BATS BY RATING: BROWSE AND BUY

DKP ICON

There wasn't a single batter in the room who didn't have DKP Icon at the top of their list.

Initial impression: 8.7
Build quality: 8.9
Pick-up/feel: 8.9
Performance: 9.4

RRP: £499.99

Weight: 2lb 9oz

Edges: 40mm

TON NEMESIS III

Across 16 bats by major manufacturers, the Ton Nemesis III was the top of the pile with ‘the sweetest of centres’ for testers who rated the performance highest on the day.

Initial impression: 7.7
Build quality: 8
Pick-up/feel: 8
Performance: 8.7

RRP: £275

Weight: 2lb 9oz

Edges: 35mm

KOOKABURRA STEALTH 5.1

Former England international Alex Tudor was full of praise for the good weight and balance of the Kookaburra Stealth, which left him full of trust that he didn’t have to overhit deliveries.

Initial impression: 7.6
Build quality: 8
Pick-up/feel: 7.7
Performance: 8.1

RRP: £200

Weight: 2lb 9oz

Edges: 35mm

KOOKABURRA GHOST

The famous Australian batmakers get Alex Tudor’s seal of approval with the Ghost 3.1. He described it as a “good trustworthy bat” which “will only get better the more you use it”

Initial impression: 7.7
Build quality: 8
Pick-up/feel: 8
Performance: 7.6

RRP: £300

Weight: 2lb 7oz

Edges: 31mm

GUNN & MOORE DIAMOND DXM 909

Lighter, but packs a punch was the verdict of The Cricketer’s student testers when handed the Gunn & Moore Diamond DXM 909.

Initial impression: 7.6
Build quality: 7.6
Pick-up/feel: 8.2
Performance: 7.8

RRP: £380

Weight: 2lb 9oz

Edges: 30mm

GRAY-NICOLLS SHOCKWAVE GEN 2.3 4 STAR

"Really good bat, light pick up, great middle and well built," said one tester about the Gray-Nicolls Shockwave. You can't really ask for much more than that.

Initial impression: 7.8
Build quality: 8
Pick-up/feel: 7.4
Performance: 7.8

RRP: £225

Weight: 2lb 9oz

Edges: 30mm

CHASE R11 VOLANTE

The R11 Volante is the latest product in the Chase range and follows our review of the ever-popular R7 in 2023.

Initial impression: 7.8
Build quality: 7.7
Pick-up/feel: 7.5
Performance: 8

RRP: £420

Weight: 2lb 8oz

Edges: 35mm

GRAY-NICOLLS TEMPESTA GEN 1.0 5 STAR

The most expensive Gray-Nicolls bat in our selection, the Gray-Nicolls Tempesta received generally positive reviews.

Initial impression: 8
Build quality: 8
Pick-up/feel: 7.3
Performance: 7.6

RRP: £325

Weight: 2lb 9oz

Edges: 36mm

TON GLADIATOR IV

Consistency was a key theme among the ratings for the Gladiator, which scored an average of 7.8 across three categories – pick up and feel, build quality and performance.

Initial impression: 7.2
Build quality: 7.8
Pick-up/feel: 7.8
Performance: 7.8

RRP: £200

Weight: 2lb 10oz

Edges: 35mm

NEWBERY NAVARONE 5 STAR

As one of the heavier bats tested, the Newbury’s pick up and feel was the star of the show. One student described it as ‘just a good bat’ adding: “Not too heavy, had something when you hit it. Really grippy.”

Initial impression: 7.5
Build quality: 7.5
Pick-up/feel: 8
Performance: 7.5

RRP: £236

Weight: 2lb 11oz

Edges: 28mm

DSC BLAK 4000

It is off the middle where the DSC Blak really delivers in terms of power; if you can connect with good timing the ball can really fly.

Initial impression: 7.3
Build quality: 7.7
Pick-up/feel: 7.4
Performance: 7.9

RRP: £236

Weight: 2lb 8oz

Edges: 37mm

DSC XLITE 2.0

The main takeaway from 10 minutes with the DSC XLite 2.0 was, for all our testers, a very generous middle and the consistency of contact right the way down the bat.

Initial impression: 7.2
Build quality: 7.4
Pick-up/feel: 7.4
Performance: 6.8

RRP: £372

Weight: 2lb 8oz

Edges: 35mm

OPTIMAX SY EDITION

Former England international Alex Tudor liked the “well presented” colour scheme and said the bat “performs well” to match.

Initial impression: 7.0
Build quality: 7.1
Pick-up/feel: 7.0
Performance: 7.6

RRP: £350

Weight: 2lb 8oz

Edges: 38mm

GRAY-NICOLLS POWERSPOT MB 300 3 STAR

The Powerspot's position in history has been cemented by David Gower and Michael Atherton so there is no need for Gray-Nicolls to reinvent the wheel here.

Initial impression: 7
Build quality: 7.7
Pick-up/feel: 6.7
Performance: 7.4

RRP: £180

Weight: 2lb 10oz

Edges: 34mm

GUNN & MOORE MANA DXM SIGNATURE

The middle of the Gunn & Moore Mana DXM was variously described as “good”, “solid”, “reliable” and “sweet”.

Initial impression: 6.8
Build quality: 7.2
Pick-up/feel: 7.3
Performance: 6.2

RRP: £205

Weight: 2lb 8oz

Edges: 33mm

KOOKABURRA RIDGEBACK PROBE

The retro look of the bat was a highlight for some and a turn-off for others, and there was a similar split between the Cricketer’s team and the student testers on the bat's performance.

Initial impression: 6.9
Build quality: 7.3
Pick-up/feel: 6.3
Performance: 6.9

RRP: £190

Weight: 2lb 9oz

Edges: 35mm

GUNN & MOORE AION DXM 606

"If you are a bit more of a beat ball cricketer - going out to whack it, the Gunn & Moore Aion is probably perfect for you" says tester Alex Tudor.

Initial impression: 6
Build quality: 6.4
Pick-up/feel: 5.1
Performance: 6.9

RRP: £175

Weight: 2lb 11oz

Edges: 37mm

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