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[edge]

People moaning about the stickers not being classy - M&H have produced some pretty poor stickers down the years, they weren't all the classic original ones! I quite like the new ones, good update of the brand. Also, seem to recall almost everyone loved the CK22 stickers? So basically you're unhappy with the colours, cheer up.

[smilley792]

NC?

Nick Compton. Was mentioned earlier in the thread.

[thecord]

People moaning about the stickers not being classy - M&H have produced some pretty poor stickers down the years, they weren't all the classic original ones! I quite like the new ones, good update of the brand. Also, seem to recall almost everyone loved the CK22 stickers? So basically you're unhappy with the colours, cheer up.

NO! NO! NOOOO!
Didn't like the CK22 they were terrible! Stickers have mostly been poor quality but looked effortlessly stylish in the past.
I can't remember seeing anyone using a bat with their new stickers on which speaks volumes considering the area we play in.

Rant over, hope the legs on the mend 

[smilley792]

sadly the actual Warner shape isn't available, and I know of no other Gray-Nicolls bat that would compare to these.

Warner shape is/was available in aid in a limited run of 50(and I have one)

My fortunately the UK will as per usual be late to the party if they arrive at all!

[GoldenArm]

M&H are not the only brand to jazz up a "classy/traditional/stylish/luxury" range - look at Newbery.  I can understand why some don't like it, but like it or not, the market is heading this way, and the cricket market evolves more quickly than the tuxedo market in my opinion.  You only need to look at the changes in bat sizes and shapes and T20 cricket in general to understand that.

I wasn't comparing them as products themselves, simply a good example of how something can look stylish consistently across decades without ever losing its identity but still manages to stay current. I was inspired by the poster for the new Bond film Spectre! Daniel Craigs tux harks back to that classic Connery one from Dr No buts its essentially the same look. And to bring it back to a purely cricketing point Gray Nics have done this beautifully for 2016's range. Classic but modern.

[Northern monkey]

I agree with the above post

M&H are missing the point
You build a brand over years, that people aspire too
Then forget all of it in pursuit of what? More sales? Nah, not for long
There's a lot more choice out there these days, and people are a lot more savvy than they used to be, especially with value for money

Brighter,snazzier? Stickers,,,stupid edges, possibly over drying clefts
Goes against the beautiful bats that generations aspired to own

Been a while since I popped into the county ground to look at their stuff, my heart and head have been spoilt with too many horror stories of broken bats and poor customer service of late, so would take more than 50mm edges and a free refurb to change that.

[Six Sixes Cricket]

I think the colour scheme looks good although blueroom had the same colour scheme a few years back.

I've seen quite a lot of m&h's being used, but generally there either the older solution, distinctions or have the retro' stickers on them. 

[GoldenArm]

I would also add that I think Newbery have done this quite well with the Kudos range. Perhaps not everyones cup of tea, I'm thinking the blingy, bombastic T/20 crowd; I doubt many kids will be clamouring to own one, but they have essentially held onto what Newbery is all about whilst still innovating.

[Bats_Entertainment]

Nick Compton. Was mentioned earlier in the thread.

Oh yeah.

[JB]

I quite like the NC colours, especially on the softs. I've had a few M&H's and they have all been superb, have all the detractors actually owned one? If they have I must just be very lucky!!

[Northern monkey]

Got three
Including the one that snapped in half

[JB]

Were they all crap?

[Gurujames]

Most people agree that they perform well. However, they also agree that they are expensive, have lost a little class in their branding and in the recent past been poorly finished.

[JB]

Don't get me wrong, I do think they are expensive. It's a sort of guilty pleasure as when I first started playing one of the seniors bought one every season and literally had a bag full of M&H guns. Think it's that reason why I've paid a lot of money for a couple of them. I personally like the modern twist on the old original branding. My CK22 is badly finished, but I'll happily trade that for its performance

[Northern monkey]

Were they all crap?

No not at all.
Very heavy? Dense for the profile but pinged nice, until it snapped in half
I play in Somerset sometimes and I've seen loads of em now, that have snapped toes or split down the grains.
Seen two ck,s that were planks,,,but then the one Asad had at Uzi was unreal.

My three affinitys are on another planet for similar money