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Our most anticipated collection of the year is finally here! It's the Kingsgrove Sports Top 10 Cricket Bats of 2023-2024! We've selected ten of what we believe are the season's best cricket bats, based on a variety of criteria such as willow quality, balance, power, ping, value for money, and performance — and then we've ranked them based on an overall combination.
Along with this article, you can check out a full video review here, or on our Facebook, Instagram, or our YouTube channel.
Starting the list off with an excellent value for money pick is the Gray-Nicolls Vapour 500 cricket bat. This has been a fantastic choice at the lower end of the willow range, but with incredible performance at this price point. Finished off with a grain-face sleeve for a clean look, the Vapour 500 comes ready-to-play straight away. The high spine and mid profile provides excellent performance, balance, and pickup, paired with Gray-Nicolls traction grip on a semi-oval handle, and a dark blue and royal blue sticker set.
A staff favourite, and for good reason! The Kingsport Epic is on the lower end of the price range but does not sacrifice at all on performance. While it's a lower grade of willow, the ping and power out of its big mid-to-low profile is perfect for attacking batters who prefer their power in the lower third of the blade. They're a perfect choice for shorter format cricket but great value for cricketers of all kinds, especially those looking for a good value match bat at a low price.
The DSC Spliit 44, famously used by Aussie opener Usman Khawaja, brings a bold bit of colour to our list with its detailed fluro lime green and white sticker set. But the best thing about this bat is its performance at the mid range price point. A mid profile with a tall spine and a generous middle, so you get performance throughout the hitting zone. Nicely balanced and with excellent ping and power, it makes for a great upgrade from an entry level bat or a solid choice for any cricketer seeking a reliable match bat.
Now taking a step up into the higher grades of willow, the New Balance WC1500 might be one of the best bats from New Balance in recent seasons. It's power packed and offers excellent performance in exceptional Grade 1+ English willow. Essentially similar to New Balance's DC bat profile, the WC1500 has a mid-to-low profile with a duckbill toe for power and balance. And sporting a handful of bright colours in the sticker set and grip to match, it offers a unique look that aligns with its special level of performance.
The Brava is a new entry into the Gunn & Moore range of cricket bats. The GM Brava 909 has a slightly flatter face, which means GM has really maximised the edge and spine sizes in the Brava to enhance the power in the hitting zone. And the power is certainly there, as there is no concaving in its full dome-style profile. The 909 is the entry-level Grade 1 English willow model in the Brava lineup, so it means the faces are quite clean and sporting straight grains. And of course, they come pre-sleeved and ready to play straight from Gunn & Moore.
We are super pleased with the performance of these bats and proud to have them in our range — the Kingsport Noble Willow Hyper. Inspired by neon trends of 80s design, its pink, blue, and purple sticker set is a bold eye-catcher both on the shelves and out in the middle. But its ping and performance is just as bold, in a full power Grade 2/3 English willow profile with a mid-to-low sweet spot at a midrange price point. And it's been known to hit sixes.
A best seller from this season, and with no surprise. Kookaburra's sleek white Ghost range is one of their most iconic, and the Ghost Pro 4.0 model is an impressive entry at the midrange price point. Don't be fooled by the lower grade of willow — these are exceptional match bats with incredible performance and power. Lightweight and well balanced, the Kookaburra Ghost Pro 4.0 is a formidable option for any cricketer looking for a bat in this price bracket.
Based on the profile of Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan, SF Stanford's SD-Ranger sports a full subcontinental style profile with massive edges. While SF has a rich history in batmaking, they are also one of the most improved batmakers over recent seasons, and the performance across the SD-Ranger models has been incredible. With a mid-to-low sweet spot with next-to-no concaving, the SF SD-Ranger is an excellent choice for the power hitters.
Another iconic cricket bat from Kookaburra, the bold green Kahuna has been a staple of their lineup for a very long time, and deservedly so. One of the finest bats we've received from Kookaburra in recent seasons, the Kahuna Pro Players has performance and power to match its top-tier price tag. The Kahuna profile features a higher middle and tall spine that stretches all the way down to the toe, so the middle is extended across a longer section of the blade. Made from exceptional Grade 1 Select English Willow, the Kahuna Pro Players is a premier choice for top end cricketers looking for a top end cricket bat.
Our top pick for the season! For several seasons, we've commissioned a special version of one of Gray-Nicolls' many incredible bat models, and this season it has come to us in the Gray-Nicolls Astro HS Special Selection. What makes this bat so unique is its massive size — the edges, the spine, the profile — all as full as possible with the power to match, while superbly balanced to avoid feeling too heavy in the hands. The Gray-Nicolls traction grip on a semi-oval handle stops any unwanted twisting and ensures good control. Made in Melbourne from Gray-Nicolls' Select Players English Willow, cosmetics sometimes take a back seat to raw performance, and the Astro HS Special Selection is second-to-none this season. This special range is always a big seller for us year on year, and with this year's Astro entry being no exception, it deserves our top spot on the list.
| Bat Weight Guide | |||
| Recommended bat weight based on player's height. These are guidelines only, players may use bats outside their recommended range. | |||
| Size | Size Abbrev. | Player Height (cm) | Player Height (feet & inches) |
| 0 | 0 | 110 - 122 | - 4' |
| 1 | 1 | 122 - 129 | 4' - 4'3" |
| 2 | 2 | 129 - 137 | 4'3" - 4'6" |
| 3 | 3 | 137 - 144 | 4'6" - 4'9" |
| 4 | 4 | 144 - 150 | 4'9" - 4'11" |
| 5 | 5 | 150 - 157 | 4'11" - 5'2" |
| 6 | 6 | 157 - 163 | 5'2" - 5'4" |
| Harrow | H | 163 - 168 | 5'4" - 5'6" |
| Small Adult | SA | 168 - 175 | 5'6" - 5'9" |
| Standard Handle | SH | 175+ | 5'9"+ |
| Long Blade | LB | 188+ | 6'2"+ |
| Batting Gloves | |||
| Measure from the wrist to the tip of middle finger. | |||
| Size | Size Abbrev. | Measurement (cm approx.) | Measurement (inches approx.) |
| Extra Small Junior | XSJ | -14.25 | -5.6 |
| Small Junior | SJ | 14.25 - 15.75 | 5.6-6.2 |
| Junior | J | 15.75 - 17.25 | 6.2-6.8 |
| Youth | Y | 17.25 - 18.75 | 6.8-7.4 |
| Small Adult | SA | 18.75 - 20.25 | 7.4-8.0 |
| Adult | A | 20.25 - 21.75 | 8.0-8.6 |
| Oversized Adult | OSA | 21.75+ | 8.6+ |
| Batting Pad | |||
| Measure from the top of the foot (ankle bone) to the centre of the knee cap. | |||
| Size | Size Abbrev. | Measurement (cm approx.) | Measurement (inches approx.) |
| Extra Small Junior | XSJ | -23 | -9 |
| Small Junior | SJ | 23 - 28 | 9 - 11 |
| Junior | J | 28 - 33 | 11 - 13 |
| Youth | Y | 33 - 38 | 13 - 15 |
| Small Adult | SA | 38 - 41 | 15 - 16 |
| Adult | A | 41 - 43 | 16 - 17 |
| Oversized Adult | OSA | 43 | 17+ |
| Shirt | |||
| Measure around the chest from just under the arms. | |||
| Size | Size Abbrev. | Measurement (cm approx.) | Measurement (inches approx.) |
| Junior 6 | J6 | 56 - 59 | 22.0 - 23.2 |
| Junior 8 | J8 | 59 - 64 | 23.2 - 25.3 |
| Junior 10 | J10 | 64 - 70 | 25.3 - 27.6 |
| Junior 12 | J12 | 70 - 76 | 27.6 - 29.9 |
| Junior 14 | J14 | 76 - 82 | 29.9 - 32.3 |
| Small | S | 84 - 92 | 33.1 - 36.2 |
| Medium | M | 92 - 100 | 36.2 - 39.4 |
| Large | L | 100 - 108 | 39.4 - 42.5 |
| Extra Large | XL | 108 - 116 | 42.5 - 45.7 |
| Double Extra Large | 2XL | 116 - 124 | 45.7 - 48.8 |
| Triple Extra Large | 3XL | 124 - 132 | 48.8 - 52.0 |
| Trouser | |||
| Measure around the waist. | |||
| Size | Size Abbrev. | Measurement (cm approx.) | Measurement (inches approx.) |
| Junior 6 | J6 | 53 - 55 | 20.9 - 21.7 |
| Junior 8 | J8 | 55 - 59 | 21.7 - 23.2 |
| Junior 10 | J10 | 59 - 63 | 23.2 - 24.8 |
| Junior 12 | J12 | 63 - 67 | 24.8 - 26.4 |
| Junior 14 | J14 | 67 - 71 | 26.4 - 28.0 |
| Small | S | 76 - 82 | 29.9 - 32.3 |
| Medium | M | 82 - 88 | 32.3 - 34.6 |
| Large | L | 88 - 96 | 34.6 - 37.8 |
| Extra Large | XL | 96 - 104 | 37.8 - 40.9 |
| Double Extra Large | 2XL | 104 - 114 | 40.9 - 44.9 |
| Triple Extra Large | 3XL | 114 - 124 | 44.9 - 48.8 |
| Goal Keeping Gloves | ||
| Measure from the wrist to the tip of middle finger. | ||
| Size | Measurement (cm approx.) | Measurement (inches approx.) |
| 0 | 13.0 | 5 1/8" |
| 1 | 13.5 | 5 3/8" |
| 2 | 14.0 | 5 1/2" |
| 3 | 15.0 | 5 7/8" |
| 4 | 16.0 | 6 1/4" |
| 5 | 16.5 | 6 1/2" |
| 6 | 17.0 | 6 3/4" |
| 7 | 17.5 | 6 7/8" |
| 8 | 18.0 | 7 1/8" |
| 8.5 | 18.5 | 7 1/4" |
| 9 | 19.0 | 7 1/2" |
| 9.5 | 19.5 | 7 5/8" |
| 10 | 20.0 | 7 7/8" |
| 10.5 | 20.5 | 8 1/8" |
| 11 | 21.0 | 8 1/4" |
| 11.5 | 21.5 | 8 1/2" |
| 12 | 22.0 | 8 5/8" |
