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[Cys1]

Hi Guys

I just first wanted to say that this is a great forum!!! Its awesome to be able to listen to other cricketers who are passionate about cricket bats and cricket kit.
I've been following the forum for a while now and i've noticed that most members are avid supporters of UK based bat manufacturers and that often the quality of bats from Asia are met with scepticism. I find this very interesting since most of my bats are of asian origin and perform very well. I buy cricket bats based on the correct weight, shape and pick up and most importantly performance from the start. I do not mind if it only lasts me half a season, as long as it pings!

I must admit that i have not had access to any of the Brands featured on this forum like Vantage, Hell4Leather etc. The members of this forum have had loads of experience with bats from the UK as well as Asia and i would appreciate their input on the merits of bats from these origins.

Please excuse me if this topic has been raised in the past but i am fairly new to the forum.
Thanks!

[peplow]

I think a good asian bat and a good uk bat are very hard to seperate, in fact if you are taking the very best bat example from both places then you would pssibly get a better asian made bat! (more indian than pakistani!)

But i think when asian bats are poor they are very poor where as its much less common to find such a poor uk made bat.

So uk becomes a safer option but there are some quite superb asian bats going too.

Just my thoughts on it!

[Richard]

The finish that is applied to a UK made bat such as a Newbery, Salix, M&H etc is far higher than that of an Asian equivalent. I think when cricketers are spending so much on a bat, they hold little things like that in high regard, hence why some are reluctant to buy Asian made bats.

My preference for UK made bats lies with the quality of finish and after sales service, nothing to do with performance.

[tim2000s]

I'd suggest as well that UK forum members like to support "local" businesses. I have bats from many places, but they are nearly all UK manufactured. In addition, the likes of Redback, H4L, SAF, Black Cat and Bulldog are relatively new, and therefore get a lot of coverage on the forum.

I've had Matrixx bats before and they weren't the greatest (got sold on very quickly as I didn't like the balance) and I don't get on with the CA shapes. I think it's horses for courses, but the fact that this forum is sponsored by mostly UK companies probably plays a big role...

[peplow]

agree massively with richard too about CS and finish! But then you can buy good asian bats form places like uzisports and get good CS

[Talisman]

The best finish I have ever seen on a bat is a Puma made by Sondhi, truly the best and agreed by the best in the UK.

The machining on most UK made bats is better, some of the pressing is better too.

[Cys1]

I have to admit that the after sales service with most Asian manufacturers is fairly poor. Not sure if this is different if you stay in India and can easily contact the factory.

I suspect that more English willow is exported to India and Pakistan for bat making than used in the UK. If this is the case then you would statistically stand a better chance of stumbling on to more better quality Asian bats simply based on the sheer volume of bats made over there.

Who am i kidding! I'm just a sucker for massive edges and a bow!

[tim2000s]

There you go. Massive edges, a concave spine and a bow aren't always my kind of bat!

[Richard]

I thought i'd be shot down in flames Mike 

[Talisman]

Well it isn't the norm but to be quite honest if all my bats could come out like that finish wise I'd send them to India. It was one of a batch of mid range bats too, better than the UK finished ones.

[procricket]

To be honest i suspect it personal choice..

The quality of blades both here and the sub continent is variable....

What you have to think is the quantity of clefts bought by each company and correct me if i wrong you can not buy just all grade 1 so say sareen the number of clefts they buy the greater the number of grade 1 they have....

But answer to your question i suppose it all about price nowadays i have seen some very good grade 1 bats on here and some questionable grade one bats on here depends and until the market sort there act out and grade on performance and we stop being vain about grains and stuff even me we shall never know....

But then the old grower not shower comes into it i have and sure you all have bats that start as planks but after around 6 months become guns....
I do not buy into the narrow grain wide grain stuff i grade a bat purely on how it picks up and how it taps up....

That why i suggest you buy from whatever country your from no point in buying off a forum (even my bat) or eBay unless you have had the bat before but then not every model bat is the same i suggest you go to a shop or maker and bight the bullet and try some out ignore the stickers and just choose what best....

From now (after my mg2 arrives hypocrite i know) i only going to buy bats i actually pick up


I agree with Mike if your getting grade 2 or 3 bats mid range stuff i would go India every time....

If i wanted something special it will be from England or New Zealand

[Talisman]

Who makes the best bat is quite simple if all the makers had a cleft of the same size, weight and performance.

I'd have Mr Keeley first, Mr Laver second and Mr Millichamp third.

[Canners]

does Keeley do customs besides ones made for pro's?

[Talisman]

Not to the general public.

[Canners]

damn it