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[Tom]

Sykesy,

I like the Top 10 format you have done and I'd be interested to read reviews/summarys of the 40 bats reviewed.

My suggestions for the future would be:

- I'd suggest the players are bowled at in the future tests. Throw downs on the half volley will suit some bats more than others and in games we don't face throwdowns.
- Would be interested to give bats a road test, in magazines like Top Gear for cars they give the car to someone for 6 months to review.
- Give a rough specification/idea for the manufacturers to make to. If Graeme Hick likes a 3lber but someone sends him 2lb 6oz does it mean the bats bad?

[tommo256]

I ordered the magazine through my village shop and they say they didnt get it today

[peplow]

Sykesy,

I like the Top 10 format you have done and I'd be interested to read reviews/summarys of the 40 bats reviewed.

My suggestions for the future would be:

- I'd suggest the players are bowled at in the future tests. Throw downs on the half volley will suit some bats more than others and in games we don't face throwdowns.
- Would be interested to give bats a road test, in magazines like Top Gear for cars they give the car to someone for 6 months to review.
- Give a rough specification/idea for the manufacturers to make to. If Graeme Hick likes a 3lber but someone sends him 2lb 6oz does it mean the bats bad?

Thats interesting tom, agree with the made to the same specs in order to be fair. Maybe bowling machine is the way to go because then you can assure all shots can be played from different lengths etc as bowlers would be pretty random what balls get chucked down, again may be all half volleys, or all long hops!

[Buzz]

Thats interesting tom, agree with the made to the same specs in order to be fair. Maybe bowling machine is the way to go because then you can assure all shots can be played from different lengths etc as bowlers would be pretty random what balls get chucked down, again may be all half volleys, or all long hops!

possibly, although with a bowling machine you can't judge the contact with the ball as well as you can with a proper cricket ball - I think that you would have to do it as a net format, but that isn't easy if you have to do a review of 40 bats... As with all these things there must be a certain amount of luck involved. Hick and Butcher (the two best batters on the test) picked different bats... which says it does come down to personal taist.

[peplow]

Yeah just considered that with the bowling machine balls, its a tough one and is never gonna be 100% accurate, fool proof or thoroughly fair.

[SAF Bats]

Have you seen the vid Tom?

[Tom]

Ooh you mean the one on the YUDU link? Yeh saw that one.

[hell4leather cricket]

can seem to get the logo uploaded on my profile.... :-{

[jandgcricket]

If i'm honest - There's never going to be a far way to do it, all players prefer different shapes, weight's etc.  Therefore this may influence their decision making.  As with Throwdowns I think that's probably the best way as there is little chance of miss-timing, as with proper shot's people are more likely to miss-time and this may influence their decision on the bat?

[Tom]

Miss-timing shots would be good as it gives an idea of middle size. Almost every bat has a middle, the differences are in the size of them.

[SAF Bats]

Ooh you mean the one on the YUDU link? Yeh saw that one.

Ah mine is with Mark Butcher about 5:47 in the sequence just before Graeme Hick hits the camera man

[SAF Bats]

Tom what are you views on the Wisden Test as you haven't posted a view / recommendations on that thread?

[hell4leather cricket]

where's the video?

[Tom]

Tom what are you views on the Wisden Test as you haven't posted a view / recommendations on that thread?

I like the idea of 2 magazines doing different tests, one with pros the other with punters. The suggestions made to AOC would also apply to Wisden. Would also like to see the ultimate best bat from Wisden in addition to the categories.

Both are fantastic ideas though and provide a valuable insight into brands and their bats. It must be particularly time consuming for these magazines to compile and sort out the reviews, which I'm incredibly appreciative of.

[niceonechoppy]

Love the ideas of both companies doing their own thing. As you say tom one with pros and one with punters! Did AOC do a softs review? Tom have you sent that prize of 20 grips yet?