With April arriving tomorrow, I thought I would get my ducks in a row when it comes to playing kit this year.
Pre-season has been a bit of a non-goer for me, mainly down to work and family commitments, but despite all of that, I have managed to get together a collection of kit that will happily see me through the 2023 season.
BatsOver the winter, I had various ideas about what kit I was planning to use, but after trying some of the new 2023 GM kit and some DSC bats, I have settled with the cricket bat that started my love of our fantastic sport back in 2004, the iconic, Kookaburra Kahuna. I purchased a 4.1 2023 Kahuna at the start the year to see what the new models look like nowadays, both from a profile and a graphics perspective and that certain wet the appetite.
I then started scrolling through Facebook Marketplace / eBay with the view of picking up a used one or two for nets, giving me time to knock in a new bat, however, I have managed to pick up 3 used Kahuna's that I am absolutely chuffed with.
From left to right:
2022 Kahuna 6.2 - Brought off eBay last week for just £45, it was a bit of a shot in the dark with no images of the actual bat and if I am being honest, absolutely no idea on what I was going to receive. I had a fear after hitting the purchase button that this was one of the painted back models, but I could not have been more wrong. 37mm edges, virtually no concaving and taps up beautifully. I gave it a little sand this lunchtime and have applied a scuff and a second grip and I am over the moon. Weighs 2lb 8.7oz in its current form. I am not suggesting this is a misgrade but I am struggling to see why it was a grade 6 model. 5/6 blemish free grains and no staining visible. Regardless, over the moon at what turned and this will likely become bat 1 for the season[/li][/list]
2021 Kahuna 4.0- Another eBay purchase, this one for £60. The stickers weren't in the best condition upon arrival, so I gave the bat a complete refurbishment and sent it back to Kookaburra for a new set of labels, a new grip and a scuff sheet. This one is very similar to the 6.2 above - 2lb 9.7oz in its current form with 2 grips applied, very little concaving and feels lovely on the rare occasion I do find the middle![/li][/list]
2017 Kahuna 750 - Yet another eBay purchase, this time for £75. The bat didn't appear to be in a great state when it arrived, however, an hour in the workshop with the sander and it was looking a lot better. This bat also went back to Kookaburra with the 4.0 for a fresh set of labels and a new grip. I doubt this one will get much use this season, purely because the two bats above are absolute belters! Weighs 2lb 11.3oz with 2 grips applied[/li][/list]
Soft GoodsNo surprise that with 3 Kahuna's in the bag, it was going to Kahuna soft goods that I opted for.
Over the winter, I have made a fair number of purchases from Cricket-Hockey who are located just outside of Salisbury. For the soft goods, I opted to use those guys again and had a fantastic experience. I don't play a particular high standard of cricket, so I decided to go for the 4.1 soft goods from Kookaburra.
The pads are nice and lightweight and have some elegant, subtle detailing which is the mirrored in the batting gloves. I have had a few hits to the pads in the nets over the last few weeks and they have a decent level of protection for the price point.
The batting gloves are very impressive. I am a little picky when it comes to batting gloves, but for £35 a pair, these are lovely and flexible, the palms are super soft and they look great in conjunction with the bats and the pads. I have picked up 2 sets to get me through the season, but for the price, you cannot go far wrong.
And for midweek cricket in 2023, my club are opting for full coloured kits. To ensure I have FKW status, I have taken the plunge and picked up a matching set of Kookaburra 4.1 black pads & gloves:
The only items missing is a Kookaburra bag which I will pick up over the weekend and the old cricket spikes, which I fear will be staying in the garage for a few more weeks yet...
Enjoy the pictures!
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Topic: Your 2023 kit - pictures are a must... (Read 24002 times)