They never let you down.
For some of The Cricketer's testers, the bat of the day, fresh from Woodstock's subtle rebrand.
Beautiful bats with terrific sweet spots and excellent pick-ups. Hard to beat.
RRP: £450
Weight: 2lb 12oz
Edges: 36mm
RRP: £484.99
Weight: 2lb 10oz
Edges: 34mm
RRP: £400
Weight: 2lb 13oz
Edges: 40mm
RRP: £150
Weight: 2lb 9.5oz
Edges: 38mm
You usually know what you’re getting with Gray-Nicolls, and the look and build of their Classic Players was characteristically classy and pretty accessible financially.
While a little bottom-heavy, most of our testers found the weight paid off with a sumptuous middle.
RRP: £300
Weight: 2lb 8.5oz
Edges: 36mm
A smart buy and by far the least decorative of the Kippax collection.
A solid bat, albeit at a lofty price point, with a generous middle, healthy grains and a balanced pick-up.
RRP: £480
Weight: 2lb 9.5oz
Edges: 35mm
Nearly the heftiest bat going under the scanner on our testing day, and it handled with far more dexterity than you might expect from a bat this size.
For most of our testers the ball flew out of an ample middle which somehow avoided bottom-heaviness.
RRP: £449.99
Weight: 2lb 12oz
Edges: 36mm
RRP: £315
Weight: 2lb 11oz
Edges: 41mm
From Kent, the spiritual home of batmaking, the Sika – another name for the Japanese spotted deer, if you were wondering – is intended for the all-round strokemaker, albeit with another unusual, cut-off flat toe.
“It felt really fluent,” said one of our testers.
RRP: £295
Weight: 2lb 9oz
Edges: 36mm
Another excellent Woodstock product that is still going strong after several years as the brand's star turn.
Freshened up by a slight rebrand that has seen the main logo shifted to the bottom.
RRP: £450
Weight: 2lb 11oz
Edges: 36mm
This is an absolute monster.
If you are a predominantly front-foot batter, then this bat has been designed with your kind in mind.
A handsome bat with a huge, low, sweet spot and powerful edges to boot.
RRP: £279.99
Weight: 2lb 13oz
Edges: 36mm
Set aside your preconceptions about DSC bats, because this one flew.
Though it scored low on appearance, it came in high on performance thanks to its light pick-up and monstrous middle.
One judge said he walked into the net looking like Rory Burns but came back feeling like Garry Sobers.
RRP: £320
Weight: 2lb 9oz
Edges: 39mm
RRP: £285
Weight: 2lb 10oz
Edges: 32mm
RRP: £330
Weight: 2lb 7oz
Edges: 31mm
RRP: £200
Weight: 2lb 8oz
Edges: 36mm
Plenty of artwork, especially down the back where New Balance is tattooed along the spine, on this refreshingly light number.
Some players will find it too feather-like, while others will have been crying out for something this comfortable with a sweet spot quite so generous.
RRP: £350
Weight: 2lb 5oz
Edges: 40mm
This boutique offering from the Maidstone manufacturers is designed for the junior batter who wishes to add a bit more oomph to their strokeplay, whether on the deck or over the top.
A low middle and bottom-heavy weight distribution could help patient batters cash in.
RRP: £295
Weight: 2lb 8.5oz
Edges: 38mm
RRP: £175
Weight: 2lb 8oz
Edges: 36mm
RRP: £175
Weight: 2lb 8oz
Edges: 35mm
RRP: £300
Weight: 2lb 7oz
Edges: 35mm
It's not every day that your bat features the silhouette of a black rat on its splice.
But that's Black Rat Cricket for you.
An ambitious, unusual brand but a very decent piece of wood that would certainly stand you out from the crowd…
RRP: £309.99
Weight: 2lb 10oz
Edges: 35mm
DSC's cheaper offering does not match up to the higher-end Flip 2.0 in terms of build quality and performance, but the middle still delivered well enough if you could find it.
It should be a solid purchase for a certain type of cricketer.
RRP: £140
Weight: 2lb 8oz
Edges: 35mm
RRP: £130
Weight: 2lb 8oz
Edges: 35mm
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