Bat review: Newbery Renegade 5 Star

Its final scores – once averaged across each tester – tell the story of a solid bat for a solid player: not too heavy nor too light, armed with edges stretching 41mm deep

RRP: £315, Wright: 2lb 5oz, Edges: 41mm

Newbery have expanded their range in recent years, adding colour and a modern twist to a band that was previously the very definition of old-school class.

So, while a name like The Renegade might make it sound like a disruptor of sorts, it actually looks far more like a return to a bygone era, with the clarity of its white stickers and famous logo.

Unlike The Master, which has come into fashion in recent years with its orange and black stripe across the splice, this has no such gimmicks.

Its final scores – once averaged across each tester – tell the story of a solid bat for a solid player: not too heavy nor too light, armed with edges stretching 41mm deep.

Rikki Clarke nailed it with his assessment: "Wow, yes." That was the first impression of the former Surrey allrounder, who located an "amazing middle" and was immediately sold.

In mitigation, he questioned the grains but otherwise was full of praise for a fine-looking – and fine-performing – bat.

"It looks beautiful," said James Coyne, a journalist for The Cricketer and another of the reviewers. He commented on its shape, calling the bat – and its toe "a bit square", adding that those who favour a lighter piece of willow might find this a tad clunky.

"But it's a big bat with a big performance."

For a club cricketer looking ahead to the new season, you could do worse than add The Renegade to your armoury – not too flash, certainly not too colourful, but as reliable as a Newbery ever was.

Initial impression: 7.7

Build quality: 7

Pick-up/feel: 7.5

Performance: 7.7

Overall score: 7.5

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