Print

[tim2000s]

Having completed using all three of the bats that I have purchased, the difficult question comes in the comparison of the three.

The three are:

Mongoose MMi3 Series 1 weighing in at 2.12
Black Cat Joker Grade 3 weighing in at 2.14
Bulldog SpiriT20 Grade 1 weighing in at 2.12

Clearly I haven't touched on the Lekka T20, the Newbery TT and the host of other T20 short bladed bats that have appeared. I think that these three are good examples of the types that are available, some of which have minor modifications to the spec, but I don't think I'd see much difference between them and those I've used.

The pictures below give you an idea of how they compare with one another.













I think the first thing I'd note about them is that they all encourage you to play slightly differently. With the MMi3, you know that you are going to have to attack, whilst the Joker gives you an option of defence, while the SpiriT20 allows you to play your normal game.

I think that with the SpiriT20, the thing that I found most impressive was the size of the middle. It was turning my badly timed rubbish into some pretty big shots.

For the Joker it was the ease of manoeuvre. Partially due to it being slightly narrower, I was able to wield it far more wristily than I normally do, which was a very pleasant experience.

With the MMi3, you have a club like block of wood that when you swing it transfers a huge amount of power to the ball, and if you need to score quickly, then it's not that hard, but if the bowler has an ounce of nouse, you'll be in trouble as it's not as easy to play the short stuff.

Having said that, using all three of these bats against short pitched bowling is relatively simple. Watch the ball, and get the wood on it. Play hooks/pulls/cuts. Don't even think about defending. Or rather, only think about defending with the SpiriT20. These are designed for attack.

The hardest balls to play turn out to be slightly back of a good length where they are just too short to go forward, and just too long to play back and hard. Then with the Joker and the MMi3, it comes down to your footwork. For all the power they have, you do have to move your feet more. If you do, it works well. If you don't, then you are stuffed! Well and truly.

Coming back to the question, can I choose? I'm not sure. I would happily go in at number 5 and bat for half an afternoon with the SpiriT20. It is easily good enough for that and you don't have to adjust anything. Equally, if I was playing T20, I could choose any of them. If I had some overs to spare, I'd probably take the Joker. If it was the last five and I was number 7 I'd take the MMi3 to try and score some quick runs.

My only other observation would be the opposition reaction. Taking the MMi3 is going to bring ridicule and apprehension in equal amounts. You will get sledged, but they'll also have an element of fear, thinking that you are going to hit it hard and a long way. The other two don't provide this type of impression and are slightly more subtle.

If i was to sum them up in a sentence each:

MMi3 is a bold statement of intent about what you are about to unleash.
Joker is a subtle bludgeon that will boost confidence and cause concern.
SpiriT20 is an understated weapon of mass destruction.

They all have their value and I'd suggest that using any of them you'd be likely to score a lot of runs or get out quickly. You'd have to select the one you felt most comfortable with.

[Paddy Knott]

Very good review mate. I havent used either of the three, but by the sounds of things id rather use my match bat as it would give the same benefits as the SpitiT20, the joker sounds kind of similar but in the middle if you get where im going... But most of all im drawn towards the 'Goose and thats the one id have if i were to be able to pick out of the three.

[mattw]

I got my Joker from another forum member the other day and I didn't know much about the size of it compared to other bats really. So I was quite surprised with how long the blade was, as I was expecting something like the 'goose and considering the weight of it, the profile of the bat is huge. Had a quick play with it, pings very nicely and played quite a few air shots with it and I'm really looking forward to having a net with it.

I think you could use this for a wednesday night game throughout the innings as I feel as though I would have the confidence to play normal shots with it. It's a beast of a bat and is the blade is still long enough to feel as though it's a proper bat. However after a net i'll come back and say how I got on with it.

[TheBoyLegend]

Cracking Review(s) Tim!

Just one question did you set the grip up on the Joker like that or does it come like that from Black cat?

I am strangly drawn to the Bulldog I must admit

[tim2000s]

This was a former owned bat, so I believe that the previous owner had set it up like that. I don't think it is standard issue, judging by others sold on here. The one in the linked thread seems to have a more normal grip config. Can't say that it caused me any issues though and it would be easy to change. I just haven't been bothered.

I'd say that the Bulldog is the most classically beautiful of the three, probably because it's proportions are aesthetically similar to what you are used to. The other two are a little less normal and therefore perhaps require a re-adjustment of the bounds of cricket bat beauty! 

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=9374.msg147563#msg147563

[jonpinson]

Tim if it's of any use, having read all three of your reviews, you seem to be most positive (or indeed less negative) about the Bulldog. Logic suggests it is the most flexible of the 3 too.

[jimba101]

liking the cherry on the toe of the goose

[tim2000s]

Jon, I think I felt least uncomfortable with the bulldog. This style is most similar to what I've used for 20 years and I felt gave me the flexibility to deal with most bowling. I tried not to say it in any of the reviews, but really, if you have a bat that you are comfortable with using,  I don't believe that buying a T20 bat will help you that much.  In this respect, the bulldog wins hands down. It doesn't feel like something out of the ordinary yet I was surprised how effective it was. I suspect that TT, CoR3 and others of similar style would have the same impact.

 What I plan to do is use the mmi3 and joker in the nets and see how my comfort levels improve.  If it is enough I am more than likely to use either for late match slogathons. What I'd really like to find out is whether I'm comfortable enough with the MMi3 to use it in something other than T20.

[tim2000s]

Postscript!

Well I guess after a few net sessions, I found it possible to choose.

The only one of these that is currently still with me is the SpiriT20. I decided that the Joker and MMi3 could both move along. I could hit the ball hard with all three bats, but I was finding that I was getting the best results with the Bulldog.

I think in summing it up, the best I can say is that you should get the bat that suits you best. Although the MMi3 and Joker both have stunning middles, and do hit the ball hard, improving my technique over the past couple of months has made a great deal more difference, and I am consistently hitting the ball thanks to doing that rather than having a bat with a faster bat speed and more concentrated wood volume.

I'll also add that although I had the S6 made up for me, I actually prefer using the Bulldog (as can be seen by the fact that the S6 is for sale). Feels like a more forgiving bat.

[Buzz]

Without wanting to be seen as too controversial - if the joker had been 2lbs12 and had its full livery, is it possible you would have gone for that?

would you admit to being at all swayed by the stickers and the finishing on the bulldog?

Just to be honest, I would have been... and the joker and the bulldog do look a similar shape

[sgcricket]

buzz, u forgot to add in, what if it was also grade 1?

[Buzz]

personally, on looks, I would have graded the Joker a 1...

[tim2000s]

Without wanting to be seen as too controversial - if the joker had been 2lbs12 and had its full livery, is it possible you would have gone for that?

would you admit to being at all swayed by the stickers and the finishing on the bulldog?

Just to be honest, I would have been... and the joker and the bulldog do look a similar shape

Not really. The stickers are the prototype ones so aren't in what I would describe as great shape. They looked pretty tatty after a few weeks of being taken in and out of the bag. The two things that I found really made me pick the Bulldog were:

a) The uncanny ability that it seems to have to allow you to middle it even with a poor shot, which I still find happens, and which other people using it have been massively surprised at too.

b) That when I played with the other two, I seemed to try and belt the ball out of the ground with every shot, so that I was batting in an uncontrolled fashion. I am certain that is down to the shape and size of the other two bats, and even when concentrating on playing properly, you still find yourself doing it.

buzz, u forgot to add in, what if it was also grade 1?

Don't think the Joker looks like a grade 3 myself. That was simply what I was told when I acquired it. It certainly performed and looks like a grade 1.

[Canners]

is the spiriT20 also slightly narrower?

[tim2000s]

is the spiriT20 also slightly narrower?

No, full width blade that is about an inch/inch and a half shorter.

Joker is shorter still and harrow width.