Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Gray Nicolls => Topic started by: Talisman on November 26, 2010, 03:12:40 PM
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After visiting the Lords Test between Pakistan and Australia in the summer I ordered a true Pro spec bat from GN, the first 2 attempts were not close, however third time lucky and all that.....
I returned the second offering and went through all the options in the offices at Robertsbridge with Richard who has been very helpful in the past. I selected the preferred shape of the Oblivion and the main request was low density but pretty if possible, basically everything...... I got an email before the bat was sent from Richard letting me know that the bat was ready and if I was not having it the bat would be seen on TV as it was good enough and the same spec as a current Test player.
So I'm very pleased to be able to report that upon opening the bat was huge, pretty and light. It has 38mm edges, 67mm spine and is massive, the face has 15 clean straight grains and with a toe guard, anti scuff sheet and Octopus grip and over sized handle it weighs 2.9. I did think that the bat would make good money and would sell it on but having tapped it up with the mallet I now realise that it is as good, if not better, than it looks and will have to be used.
This bat has restored my faith in GN, I've had some great bats before but they've always been the lower end models with tight grains.
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh132/camelotcricketer/042-1.jpg)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh132/camelotcricketer/041-1.jpg)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh132/camelotcricketer/043-1.jpg)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh132/camelotcricketer/044-1.jpg)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh132/camelotcricketer/045-1.jpg)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh132/camelotcricketer/046-1.jpg)
It is just waiting on the model sticker which will be Oblivion LE, not sure if this will be a shop range, it may just be available direct via offers like the Lords one.
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Looks very nice Mike, this is what frustrates me with GN, they are so capable but so unwilling....
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f0000000000k! thats big! and nice! very very nice infact!
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Looks a cracker Mike shame you had to ball bust when you should have rightfully got this at the start...
Top looking bat colonel
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Looks like the messing about was worth it mike!!
Is this an open offer from GN or special for you?
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That is one top bat!!!!
ps Mike i want to buy 2 clefts from you,if you can get them from the same batch as this was made from i would be extremely grateful!! lol
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I'm going to have the handle smoothed out and the grip changed, but boy does it ever go off the middle.
I don't fully understand why this wasn't first up, well actually I do as I would be hard pressed to part with it.
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This was meant to be an open offer at Lords (I was with Mike when he got tempted by the offer) - however the bats that were being made on site weren't all that special, so he asked for something else. The offer was for a test match bat - and Mike has made them stick to their word (probably cost him a bit in petrol mind!)
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Well by the looks it was bloody worth it!! That profile is nuts.
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You are quite right, the clefts were advertised as Test grade but they were mainly grade 2/3 and I spoke to Alex about what I wanted and he said fine, he most probably regrets that now but you should get what you are promised. Having being so angry twice and visiting them twice I still think I'm in credit but they could sort themselves out a lot better than the way in which I've been treated.
I am looking forward to a net with it, the only problem is dropping down weight wise as my match bat is 8oz+ heavier....
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Sell this to me then :D I use 2.9-2.10 pal haha
Genuinely though, it looks an absolute peach and I bet your chuffed after all the fannying around. You gonna bring it Sunday for us to dribble on??
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Too light for you Mike, I'll give ya £150 for it to cut your losses.
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I will, but no dribbling on it, keep that to Tom's carpet....
It's on a par, with your new one Jon.....
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That is huge, especially for 2lb 9oz :o. Very phallic handle though.... Being nosy, how much did you pay for a true test grade bat?
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£150, it was an offer but I talked up the standard clefts to this quality before paying.
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Looks a beaut mike will this be replacing the tt as seems abit light for a man such as yourself
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Looks very good. I hope it plays as good as it look.
You got a very good deal considering the price tag
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£150 are you serious!!! Be careful round simmy then if you don't like dribble, It will have been four hours since his last meal!!
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It is the most I've paid for a bat for over 10 years....
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Corr that is lush!!
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Well I wish I could say the same mate. If you don't have a black book or sponsorship etc bats are crazy money. As you no doubt know In your lie of work lol
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It's now the most I've ever paid for a bat lol.
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Well I wish I could say the same mate. If you don't have a black book or sponsorship etc bats are crazy money. As you no doubt know In your lie of work lol
Unless you get really lucky on ebay!
It's now the most I've ever paid for a bat lol.
You just took it?
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Mike, great looking bat. Profile is immense. Just wondering (forgive my naivety) is that a hand made in england bat?
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Yes it is, and I should say thanks to Alex for coming up trumps with it.
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Stunner, it's a shame you had to send two back to get what was initially promised. Makes you think about what kind of willow never makes it us mere mortals. Hope it serves you well.
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Lovely bat, bloody huge!! make sure you update us how it plays...
Was at Headingley a few years back for a test match and saw Gray Nicolls doing a similar thing. Didnt see much of it though as it chucked it down most of the day and sat by the chinese food stall all day!
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for 150! i really want one
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for 150! i really want one
The lords website is doing the same thing for £200. Still a very good price if you end up with one like that. The emphasis though is of the IF.
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Indeed, if you can speak to GN and get them to put Pro quality low density on the order sheet then you have a chance.
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Mike, did you see any legend bats on any of your visits and if so what would be the difference compared to this bat?
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I could have had the Legend shape but preferred this one, not a lot in the shapes so it may have just been the show models I looked at but this seemed to have a more defined profile with a touch lower middle. I did prefer the Legend labels...
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Looks a nice big bat, dread to think how big it would of been if it was made around the 3lb mark!!
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thats a beauty mate, feckin huge for 2.9............ would be a shame if its too light for you.........
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Well I'm very pleased that a few caring members have offered to help me find the bat a new home should it be too light, what nice thoughtful people.....
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Tis the season of good will so I'll offer u the full asking price of £150 + p&p ;) if u decide to sell
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Well I'm very pleased that a few caring members have offered to help me find the bat a new home should it be too light, what nice thoughtful people.....
Did you expect anything else mike looks a nice shape and great size how's it rate next to other bats you have held as sure I will need a new one soon enough
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Well I'm very pleased that a few caring members have offered to help me find the bat a new home should it be too light, what nice thoughtful people.....
can i join the queue ?
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I call "Shotgun"
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Damn it. You could have got it lb, lh, then i could have offered to take it off your hands!
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Well I'm very pleased that a few caring members have offered to help me find the bat a new home should it be too light, what nice thoughtful people.....
Would make a nice freebie to be put in with my current order :D
In fairness though, despite the frustration this will have caused Mike, should any of us take up their current offer, we can state 'of a quality not less than that received by Mr Brimble', which may do some good.
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Could swap it for a lovely GM Catalyst Original L.E??
Only joking, can't wait :)
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Mike have you got any pics of the 2 previous efforts by GN tp compare to this one......
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I don't, but this is the offer if you can get them to agree and produce the willow quality,
http://www.cricketdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/Cricket-Bats/Gray-Nicolls-Cricket-Bats/Oblivion-Cricket-bats/Grays-Oblivion-Custom-Made-Cricket-Bat-201103
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£319!!! I would rather pay £150 if that's okay by GN
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I cant stop looking at this thread, this has got to be the most sought after bat ever..............
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I think you won't get the same bat as Talisman has even if you pay £319, every Limited Edition/Pro performance or whatever has never been as good as it could've been unless you push GN. They seem very reluctant in every sense with their bats to me.
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I also saw that the toe guard would cost an extra £10 and the knocking in £20.....
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man i want that bad so bad haha :P
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For those still awake, on Channel 9 at lunch they have a recorded interview with Alistair Cook about his bat, might be interesting to see just how exact it is to mine....
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For those still awake, on Channel 9 at lunch they have a recorded interview with Alistair Cook about his bat, might be interesting to see just how exact it is to mine....
His'll be worn out soon.
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For those still awake, on Channel 9 at lunch they have a recorded interview with Alistair Cook about his bat, might be interesting to see just how exact it is to mine....
I missed it but do you mind telling us what he said?
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This bat has just doubled in value after last night
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Caught the interview with Alistair Cook regarding his bat. Talked about his ideal weight (being 2.8, 2.9 pushing it) and a preference for nice, tight and straight grains which was what the bat he had on show had. Also stated some of his best bats haven't been much to look at.
Wasn't anything too mind blowing really :)
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Rik
i dont think my Jokers in much danger ;)
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Haha, Canners... I thought it might have been after the first 3 days... but apparently the groundsmen in Aus haven't got too much faith in the team either!
Hoping to see something a little more interesting in the coming tests regardless of which way the result goes!
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Similar bats are being sold at local stores in UK. I came across a post and pictures in the following link where a chap saw similar stick with similar stick;
http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?p=3254970#post3254970
(Scroll a bit down to post 146).
So my point is you can get similar sticks like Mikes but obviously not at that price..
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Similar bats are being sold at local stores in UK. I came across a post and pictures in the following link where a chap saw similar stick with similar stick;
[url]http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?p=3254970#post3254970[/url]
(Scroll a bit down to post 146).
So my point is you can get similar sticks like Mikes but obviously not at that price..
The one on that thread may have a similar profile but the grains are nothing like it.
He really did hit on a one in a million there.
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ironic on the "at long last"
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Those two pumas don't look bad for 3000's
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The one on that thread may have a similar profile but the grains are nothing like it.
He really did hit on a one in a million there.
Well grains really don't matter much as grains are only for appearence in my opinion.
I will once again say Mike did get once in a blue moon offer but my point is that similar cleft/profile bats are being sold at shops as well.
Beachcricket, yes that Iriduim looks superb!
The Apex 909 looks brilliant as well.
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OK, i might sound stupid, but ive read the article and i still dont understand how youve managed to get a brand new bat like that for £150!? Can you please explain it and also would it be possible for me or do you have connections?! cheers mate
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OK, i might sound stupid, but ive read the article and i still dont understand how youve managed to get a brand new bat like that for £150!? Can you please explain it and also would it be possible for me or do you have connections?! cheers mate
It was an offer they were doing for people who went to watch one of the england test matches last year at lords. Gray nicolls had a stand and were advertising
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OK, i might sound stupid, but ive read the article and i still dont understand how youve managed to get a brand new bat like that for £150!? Can you please explain it and also would it be possible for me or do you have connections?! cheers mate
At Lord's test match last summer, there was a GN stand offering "The Bat of your dreams" or something like that for £150. They took your detailsn and your specs, and then would provide that for you. Mike took them up on that offer, however, what he got first and second times were, if not planks, certainly not what lived up to the trades description!
After much going back and forth with the guys at GN, and the specification of pro-level low density cleft, he got this monster. And very nice it is too. A lot of work to get it though.