I'm a frequent flyer with Emirates (Gold Card) and you will love it! Great aircraft, great on-demand videos.....hundreds of movies, tv shows, albums and audio-books to choose from....above average airline food and great service. Going through Dubai can be an experience, but other than that, sit back, put the headphones on and enjoy the trip......trying not to look at your watch, or the in-flight tracking map!
Here's their FAQ page for Baggage questions
http://www.emirates.com/english/help/faqs/FAQDetails.aspx?faqCategory=214913#faq4"Exemptions may be granted for oversized hand baggage containing an item or items which are too large to fit within the permitted bag size and are valuable or fragile. Such oversized baggage shall be presented by the passenger for approval at check-in and at the screening point of examination."
I've seen folks with 6-feet long didgeridoos as hand-luggage coming back from Oz....a cricket bat will easily fit into the overhead locker on the wide-bodied long-haul jets...no worries mate!