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[mi2k]

My 9 year old son is graduating from from hard tennis ball cricket to leather ball cricket. We are in the US where there is not much cricket infrastructure or knowledge. I am looking for suggestions regarding what bat to get him, and from where.

My inclination is to go for as light a bat as possible. Does this necessarily imply English willow? Specific brand/bat suggestions are welcome. He is 57" tall, which I think puts him at the borderline of bat sizes 4 and 5. Would it be a good idea for him to use a 4 for a while to keep the bat weight low?

It is my impression that there are lots of fake bats in the online world. I am also looking for suggestions regarding reliable vendors for cricket gear in the US. We are on the east coast.

[smilley792]

http://www.cricketstoreonline.com/

Texas based shop. Will sort you out with a good bat.

[PedalsMcgrew]

I think you would be very well served contacting one of the shops on here such as Vitas Cricket or IJC, Aswani etc and talking to them. All will be able to ship to you and there are so many different options for shipping these days that it is likely to be cheaper than you think. They will be able to help you decide what size your son needs and the type of bat that will suit him. From my recent experience of buying a bat for my G/F's son it really is all about getting something nice and light that will help him to play all the different shots. At his age a heavier bat is pointless as he won't hit the ball any further and his shots will be restricted because of the weight. Give him the best tool to learn with. I would always suggest English willow if you're using a hard ball but again it may come down to cost!

[ammo]

I'd get him a size 4 light bat, try get an english willow if not kashmr will do.
Cricket store online?