle.

New Balance has made waves in a short space of time – it helps when England Test captain Joe Root is one of your clients. The striking black and yellow livery of this mid-range bat is a real winner. A heavier pick-up than some bats, but the end product was pleasing.

Tom especially loved the two-tone wooden surface.

A solid middle-of-the-range purchase.

R7 FINBACK RRP: £240.00

DC680 RRP: £250.00

Best in class

Weight: 2lb 7oz Edge: 34mm

Value award

Weight: 2lb 8oz Edge: 37mm

If it was a celebrity…

Troy Tempest

If it was a celebrity…

Ryan Gosling

9.0

8.9

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Promotional feature

The Cricketer at the GM Factory

Buying a bat – Expert advice from England’s Best The Cricketer recently had the pleasure of visiting and having a look round Gunn and Moore’s factory in Nottingham. The whole bat-making process happens in house at GM, it is like a cricket version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – without the LSD‑ridden boat ride.

While we were there we spoke to GM Marketing Manager, Tom Coffey, to get some expert advice when it comes to purchasing a bat: How important are the number of grains, and should I buy a specific bat weight?

As a general rule, you can link the number grains and the structure of them to your budget. A blade with a straighter grain and a nice even spread of them will likely hit your pocket harder than a bat with grains that wander!

There are other factors that come into play such as pin knots and water marks, but providing these are in the right place they can add performance to your bat and potentially aid longevity. The pick up of the bat for the user is of greater significance than the scale weight, as the batter needs

22 | thecricketer.com

to feel confident that the bat in hand is attuned to their technique and style so compliments their strokeplay. You could find two bats of equal weight when measured on a scale, but will pick up differently due to the shape and distribution of the willow.

Your size and build It’s key that you’re able to wield your bat with ease. So often you see youngsters that are using cricket bats that either too big for them or too heavy. Both will adversely affect your success and therefore continued enjoyment of the game. In the early years it’s important for a youngster to have as much success as possible when hitting the ball to maximise their enjoyment and keep picking the bat up time and time again.

Size and weight play a significant part in this as both can impair technique if poorly matched to a player. The same theory applies as the youngster moves into teenage years and adulthood.

How often do you play and how does the wicket generally play at your home ground?

Some people may only play a handful of times a season, whereas others may

play twice a weekend, a couple of times midweek and then net too! This could affect your buying decision in terms of budget and number of bats in your bag! Bear in mind the conditions of the wicket at your home ground as you’ll probably be playing half your games here. If it’s fast and bouncy, you might want a bat with a higher middle than a wicket where the ball struggles to get above knee height which would be more suited to a bat with a lower swell.

Whereabouts do you bat in the order and are you a front foot or back foot player?

Generally speaking, a top order batsman will face a newer, harder ball and more often than not the quicker of the oppositions bowlers. The new ball would usually come through quicker with more bounce and carry, so if the ball’s hitting the bat higher on the blade, you might want to consider a higher swell. That said, many opening bowlers live by the ‘pitch it up and swing it’ theory which might gain more success on slower, lower wickets so if you’re striking the ball nearer the pitch of the ball a mid to low swell position would be better suited.

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02/02/2017 16:29

Bats

£250 – £350

KOOKABURRA

TON

In the year that Blade Runner has had an acclaimed reboot, there is something of the sci-fi about this striking offering from Kookaburra. Chris also has a sense of the late ’90s era, when tennis and golf manufacturers went down the graphite route. “It goes like a cannon,” says Tom, who likened the whip-crack effect to the way Daryl Hannah catapults across the apartment and tries to decapitate Harrison Ford. Stay with me…

Anyway, the Fever steals the show.

Its appearance received mixed reviews, but everyone liked it when they used it. So firstly, looks: some liked ‘TON’ stamped on the edge, some did not. Alex was “not avid about the grains, they are a bit wide apart.” Chris said: “It’s not really what I’d go for.”

Tom felt it was “a bit heavy”.

Performance was a different story, though. “Lovely pick-up; then, like a pendulum, it swung down gracefully. Seemingly the middle was everywhere,” said Chris.

FEVER 800 RRP: £255.00

PLATINUM CLASSIC RRP: £260.00

Best in class

Weight: 2lb 10oz Edge: 39mm

Weight: 2lb 10oz Edge: 38mm

If it was a celebrity…

Claire Foy

If it was a celebrity…

Daryl Hannah

8.2

8.9 EXPECT-O-METER

EXPECT-O-METER

Performance relative to initial impression

Performance relative to initial impression

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£250 – £350 GRAY-NICOLLS

GUNN & MOORE

A distinctly-built bat with a thin handle and tapered edges that Chris struggled with at first. The ball pinged out of the middle like a bullet, though. Harry found it a little unforgiving elsewhere. Most thought it represented decent value for money.

When it comes to looking for a bat, Alex had two impressive tutors – Mark Ramprakash and Alec Stewart. “They always said look for two tones.” This one fitted the bit. “It has 10 grains – it looks really good.”

But did it deliver? “Not always.”

Oh. Chris was more matter of fact. “It did what it was meant to…” And Tom was happy enough: “It was dependable.

It’s a bit straight for me… not enough bow. Nice-looking, but perhaps overshadowed by brasher brands.”

KRONUS 700 RRP: £275.00

NEON 909 RRP: £280.00

Weight: 2lb 7oz Edge: 36mm If it was a celebrity…

Audley Harrison

Weight: 2lb 10oz Edge: 40mm If it was a celebrity…

Susanna Reid

8.2 8.5 EXPECT-O-METER

EXPECT-O-METER

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£250 – £350 SF

SUMMIT CLASSIC RRP: £285.00 Chris came over all futuristic with this one. “It felt a bit hard but the reward was OK. A tool to score runs, nothing more.

A bit robotic.” Alex thought it represented “decent value but you have to knock it in well”, while Tom said “it was steady, a bit like Football Focus presenter Dan Walker”.

Weight: 2lb 8oz Edge: 39mm If it was a celebrity…

Jude Law in AI

8.0

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BEST OF 2018 SEE THE FULL COLLECTION ONLINE

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Bats

Over £350

NEWBERY

GUNN & MOORE

No shoulders! This one has popped out of a time eddy, taking us back to the days of Lance Cairns, who used a similar Newbery model.

Everyone thought it was a bit bottom heavy, but it had a great middle. “The best I have tried,” said Chris. “You need to be a strong club cricketer to get the best out if it,” concluded Alex.

A mixed set of reviews. Tom liked it, while acknowledging the price. “Very British.

Quality, but expensive – like Prince Harry.” Alex reflected how light it was, and likened it to Andy Carroll. “He’s OK… when he plays.” Chris was most disappointed. “I didn’t get on with it. It was like going into a party with high expectations, only to have a disappointing time.”

EXCALIBUR PLAYERS RRP: £355.00

ZELOS ORIGINAL RRP: £400.00

Weight: 2lb 12oz Edge: 39mm

Weight: 2lb 8oz Edge: 36mm

If it was a celebrity…

Glenn Ross

If it was a celebrity…

Gazza and Glenn Hoddle at France 98

8.1 8.7 EXPECT-O-METER

EXPECT-O-METER

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Over £350 SALIX

GRAY-NICOLLS

Most testers had about 15 shots per bat. Alex needed only three for this one. “Old-school shape, three shots enough.

That’s a good, 1,000-runs-aseason bat. You can rely on Salix.” I like Salix,” chimes in Chris. “You get what you pay for. Exquisite, like George Best at his best.” Tom is also “a big fan – that is a classic bat.”

The build of this bow is as sumptuous as would be expected from a batmaker with Gray-Nicolls’ track record. The back is an acquired taste and Alex felt it was a bit top-heavy, but the overall pick-up is good and the performance high the quality. Chris was wowed by the grains and the overall package.

POD MARQUE RRP: £400.00

POWERBOW 900 RRP: £425.00

1st

OVERALL

Best in class

Weight: 2lb 8oz Edge: 35mm

Weight: 2lb 8oz Edge: 39mm

If it was a celebrity…

David Attenborough

If it was a celebrity…

Zsa Zsa Gabor

9.6

8.4

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Over £350 NEW BALANCE

SLAZENGER

You expect high marks for a bat right from the top of the range – and with edges at 40mm this is as big as they come. A terrific futuristic design and a great build for New Balance’s top of the range beaut. A slightly clangy ping was noticed by Alex. “New Balance have come a long way in a short time,” said Chris. Tom did not have to work hard to find the middle, and highly recommended it.

When Alex was told the pricetag, he was “quite excited”; after using it, he admitted the middle was good but found the outskirts “a bit tingy”. Chris was similarly underwhelmed.

“It felt nice, did everything it should have done, but didn’t blow me away.” “That is a lot of money,” Tom conceded.

Weight: 2lb 9oz Edge: 40mm

If it was a celebrity…

DJ Khaled

TC1260 RRP: £475.00

V100 XR1 RRP: £500.00

Weight: 2lb 12oz Edge: 40mm

If it was a celebrity…

Kim Kardashian

7.6 8.4

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To celebrate this years Ashes Series, Bear Cricket are delighted to offer you an exclusive 10% web discount.

Use code ‘BearAshes’ at the checkout.

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JOIN THE BEAR PACK

www.bearcricket.co.uk sales@bearcricket.co.uk 01274 396681

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06/11/2017 15:57

Boutique Bats

Bats from smaller manufacturers

JEDI

CROSSBAT

A white look to this bat – more Storm Trooper than Jedi, at first glance – leading to initial scepticism. But it had an impressive build quality given that we are at the lower end of the price scale. Most of our testers felt it picked up like a feather (or should that be lightsabre), and the middle was sweet enough. Simon felt that it didn’t come down as well as it picked up. But, for the occasional player, the Zaramax is a great bet.

Chris made this one sound like a meal. “There’s a bit of hardness about it. A tad undercooked. Nice meaty middle.” You don’t have to eat it, Chris! Student Luca praised its “nice shape and nice curve”, although he was “not sure about the design”. Simon was happy with it: “Good performance, liked that one.”

ZARAMAX RRP: £199.00

LEGACY RRP: £240.00

Value award

Value award

Weight: 2lb 9oz Edge: 38mm If it was a celebrity…

Matt Damon

Weight: 2lb 9oz Edge: 36mm If it was a celebrity…

Chesney Hawkes Bat supplied by TCB

8.9 8.7 EXPECT-O-METER

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Boutique Bats XX KUMBA

GARRARD & FLACK

COUNTY RRP: £240.00

RRP: £275.00

A beautiful, classy design from this Suffolk batmaker, though quite a heavy pick-up. It was excellent off the middle. Tom was wowed by the results when he swung through the line, and Chris was happy when he found the heart of it too. All were impressed with the look and feel.

An eye-catching and chunky offering – though this one picked up well and had an element of scuzzy rock chic.

The colour scheme is an acquired taste – some liked it and some did not. Certainly wins points for individuality, and represents good value for the hard-hitting league batsman. Came out of the middle like a tracer bullet.

Weight: 2lb 9oz Edges: 36mm If this was a celebrity…

Weight: 2lb 11oz Edge: 39mm

If it was a celebrity…

George Sanders

If it was a celebrity…

Hulk Hogan Bat supplied by TCB

9.0 8.6

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Boutique Bats BEAR

BEAR

The design from this Bradfordbased manufacturer roared with arctic cold on this January day, and it went down with a storm with our testers.

The middle was inevitably meaty and the ball flew off.

A massive bat which picked up disconcertingly easily.

Weight: 2lb 12oz Edge: 40mm

Simon thought this was a bit like a replacement car when yours is in the garage. “Felt a bit bottom-heavy, and a bit clunky, but actually was better than it looked.” Chris said it was “Good if you found the middle, but needed knocking in.” Alex, in conclusion, said: “A high middle, but good when you find it – ping! I don’t like the stickers, though.”

If it was a celebrity…

Jean-Claude van Damme

Weight: 2lb 11oz Edge: 38mm

THE POLAR RRP: £275.00

THE USSURI RRP: £275.00

If it was a celebrity…

Eric Dier

8.3 8.6

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Boutique Bats OPTIMAX

WOODSTOCK

A sturdy piece of wood with some helpfully thick edges.

Given the heft, it picked up beautifully and Alex was impressed how it didn’t require a full-blooded swing to connect. A quiet, reliable and clean-cut achiever, it was likened to a litany of midfield water-carriers from down the years.

Simon, Chris and Tom were forming an admiration society for this one. “Nice,” purred Simon. “Lovely soft middle, good-looking but also delivers.” Tom said: “Lovely wood, not dominated by the stickers.” He mixed his metaphors when he said: “It was nice to see the wood do the talking.” We knew what he meant. Chris praised its “really delightful middle”, but delivered the only negative, highlighting “an abrasive handle”.

PYRO LE RRP: £300.00

AIRSTREAM PLAYERS LE RRP: £310.00

Weight: 2lb 9oz Edge: 40mm If it was a celebrity…

Matt Holland

3rd

OVERALL

Weight: 2lb 10oz Edge: 37mm If it was a celebrity…

Leonardo DiCaprio

8.7 9.1 EXPECT-O-METER

EXPECT-O-METER

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Boutique Bats VIKING

KIPPAX

Appearances can be deceptive. Simon and Alex did not like the appearance of this one, but they – and Chris – were all pleased with the end results. “It looks a bit plain,” said Simon, somewhat brashly.

“I don’t like the stickers,” said Alex. Chris thought it looked really smart, though, and he led the plaudits. “The middle was voluptuous. It felt really nice.” Simon was converted.

“Gorgeous middle, great power.” And Alex said it had been the “surprise package”.

Oh dear. “Horrible. Unless you absolutely nail it, it feels like concrete,” says Simon, although he does say “the balance is quite good”. Chris is equally unimpressed.

“Unbelievably hard – my hands are ringing.” It is worth pointing out that Chris’ other job is operating a pneumatic drill, but still. He does say, however: “The middle is OK.” At least Alex is more kind. “There’s a bit of a ping to it, but exceeded my expectations, and you don’t have to hit it that hard…”

VALHALLA RRP: £340.00

PROBLADE PLAYERS RRP: £350.00

2nd

OVERALL

Best in class

Weight: 2lb 11oz Edge: 38mm

Weight: 2lb 9oz Edge: 34mm

If it was a celebrity…

Anthony Joshua

If it was a celebrity…

Robbie Savage

9.1

8.2

EXPECT-O-METER

EXPECT-O-METER

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Performance relative to initial impression

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Boutique Bats KIPPAX

SWANNACK

A trunk of a specimen, with a middle wider than the Nullabor Plain. With weight like this in your hands, our reviewers accepted they were sacrificing grace for brute force, and so while it might have felt heavy at the bottom, Freddie reported that it picked up beautifully. Simon loved the softness of the middle when he connected.

The SS Jumbo wielded by Viv Richards and Clive Rice caused nightmares for bowlers the world over. It was unique for its plunging splice. Now John Surridge – nephew of Stuart – has updated it with the Swannack Apollo. Its back slopes a little more than the Jumbo, and this helps the pickup, for which the Apollo scored well. Chris gave it almost perfect marks for performance.

COLOSSUS PLAYERS RRP: £400.00

APOLLO RRP: £400.00

Weight: 2lb 10oz Edge: 39mm

Weight: 2lb 10oz Edge: 22mm

If it was a celebrity…

The Rock

If it was a celebrity…

Liam Gallagher

8.9

8.7

EXPECT-O-METER

EXPECT-O-METER

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Promotional feature

The Cricketer at the GM Factory

Visiting England’s Best Gunn and Moore open their factory doors to The Cricketer and some of the Performance of the Round winners from the National Village Cup. Gunn and Moore have more than 130 years of experience in the batmaking industry. With such heritage and expertise, the quality provided by GM is of the highest level.

The art of bat making is not something than develops over night; it seeps in over decades, like linseed into willow.

As part of GM’s sponsorship of the National Village Cup, they presented a ‘Performance of the Round award’ to a

38 | thecricketer.com

player who had excelled in each of the 9 rounds. As part of their prize, they were invited to GM’s Nottinghambased factory, to witness first-hand a conveyor belt which continues to produce top-class bats crafted from the finest English willow.

The enduring quality and appeal of the finished product continues to attract some of the world’s best players.

GM is the choice of Australia’s Travis Head, England’s Ben Duckett and Dawid Malan, and South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock to name but a few.

Playing at an elite level, Duckett requires a product he can rely on, and that’s just what GM provide.

“Everyone’s different, you obviously get guys who are really picky with bats, I don’t think I am one of them but I think the good think about GM is I have used the same shape and weight for the last three, four years now, they know exactly what I like and I’m not two fussy about the shape to be honest.

“I normally have the weight about 2.9ish, I’m not the strongest guy so it’s got to be quite easy to pick up!

“The shape I use has evolved over the years, from when Joe Root was

Promotional feature

sponsored by GM.” GM’s aesthetics have stood the test of time; the design is bold without being garish, refined without being forgettable. Duckett is certainly endeared by his bat’s new colourways.

“Obviously GM are a brand steeped in history, but as you can see with my lovely, vibrant Haze stickers, I think they have evolved with the modern game. They stand out nicely.”

Some of the competition winners were equally enthused by Duckett’s new blades. Ian Bryce of Hethersett and Tas Valley Cricket Club commented “I can’t believe how light it picks up for such a big bit of wood, it is amazing to see the care and process involved in each bat.”

Managing director Peter Wright says that one thing above all else is essential

to GM. Performance.

“Performance is key. The first thing that sets GM apart from the rest is the performance of the bat. I don’t think anybody’s bats perform better than ours. No matter how nice a bat looks, if it doesn’t strike the ball well then you’re not going to be happy with it.

“By nature, the willow used for cricket bats only grows in England. Although willow from elsewhere is used for bats, it tends to be Kashmir willow, which is used for cheaper bats. Kashmir is heavier and more inconsistent than English willow, hence why you’ll never see a top player using Kashmir.

“About 25 per cent of our throughput is from trees that we buy in the locality, while the remaining 75 per cent is bought from a merchant in Essex who supplies around 80 per cent of the

world’s English willow.”

The skill and passion of GM’s bat makers, their knowledge and attention to detail in every minutiae of every bat ensures a flawless final product. Over a century of bat making expertise paired with modern-day technology makes for an elite partnership.

“We are consistent in our manufacturing process,” says Peter. “Each bat of a certain shape is consistent within the range, so whatever level you buy at you are going to get the same shape and the same look.

“It’s a combination of heritage, experience and cutting-edge technology. Gunn and Moore want to help all players become the best player they can be, and by investing in us, players are investing in their game.”

www.gm-cricket.com thecricketer.com | 39

What the Professionals say!

Big changes at Sidearm in 2016 mean that the company are hitting the ground running for the coming 2017 cricket season.

Bringing manufacturing back to the UK has meant full control over the quality and development of their products. This gain confidence has led to the decision to move forward with the much improved Sidearm club and the Sidearm elite saying good buy to the pro.

The latest models are reliable, durable and have excellent performance levels. Without them the players would not get appropriate speed to practice as they should in preparation for First Class Cricket.

I would be lost without one!’

Steve Rhodes

THE FACTS

Now capable of a larger range of speeds, the previously under-appreciated CLUB is now the weapon of choice for a wide range of players!!

Finally, The Sidearm club has come into its own! Changes in the material mean that the Sidearm club is now the preferred Sidearm for the majority of amateur players. Quicker than ever before but still easy to use and capable of throwing accurate slow deliveries, the Sidearm club offers outstanding batting practice for players who spend their weekends at the crease playing for the local village team or in the local leagues. It’s our most versatile Sidearm to date, still capable of slow ‘flick of the wrist’ throw-downs, but now comfortable producing medium-fast swinging and seaming deliveries too.

Delivery Speed: Up to 65mph Suitable for: Village and 2nd / 3rd XI club players & good level colts Improvements: New plastic, faster, wider range of speeds, still easy to master 2017 RRP: £26.99

THE FACTS

The weapon of choice for the professional bat and their coach. Our fastest most durable Sidearm yet!

Sidearm elite is the product for quality practice for cricketers of high standard. In the right hands, the Sidearm elite can reach upwards of 85mph. Higher level players can provide hours of fast paced, exciting and unparalleled practice with the elite. The elite is harder to master and is specifically aimed at players accustomed to facing quick bowling. Following feedback from professional users who found it difficult to sight a white ball from the white sidearm, The Sidearm elite is coloured pink to provide good sighting for both red and white balls

www.sidearm-cricket.com/stockists

Delivery Speed: Above 55mph Suitable for: Higher level club players and professionals Improvements: Tougher, stiffer materials allowing faster deliveries 2017 RRP: £28.99

Protection

This essential kit looks stylish while allowing batsmen to feel safe at the crease

KOOKABURRA PRO 600 HELMET £48.00

A huge step-up on last year’s range. Fully compliant with British Standards, an excellent shape that fits neatly on the head. Also an option to attach neck guards.

ADIDAS 2.0 PROTECTION THIGH PAD SET £25.00

Can you put a price on thigh protection as a batsman? At just £20, this set boasts a new system that moulds to your leg, providing excellent all-round protection.

thecricketer.com | 41

Softs

The best protection

NEW BALANCE TC1260 PAD £120.00

Premium pads as used by England skipper Joe Root.

Durable, lightweight and supremely comfortable.

NEWBERY PHANTOM PAD £47.99

Brand new for 2018, these pads have a clean classic look and offer top-drawer protection.

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GRAY-NICOLLS PLAYERS GLOVE £88.00

Top of the range and as used

by Alastair Cook. Perfect combination of tradition, comfort and protection.

GUNN & MOORE 808 LE GLOVE £60.00

Fantastic protection for a glove at this pricepoint.

thecricketer.com | 43

Wicketkeeping KOOKABURRA 1200L WK GLOVE ÂŁ120.00

As used by Jos Buttler, these are the best of the best from a manufacturer synonymous with superb keeping gear.

Made with premium sheep leather and boasting a long cut cuff with super soft-brushed cotton lining.

GRAY-NICOLLS POWERBOW 6 WK GLOVE ÂŁ50.00

A value glove that really delivers. Durable but incredibly supple, meaning they can be used straight out of the packet.

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Gloves and pads for the stumpers out there

GUNN & MOORE ORIGINAL WK PAD £65.00

A new shape for 2018, moulded for a glove-like fit and light as a feather.

thecricketer.com | 45

BEST OF 2018 SEE THE FULL COLLECTION ONLINE

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Shoes

Sturdy footwear for bowlers and batsmen

NEW BALANCE CK10L3 SPIKES £105.00

A lightweight, low-profile shoe for bat and ball with breathable uppers, as used by many of the England team.

KOOKABURRA KCS 2000 SPIKES £50.00

Strong colourway, lightweight trainer style with reinforced toe. At this price, a real contender for a quality midrange boot.

thecricketer.com | 47

Bags

Duffles and wheelies

SF SUMMIT DUFFLE £70.00

NEW BALANCE DC1080 WHEELIE BAG £90.00

Excellent value with lots of pockets including two padded bat pockets.

48 | thecricketer.com

A solid stand-up wheelie bag – really good for maximising floor space in crowded changing rooms. Nice-looking colourway and a good size bag that will do the job.

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Handmade, English Willow Cricket Bats, Made in The UK + Batting Pads, Gloves, Helmets, Bags and Cricket Shoes.

We are specialists in UK brands and only sell bats that we can prove have been made in the UK. facebook.com/thecricketboutique

We currently stock - Ayrtek, Charlie French, Garrard & Flack, Hell4leather, Hunts County, Jedi, Kippax, Payntr, Red Ink, Robert James, Salix, Vulcan, XX Cricket, Viking, Masuri and Willow Twin. twitter.com/thecricketbtq

thecricketer.com | 49

“They look an organised player”

Store your collection with our branded binders, available for £12.50

Call 0203 1981 359 or visit shop.thecricketer.com

COACHING thecricketer.com | 51

Spin-bowling masterclass How to practise spin bowling (and bat against it) in the nets by Alex Tudor and Simon Hughes

B

owling spin or batting against it in winter nets is not ideal, due to the nature of mats or floors in indoor halls – they usually just skid on. It goes some way to explain why English batsmen are so uncertain against spin. But, even if you don’t have a Merlyn spin-bowling machine for indoor training, you can still find a way to work on your game – if you train your mind that you’re outside on a sunny day. Alex Tudor, the former England and Surrey fast bowler, now head of cricket at Kimbolton School, and Simon Hughes gave their advice to a bevy of young spinners at The Haberdasher’s Aske’s Boys’ School, who were hosting The Cricketer’s 2018 Good gear guide testing day.

BOWLERS

A challenge for offies A good challenge for off-spinners when bowling in the nets is to tell the batsmen the cover region is open, to entice them to try to score there. Give a batsman one point if he’s able to manoeuvre the ball there, by using his feet or playing the ball late. The bowlers get one point if the batsman hits the ball at your designated fielding positions – and if he’s out, he’s out. It’s quite easy against off-spinners to hit to leg – either by playing for the turn or sweeping.

But if a batsman gets it wrong trying to hit through cover, they could edge the ball to keeper or slip, get a leading edge or it turns through the gate.

Go round the wicket It is a good idea for young off-spinners to practise 52 | thecricketer.com

bowling round the wicket. On a wicket that turns a bit, you will bring both edges into the equation, and on a turning pitch in a T20 match it can be a good way of drying up runs. It forces the right-handed batsman to open his stance.

Use a mat to help This helps replicates the spin and skid you might get on a pitch with turn and variable bounce. Put a plastic mat on a driving length, and the ball will turn or skid on, possibly on to the pads or through the gate.

Be prepared to drift Spinners should remember what made Shane Warne such a great bowler. The biggest asset he had was spinning the ball – for two reasons. One, because it will turn sharply off the pitch; and two, because the more revolutions you put on the ball the more drift in the air you will get – even in an indoor hall. That makes the batsman unsure about where the ball will end up when it arrives.

So always remember to rip the ball out of your hand, even if it won’t grip off the surface in an indoor hall.

You are key in T20 As much as we love Test cricket, in T20 cricket, anywhere in the world, spinners are gold-dust. Spin bowlers go for fewer runs than any other bowlers. So keep your head up, even if the batsman hits you for three fours or three sixes. If you get him out, you’ve won the battle.

BATSMEN

Trim your edges There’s a great coaching maxim: train hard, play easy.

When practising against spin bowling, it is a good idea to trim the edges off your bat – leaving a blade of about a ball’s width. Alternatively, you can buy a special training bat from many stockists. It is a great way to train yourself against the turning ball. And when you’re outside, it will be a lot easier.

him to play the slog-sweep. It didn’t always come off, sometimes he holed out. “That’s why I was a lower-order batsman,” he says. “But if you practise a shot well, and practise it enough, then play it in a pressure situation. The coach, will say ‘fair enough – that’s your shot’. If you go out there and play a shot you haven’t practised, the coach will not be happy.

Especially if you get out to it.”

Change the strike It’s vitally important to rotate the strike, even in these drills. As a bowler, we are desperate to bowl at one batsman, so we can start to work him out.

But if a batsman is rotating the strike, it’s the most frustrating thing in cricket. The captain is pulling his hair out, and doesn’t know where to put the field.

Batsmen should have a plan There’s no right or wrong way to do things – every batsman has their own method. But it is important that every batsman has a plan to face a particular bowler. Always try to find a method.

Stick to your strong shots Once you’ve worked on manoeuvring the ball or surviving for a draw, allow yourself to have a bit of fun and practice boundary-hitting at the end of the net session. But don’t go wild. Always keep your head still, and stick to shots you are strongest at. As a tall lad who had long levers, Tudor says he wasn’t a great player of spin. But he found a bit of a method.

His old coach at Surrey, Keith Medlycott, would urge thecricketer.com | 53

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The indispensible fielding aid Those how like to get to a ground early, get settled in and watch the teams go through their paces in the warmup, will more than likely have seen a Katchet being used. It has become a staple for coaches across the world.

A practical and portable alternative to a slip cradle, it allows coaches to mimic game situations for all fielding positions. One of the most difficult things in training is to replicate the speed and angles that come when the ball hits the bat. The Katchet a unique design that simulates the unpredictable deflections and movements that the ball will take during a game.

Suitable for hard or soft ball, indoor and outdoor use, it is designed for ease of transportation and minimal set up.

T20 has seen the importance of

54 | thecricketer.com

top-class fielding in limited overs cricket, a well drilled fielding side can save between 20-30 runs a game. The Katchet allows players to work on and improve their reflexes, technique, catching ability and general fielding.

Ex-Australia coach, John Buchanan is a big fan, “As a coach who is on the road for many months of the year, the Katchet cricket board is a welcome addition as it is light, durable and easily transportable. I believe it will be a welcome addition to any team or club’s coaching equipment.”

KatchMax If the Katchet is the County Championship, the KatchMax is the T20 Blast. Designed to provide a more extreme degree of deflection it is ideal for wicketkeepers to practice their

footwork or for fielders working on spectacular dives and catches.

The KatchMax is designed to either sit on top of the Katchet or be placed flat on the ground. This allows coaches to change the focus of training with ease – placing on the ground is ideal for ground fielding or creating run out drills.

The Cricketer’s Jim Hindson tried out the KatchMax for the first time when running a session with the first XI from Haberdashers “It definitely adds something to the Katchet, it made the guys focus on their footwork and position when fielding close in. It works really well sitting on top like it does, so easy to use.”

KoachSak and KoachSak Pro The KoachSak – first brought out in

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2016 – has been joined in 2018 by the KoachSak Pro. With a plethora of kits storage options available to players, the KoachSak range is the world’s first bag that has been exclusively designed for coaches.

It has been designed to fit all of a modern coaches equipment, but also in a way that makes everything easy to find. It has found a balance by being easy to transport, but also big enough to fit everything a coach would need.

The KoachSak Pro keeps the versatility and practicality of the original, but they have removed a zip and an extra divider allows for up to 3 moveable compartments to be created within the bag. The interior walls, like the KoachSak have been cleverly lined with Velcro so there are no restrictions as to the size or layout of the compartments.

In addition to providing a solution for the coach themselves, the bags can also be customised in your club or school’s livery. This is an option taken up by many domestic and international teams, creating a unique and really quality product specific for the organisation.

Fusion Stumps Fusion Stumps were designed by Fusion Sports following a request from the England Cricket team for a stump that wouldn’t be broken by their fast bowlers. While not a problem for many of the club teams, everyone has

experienced fielding drills or bowling drills break down as balls ricochet off into bushes or the other side of the field.

This weather-resistant and flexible product takes the previously functional stump into the 21st century. It allows the ball to travel through the stumps, with only minimal deflection. With an interchangeable spike or flat base it can be used indoors or outdoors, on virtually any surface.

Due to the flexibility and tapered nature allowing the ball to pass straight through, fielding drills and bowling practice can be ran continuously.

The minimal deflection means that it is ideal for keepers, both up to the stumps and standing back, perfect for working on footwork.

The Cricketer does coaching….

As part of the testing day at Haberdashers School, The Cricketer put the Katchet and Fusion stumps through their paces – with the help of some of the Haberdashers’ cricketers.

Level 3 coach Jim Hindson, set up a circuit testing some of the key aspects of inner-ring fielding – close catching, quick release direct hits and efficient backing up. Separating into two teams, the boys loved it, although the competitive element probably helped.

What stood out from a coaches perspective was the ease of set-up and the continuity of the drill. “It took me

about 2 minutes to set up the whole thing from closed bag to getting the drill going” said Jim, “Opened the bag, Katchet out, stumps in place and off we go”. The boys were equally enthused, something not often associated with fielding or indeed training. “The backing up is something we really need to work on, the stumps meant you always had to be ready – which is how we should be in a game” said Luca Ignatious “some of the boys need to get to work on the Katchet a bit more, it really gets the feet moving.”

www.katchet.com thecricketer.com | 55

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Field of Dreams

By Annabel Moss

The Cricketer teamed up with Nottingham University Ladies Cricket Club to have a look at some baseball imports that are becoming common place on the cricket field.

There are logical comparisons to be made between baseball and cricket.

Both games focused around a bat and a ball. Both involve a designated player hurling said ball at a member of the opposition whose purpose is to hit the projectile in an effort to acquire runs for their team – both hurled from a remarkably similar distance when you take into account cricket’s delivery point. In both games the ‘batter’ will be deemed out if a member of the opposition catch the ball after it has been hit and before it has hit

the ground.

This last point has possible provided the most derision on the part of the cricket playing diaspora, for while they take the catches with their bare hands, their baseball playing counterparts do so with the addition of a specialist fielding glove – making it an easier act to accomplish.

Over the last 10 years however, baseball mitts have become a more common sight on the cricket field.

With fielding now a more important skill than ever, highlighted by the ever

-improving standards brought about by T20 cricket, training and warm-up drills have become more complicated and intense. The use of the baseball mitt allows coaches to run drills at full speed, keep a hand free and not risk breaking the fingers of their catching hand.

The Baseball and Softball Shop is the UK’s largest supplier of baseball and softball equipment. We selected 4 of their gloves and put them through their paces with the University of Nottingham Ladies team to see they faired.

Player Preferred Fielding Glove Baseball and Softball Shop price - £73.00 The calibre of the buffalo leather means that if the glove is looked after fittingly then it will last for a great length of time.

The sturdy nature of the material enables quality catches even when the ball is caught right at the end of the fingers.

This feature is useful for recreational player who have no or very little experience with gloves, even up to the players that use them every day for training purposes.

The Flex Loop™ Velcro® strap at the back of the glove ensures that users of varying sizes are able to fit their hand into the glove with ease. The space within the long fingers allows for plenty of movement, ensuring that the user’s hands don’t become cramped and are suitably comfortable.

The inner lining of the glove gives it an extra edge as standard gloves don’t have such soft inner material making it highly desirable. Other than the bold colour of the Rawlings® logos on the main body and the back strap, the glove itself isn’t too flashy and uses the styling typical of an American glove. The all-leather lace up feature of the Basket-Web®is not only aesthetically pleasing but gives the glove greater durability.

As its part of the Player Preferred range, its break in times are some of the quickest on the market. This is down to the fact that it’s ‘broken in’ mainly by the factory, meaning that there requires very little ‘break in’ by the purchaser. Although the price of the glove may come as a shock, for the standard of the service that it provides it’s certainly something that any avid cricket player would want.

56 | thecricketer.com

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Player Preferred Catcher’s Mitt Baseball and Softball Shop price - £77.99 A different design to the other 3 mitts. To the untrained eye this might just be considered a ‘bigger glove’. However this glove is used by the catcher, baseball’s wicketkeeper equivalent. With a noticeable amount of extra padding this glove is ideal for catching low balls or throws that come in on the bounce. This is a perfect bit of kit to use in bowling practice, it means that that your keeper can focus on specific keeping drills and leave someone else to stand behind the stumps and throw balls back to the bowlers.

Like all gloves in the Player Preferred series it features full grain oiled leather shells, that are quick and easy to break, but also offer enhanced durability. The patented Zero Shock padding provides great impact protection – meaning the glove is perfect for inexperienced users. You can immediately tell the quality of the product, and with some love and care this could last a good number of years.

RSB Series Field Glove Baseball and Softball Shop price - £43.99 A more economical alternative to the Player Preferred is perfect for general use by the recreational player. Despite being the economical option, when you pick the glove up you can still see the quality that is behind the product. With the same Basket Web design as the more expensive gloves, you feel secure as soon as you put it on. Very comfortable, even though it hasn’t been ‘broken in’, the padding at the back of the fingers is particularly well received. The gold trim might encourage a bit of sledging – if that exists in baseball – but it is excellent piece of quality for a very reasonable price.

Renegade Series Fielding Glove Baseball and Softball Shop price - £55.99 The Renegade Series is all about delivering game-ready quality, at an affordable price, and despite sounding like an early 2000’s colour printer, the R125BGB does exactly that. All the players were amazed at how comfortable it was, not only to wear, but also when catching the ball. The weight was the most noticeable difference, some were amazed how the balance of a glove could be so important – “it feels like it wants to catch the ball itself.”

This glove was predominantly used by the coach, former Nottinghamshire player Jim Hindson, while running a fairly intense runout and backing up drill. He was full of praise for the practicality of the kit, “It makes a huge difference as a coach to be able to keep a drill going.

The ability to take a ball, while simultaneously feeding another, keeps the girls on their toes and alert – as they would need to be in the field.

www.baseballandsoftball.co.uk thecricketer.com | 57

TEAMWEAR 58 | thecricketer.com

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The UK’s Number One Cricket Specialist Just Got Better Based at our own indoor cricket centre in Hampshire we are “Specialists in Cricket” with a full time staff of 25 people who are passionate players, coaches, administrators and volunteers within the game. For 13 years we have delivered unrivalled service when it comes to all things cricket.

Personalised Teamwear Since 2005 we have developed a high quality range of Cricket Teamwear delivered via our online team stores, with personalised orders arriving at your door within 5 days, all year round solving the annual headaches of many when it comes to purchasing team kit!

We are proud that our clothing range

60 | thecricketer.com

is now used by over 950 cricket clubs in the UK, 5 County Sides and Kia Super League Team the Southern Vipers.

In 2016 we became the Approved Kit Supplier for the ECB’s recreational T20 club cricket, further cementing our position in the cricket clothing market.

With a heritage in the game but a dynamic approach to future kit supply,

design and delivery – we are your one stop shop for all cricketing teamwear requirements.

Core Teamwear Range 2018 sees the launch of our brandnew CORE teamwear range which has been specifically designed and manufactured by Serious to suit the

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requirements of cricket players and club members. Built by cricketers for cricketers, this range has been carefully constructed with DryCore technology ensuring you keep cool, dry and comfortable under the toughest of training conditions. Its contemporary design features striking contrast panels to shoulder and body and the range is available in a variety of colourways.

Since its launch in January, the Core teamwear range is now used by all 5 of our County sides with many of our cricket clubs upgrading their teamwear offer. Designed and manufactured by Serious, the new Core teamwear range is #BuiltFromWithin.

Bespoke Coloured Cricket Kit In 2 Weeks!

At Serious we are constantly looking to innovate and develop our range. With

the increased amount of T20 cricket being played - we are delighted to have launched an industry leading Bespoke Kit Building service. This will give all teams the opportunity to design and create their own unique personalised match kit which will be made in just 2 weeks. From that point on we can also offer a no minimum order requirement on bespoke sublimated match kit, making sure that all your club members can still access a uniquely made club kit in short timescales. This we believe is a true game changer in how Coloured Match kit will be purchased in the future.

As well as being recognised as the UKs Number 1 Cricket Teamwear supplier in the UK, we have the busiest cricket retail outlet in the South of England servicing over 25,000 visitors a year.

#TeamSerious https://seriouscricket.co.uk thecricketer.com | 61

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Serious Cricket Training Session As part of their ever-increasing offering for cricket teams across the country, Serious Cricket launched a brand new range of training gear that is built for athletes by athletes. As part of our Good Gear Guide testing day we road tested some of the garments available from the Serious Cricket Core Range.

Our 3 coaches, ex-Nottinghamshire player and Level 3 coach Jim Hindson, Alex Tudor (Ex-England and Surrey) and Simon Hughes (ex-middlesex seamer and The Analyst), put members of the Haberdasher’s 1st XI through their paces over a range of batting, bowling and fielding drills.

All 3 coaches were kitted out in customised items from the core range, so called as it has been carefully constructed with DryCore technology which ensures the wearer is kept cool, dry and comfortable when in the full flow of training. All 3 coaches commented that, despite

62 | thecricketer.com

being on the warm side in the indoor school, they felt that they could get fully involved with the session and not overheat.

Serious Core Midlayer Jim immediately commented on the ‘sporty’ feel of the top saying he felt “ready to get the session going”. The midlayer is a hybrid of a sweatshirt and a tee-shirt. The long-sleeves and ¼ length zip, combined with the DryCore technology allow for excellent temperature regulation. Jim was a big fan of the long sleeves, especially when running fielding drills, “the last

thing you want to do is take the skin off your elbows, this means I can do full demos without the worry of diving around. Without having to wear a thick jumper.”

The design and colour scheme give a really modern look to the top, with the personalisation adding a really professional touch.

Serious Core Polo Shirt Alex is well versed in the requirements of training gear, he has been running his own coaching company over the last few years. His first thoughts on the polo shirt was

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the quality of the material and the fit, “it’s nice to have a shirt that feels like it has been designed with the wearers movements in mind, it feels like it wouldn’t hinder me at all”. Like the midlayer, and indeed the hoody (more on that later), the polo shirt was personalised with The Cricketer branding.

As with the rest of the range, the DryCore technology is the real key to the shirt. It actively draws sweat away from the body in an effort to keep you as cool and dry as possible during training. Alex praised the look of the

shirt and echoed Jim’s sentiments on the nice modern style of the range.

Serious Core Hoodie Despite not being the stereotypical hoodie wearer, Simon plumped for it during the initial wardrobe decision stage. The comfort was the first thing that jumped out, “I didn’t think it would be that soft, I think that is fleece inside, that’s lovely.” The hoodie is ideal for those early season sessions and games, its pullover style means that it can keep you warm and comfortable whether you are relaxing on the side lines or

taking part in training.

What makes this hoodie suitable for training is the secure fit. The drawstring adjusters and the way the sleeves have been designed means it doesn’t hamper your movements during sessions like non-sports clothes would do.

Serious Cricket are the UK’s number 1 personalised cricket clothing company.

Offering everything your team needs for the new season. The core range is available in a number of colourways to suit your club and has a 5 day dispatch on personalised orders.

#TeamSerious https://seriouscricket.co.uk thecricketer.com | 63

@AlvanleyCC, Cheshire hosts its 5th Annual Beer Festival on Friday 11th & Saturday 12th May. More info @ACCBeerFest

Cricket played the right way at Water Orton B46 1QX. Community atmosphere, opportunities for everyone and cracking teas. New members welcomed

Live in North Oxfordshire?

Looking for a new, family friendly club? Visit us @Horleycc on Twitter and send us a message lverton tional Park at Ye ing Dartmoor Na t YBCC-Committee@ nn stu e th in et ac Play your crick welcome! Cont t.com b, all standards ians.play-cricke CC. Family clu lvertonbohem ye :// tp ht or m virginmedia.co

ea Pinkneys Green ar with b clu friendly village d un gro a picturesque of s er et ick welcoming cr ail Em . es ag all abilities and m .co ail tm sjinman@ho for more details

Albrighton CC (Shropshire Cricket League) are looking for new players for league/ social cricket. Contact info@albrightoncc.co.uk

Pytchley CC. Northamptonshire New players always welcome.

Friendly club of all ages and standards.

Contact by email pytchleycc@hotmail.com

64 | thecricketer.com

Purley on Thames CC looking for new players. Junior and L Adult sections. TV . rs and BCL membe Contact us at @ rle pu yonthamescc hotmail.co.uk

Play your cricket in the stunning Dartmoo r National Park at Yelverton CC .

Family club, all stan dards welcome! Contac t YBCC-Committee @ virginmedia.com or http:// yelvertonbohemian s.playcricket.com

Streethouse Cricket Club are looking for junior Players aged between 8 – 15 years, to establish the junior section of the Club, we have experienced coaches, and first aiders.

The club is situated outside Wakefield and has been running since 1962, with the clubs greatest achievement of playing in the National village Cricket cup at Lords in 2009.

Anyone interested please contact Stewart the club secretary on 07908231370 or e mail stewartsimpson3@sky.com The Club are also looking for a team to play the UK Fire Service on the Wednesday September 5th 2018 any club interested please contact Stewart details are above.

iendly, Plumpton, a fr unity vibrant, comm ide club in countrys ay adjoining Railw to se o Station, cl ter Brighton. Quar ew finalists 2012, N Sussex League

Bledlow Ridge CC welcomes new players male and female of all ages, to its beautiful location in the Chilterns bledlowridgecricketclub.co.uk

Newtown Linford CC is celebrating its Centenary in 2019. If you’d like to get involved in any way email: jonrdale78@gmail.com

Aston

Salesbury Cricket Club welcomes all youn g, old. new and return ing players. Join a grea t Lancashire village club

Clinto Club, B n Cricket ucks Requi r e firs player s and u t team Saturd mpire a f contac y fixtures pl or ease t Mike 07710 Parsonage 301486

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Buying your club teamwear

The Classic Sportswear difference As every club knows, buying teamwear can be fraught with difficulties. Sizing difficulties, late deliveries, stuck in customs, dealing through third parties and relying on their supply chains – all these and more are just some of the problems that clubs regularly have to deal with.

Based in Cardiff, Classic Sportswear is a family business built on traditional values, with complete in-house design and production facilities plus customer services that are second to none.

So what is The Classic Sportswear Difference?

Complete in-house service As we control the whole process from design, manufacture and delivery from our own factory in Cardiff, we are the people you talk to from start to finish.

No more middle man “waiting to hear from his supplier”. No more suppliers “just waiting for their printers”. You want to know something, you simply

66 | thecricketer.com

ask us and we’ll tell you. We take pride in our customer service.

Dedicated design service As we make everything ourselves we have far more design options available to you. We can work with you on your preferred design and then match your playing wear, both white and coloured, with your training and leisure wear.

We are also one of the UK’s leading providers of sublimation, a fullcoverage printing technique which allows you even more choice. Between us, we will create your own unique and complete club identity - and look out for our new online kit builder facility to give you even more flexibility – coming soon.

We never run out of stock How many times have you been in the situation where you get new players mid-season or you need new shirts for a club tour or final? How many times have you been unable to get

this because your shirt design is either out of stock or unavailable in the sizes required? At Classic Sportswear we never run out of stock, we simply make some more for you. With no minimum order we can make sure that the kit for all your teams, from Under 9s to Over 60s, is always available for you. If you rely on branded products this cannot be guaranteed.

Made in Britain We are very proud of the fact that all our products are British made – a complete in-house service, a dedicated design service, never running out of stock, putting the customer first, providing what you want not what we’re trying to sell, attention to detail, experienced staff and a business built on reputation and recommendations.

We would welcome an opportunity to show you The Classic Sportswear Difference.

Special Deal If you simply make an enquiry to us for your 2018 kit and mention The Cricketer in your enquiry we will offer you a special deal for the 2018 season.

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COMPETITION WIN A SET OF 15 PLAYING SHIRTS FROM CLASSIC SPORTSWEAR Classic Sportswear is offering a chance for two clubs to win a set of playing shirts, one white and one coloured, for the 2018 season. The shirts will include your club and sponsors logos on the front and club name on the back.

It’s OK if more than one player from any club enters, but each club can only win one set of kit. We look forward to your entry. What have you got to lose?

How to enter. Simply email magazine@thecricketer.com with details of your name, club and your preference of white or coloured shirts by 12 noon on Wednesday 11th April 2018 and we will put your name in a draw with winners announced on Wednesday 18th April.

Normal Cricketer competition Terms and Conditions apply.

Please note Data required for competition entrants • Entrants name • Club name • Email address • Choice of white or coloured clothing Additionally, we will contact every club who enters the competition with some special deals for the 2018 season – so you can win simply by entering.

Caerau Ely Sports Trust – a satisfied customer After years of problems with other kit suppliers we signed an agreement with Classic Sportswear in July 2010. Their flexibility and experience has made our job much easier in making sure everyone, from juniors to seniors, are wearing the right kit. We have teams participating in sports from football, rugby, cricket and netball to name just a few.

The team at Classic having played sport at various levels, understand all aspects of our requirements and always deliver. They also set up an online ordering facility which means players and staff can go online to order top ups throughout the season taking the strain from our

managers and coaching staff.

This is invaluable as in the past we would have to bulk order kit we did not always want. With a large member base and being run mainly by volunteers we are delighted to have Classic Sportswear as the supplier of our trust. Their help in designing technical playing and training kit, to the quality of the product and service they provide is second to none.

The experienced, friendly team at Classic can be highly recommended.

Gareth West Caerau & Ely Sports Trust, 2017.

Classic Sportswear Tel: 0292056 9848 Email: sales@classicsportswear.co.uk www.classicsportswear.co.uk thecricketer.com | 67

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Non-turf cricket pitches that make the grade‌ The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has set specific performance standards that artificial cricket pitch systems must meet for match play and practice. total-play Ltd is a market leader in the provision of non-turf cricket pitch designs that meet these rigorous standards; producing artificial

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pitches that are designed to mimic the performance of a good level league pitch.

A pioneering supplier When it comes to the design and installation of ECB approved artificial cricket pitches, total-play has been a

leader in the field for over 15 years. It was the first company to be awarded ECB Code of practice for design and installation of non-turf cricket facilities supplier status; and has since developed no less than three ECB approved artificial cricket pitch systems. These have been designed

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by cricketers and groundsmen in conjunction with scientists to ensure the best possible performance, and have all been thoroughly tested and approved by the ECB in line with its ‘Performance Standards for Non-Turf Cricket Pitches Intended for Outdoor Use’ document. The range includes: tp365 total-play’s flagship tp365 system features a premiere Wilton woven carpet, exclusively designed ‘HD Protection Tunnel’ netting system and a dynamic base which has been designed to offer a balanced game between bat

and ball and encourage turn. It can be found at clubs playing from glass roots to professional level across the country in both artificial match pitch form and synthetic cricket practice net facilities. tp5t This ECB approved non-turf cricket pitch system shares tp365’s dynamic base, netting designs and all of the playing characteristics but with a less inexpensive - tufted - carpet. tpB1 The most recent addition to the range; offering a bound (Asphalt) base

option. The tpB1 system comes with a premiere Wilton woven carpet and the netting system used with the tp365 system. The bound - or engineered - base design offers greater stability in flood risk areas and, initially, lower maintenance requirements in high-use open sites.

For more information on how totalplay could help you create a new or rejuvenate and existing non-turf nets facility in line with ECB standards, head to www.total-play.co.uk, email info@total-play.co.uk or call 01604 864 575.

www.total-play.co.uk thecricketer.com | 69

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