What the 1.3 300 possibly loses in specialist craftsmanship – note the very square toe – it makes up for in basic assets. You can't really argue with a bat that costs less than £200 yet clocks in an average rating of 8.5.
What is clear from our testing process, is that the Brava DXM 606 represents great value for money.
RRP: £165
Weight: 2lb 12oz
Edges: 39mm
Not the lightest pickup in the world and a low middle, but if those things are your cup of tea and if you play your cricket on a low deck, then you could do worse than join Virat Kohli.
With 38mm edges and a weight of 2lb 9oz, this has something for everyone: neither too heavy nor too light, with a fairly central middle and a decent distribution of weight throughout.
More than anything, this felt like a classy piece of wood – not only in its generosity if you got a booming drive out of the screws, but also simply from its decoration and its handle.
The Kookaburra Aura 3.1 really is an eye-catching bat, with a fetching blue and red colour scheme riffing off beautifully against the brand's trademark Australian bird.
One of the cheaper bats on display at The Cricketer's testing day, it outperformed its initial impression, with most of the scepticism focused on the diameter of the handle.
The Omen only comes in at 2lb 12oz, but its bottom-heavy nature – designed to suit players with a front-foot dominance – means that it's a bat built for a very specific type of batter.