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[SOULMAN1012]

Those bats look absolutely perfect.

They are basically perfect. The Mary Poppins of cricket bats.

[yvk3103]

Lovely looking kit Yash - those bats look amazing and if they go as well as they look, then they will be a bowler's worst nightmare! 

One of them is already giving bowlers a hard time in the nets. The one with the Puma grip, is almost ripe and goes like a rocket.
However, what I instantly like about these bats was the balance and pick-up.

[yvk3103]

I asked AJK what we had to do to stock this kit in future (they're not 100% exclusive to Barringtons) and he basically answered "sell more of our bats!" If the sight of this doesn't inspire me, I don't know what will! Lovely kit, Yash - thanks for sharing! 

Thanks Paul.

Hope you reach this milestone soon and get to stock the AJK range.

Are there any other retailers getting the AJK range for 2013?

Considering that Barrington's was more associated with hockey it is very hard to believe that they sell more Salix bats than any other retailer. I think there is more to that explanation from Andrew. I knew from mid of last season that Salix will be doing exclusive bats for Barrington Sports.

I think time will tell how exclusive this range is

But not really bothered as these bats are 99% perfect for me.

[chaudhari21]

The more time I spend on this forum I may want to start saving money or selling some of the stuff in  my house like my coffee table and couches  because I think I am going to end up buying a new bat each week.

[yvk3103]

Slightly off topic.

But the only non Salix bats that I have found to have come the closest to these AJK bats in balance, pick-up, size and ping were the blank SS player grade (true player grade) bats that Lukey Sports had posted on here a few months back. Those 2 bats Lukey had were mental (though not as mental as these AJKs) and for the price they were top value for money.

[tushar sehgal]

Sorry Tushar. Salix bats dont count. See your Torque its very nice.

I spoke with Andrew to clarify what was the difference between Salix Players bats and AJK bats - Andrew said that the AJKs were made from the very very best willow they can find from the 1000s of clefts they get and hence limited to 20-30 bats a year. Same as LW Signature or the Cenko.

Having used my AJK, I have let go of all my other bats - which is a tough decision for someone like me who has access to a steady flow of top quality bats. (The Hosk can vouch for this).

Oh ok...hmm another purchase coming up then 

[Vitas Cricket]

I thought AJK sticks were only offered to Barrington since they are their biggest customers but that was it and had nothing to do with best of the best, assumed it was similar to players but i could be wrong..

You are correct. A reward for Barrington is a range that they don't have to compete with anyone else on price with.

[tim2000s]

What are you going to do with them all when you go to the Czech republic?

[thecord]

So does this gear not have Salix on at all? An interesting branding exercise if they don't, to put out supposedly top of the range gear without your brand name

[yvk3103]

What are you going to do with them all when you go to the Czech republic?

That possibility is very bleak now. May shift to London office.

[yvk3103]

So does this gear not have Salix on at all? An interesting branding exercise if they don't, to put out supposedly top of the range gear without your brand name

No reference of "Salix" anywhere. Just "AJK"

[Vitas Cricket]

So does this gear not have Salix on at all? An interesting branding exercise if they don't, to put out supposedly top of the range gear without your brand name

Its a separate brand. Obviously most people will put two and two together, but there is no mention of Salix on the AJK stuff as far as i'm aware.

[tim2000s]

"made for kit nerds"

[thecord]

Haha I guess so. Just seems a bit odd if its meant to be their top gear but doesn't actually advertise the main brand at all. I'm sure there are other similar examples in other areas of business though

[yvk3103]

You are correct. A reward for Barrington is a range that they don't have to compete with anyone else on price with.

As long as I have known Barrington's they have never competed on price. I always found then min 10% dearer than the likes of Owzat, Romida, Lorimers, VKS etc etc. However, this year they are priced in-line with the market.

From what I have been told from both entities, AJK is "best of the best".

I am not sure of this, but I would never have named Barrington Sports as a top 10 cricket specialist retailer and hence I find it hard to believe that they were the biggest customers for Salix (could be true, but difficult to imagine).

I have spoken to both Salix and the guys at Barrington Sports and therefore know more on the actual reasons, which go beyond just buying more and more of Salix. There are some other synergies in though process of both companies. Obviously, I am not the right person to comment on the specifics, maybe will ask someone from Barrington's to register on the forum and clarify.