cricket
How to Buy a Cricket Bat Online: The Complete Guide
Is it even possible to buy a cricket bat online? Of course it is. Many people would rather hold the cricket bat before they buy it, and some even insist upon it. If you’re a professional, knowing how to buy a cricket bat online can be a difficult task. Cricket bat shopping is more of an intense task when you are trying to find the perfect companion for your upcoming professional season, but for most of us, the beginner cricket bats for sale online will do a perfect job. In this guide, we explore where to buy cricket bats online and all the things you need to know before you take the plunge. Returns Policy The biggest fear for a lot of people when they choose to purchase a cricket bat online is that they don’t want to get a dud. You may already know if you’re a veteran of the game that there are some models out there that won’t help your batting. For cricket bat online shopping, the returns policy that is on offer is utterly essential to understand, and a company that won’t accept returns or offer any sort of warranty should send alarm bells ringing. At the Village Cricket Co., we believe that you should be able to buy a bat online with no fear of it breaking and you being out of pocket. Not only are we confident that you will love your bat, and that it will stay in good nick for some time after you buy it, but we are also willing to back this up. If the bat breaks within 180 days of you buying it, during a game or practice, we will send a replacement free of charge. Just drop us an email with information on how the bat broke and we will send out a brand new bat for you. Plus, if you just decide it isn’t the bat for you, you can return it in a resalable condition within 30 days of arrival and we’ll give you a refund. You are responsible for the return postage fee. Buying a bat without any way of returning it if it doesn’t work for you is taking your chances. Pros and Cons of Shopping for Cricket Bats Online Some people will always say that you should check your cricket bat before you buy it. This means holding it in your hand, knowing how it feels, and whether it is the right weight for you. However, a lot of people don’t evaluate the good side of buying online. Pros include: More choice. If you go to a sports shop looking for a cricket bat then you are limited to the bats they have in stock. Online you can buy directly from the brands, or from sports stores, and inevitably have a lot more choice as a result. The best prices. You can often get the best prices online. If you buy directly from the brand, for instance if you buy the Village Cricket Bat, you can cut out the middleman. Buy from a store and you may get a more affordable bat due to the competition. Cons include: The fact that you can’t hold the bat in your hand and see how it feels before buying it. The fact that you have to wait for delivery. Choosing a Bat to Buy Online If you are going to look into buying cricket bats online then you need to know what sort of things to look for in your bat. It makes sense to understand all the terminology and criteria for a good bat, and boost your chances of getting something that you love. Bat Size It is helpful to understand the sizing of cricket bats before you make your purchase. The standard adult sizes are both SH and LH, with the vast majority of people going for a SH bat. This means “short handle” and is suitable for most batters from 5’8” up to 6’3” in height. Taller than this, and you might want to go for the LH bat, which stands for “long handle”. Smaller than this and many people would go for a smaller bat. Harrow bats are usually reserved for teenagers and shorter adult batters. If you are looking to buy children’s cricket bats online then you need to find something that is a suitable size. Check out our full guide to cricket bat sizes to get a full understanding of these sizes and what is suitable for each age group and height. Bat Weights When shopping online for a cricket bat, the weight is something you must also understand. You don’t want to buy a bat that feels paperweight when it arrives. Similarly, you want to know that it isn’t too heavy. A heavy bat might not feel difficult to hold for short periods, but if you’re one of those batsmen lucky enough to last at the crease longer than five or six deliveries then it might start to feel heavy in your hands. - Lightweight: 2lb 7oz - 2lb 9oz - Midweight: 2lb 10oz - 2lb 13oz - Heavyweight: 2lb 14oz+ The Village Cricket Bat is just on the light side of middleweight, but with a great sweet spot it gives plenty of opportunity to make some big shots, as well as being able to access all of the hitting zones (if your technique allows). Buying a bat somewhere in the mid weight range is one of the safest ways to buy without visiting a cricket bat shop in person. Bat Price It is definitely possible to buy cheap cricket bats online, and there are some far more affordable options out there than you might find in person, but there can be issues with buying online if you go to the very cheapest cricket bats online. It’s easy to spend £400 on a bat, but this isn’t realistic for a lot of people. This is why we’ve set out to create the Village Cricket Bat, which offers an affordable bat that is still made out of quality willow. This means that it will stand up to the pressure of hitting (or edging) all those cherries. Our bat is available under £100 but it is made out of excellent Salix Alba Willow. If you buy an adult bat for £30 or £40 brand new, it is likely that it will only be suitable for tennis ball cricket, and harder balls might cause it to break instantly. It’s not worth it. If you’re looking to buy a cricket bat online, The Village Cricket Bat is one of the simplest options you can go for. It sits in the middle of the weight range, but also has a lot of other benefits. It’s cheaper than the majority of bats, but it is still made of sturdy and durable Kashmir Willow, which may last even longer than English Willow. We’re very confident that you’ll love the bat, but we know that trying to find a bat online can be tough and people might assume that the bat is not built to last. We offer a 30 day moneyback guarantee if you don’t enjoy the bat, just return it in sellable condition. On top of that, there’s a 180 day warranty on the bat itself if there are any breakages.
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How to Choose a Cricket Bat - Get The Ideal Bat For Your Style
If you’re just getting into cricket, or picking up the bat again after decades not playing, you’ll need to get a reliable accomplice. Your cricket bat is nothing short of vital, whether you’re a specialist batsman, a bowler, or you fancy yourself as the next Ben Stokes. Some sports allow you to get playing quickly as long as you’ve got some half-suitable gear, but this is not the case with cricket. In fact, if you buy a poor-quality bat or you don’t look after it properly, it will break. So it’s critical that you do your research, and that’s why we’ve collected all the information you should need to choose a suitable cricket bat for you within this post. Give it a bit of thought before hitting the buy button and you’re much more likely to get a bat that can last you a number of years, rather than something you will have to replace after a few months. Price It’s easily done. You check out your favourite cricketer, look up their bat...and it’s £500. This might be fine if you really are going to become the next Ben Stokes, but in all likelihood, you just need a bat to help you in the nets and the eight balls you might face on a Saturday. The price can vary a huge amount. In fact, you could go into a sports shop on the high street and buy a bat for £30, but we do not recommend this. In all likelihood, this will be made out of poor-quality laminate wood, and it will break as soon as a ball hits it. It’s rare to find a good bat for less than £100, but it is possible. Our Village Cricket Bat is made to provide an affordable yet reliable bat that can last years, and we keep prices down by not chasing sponsorships of the professionals, and using high-grade Salix Alba Willow sourced in India. The price is even lower if you get one of our junior bats, which are affordable but still incredibly durable. In the mid-range of the market, you’re often looking at spending £200-300 to get something reliable. On top of all the other equipment you might need to start playing cricket, this can be annoyingly expensive. We don’t believe there should be such a big barrier to entry and our bat is made with the village cricketer in mind. At the top end of the market, you can easily spend £500 on a bat. But should you do so? Well, if you’ve got the money we’re not going to stop you. This sort of money on a bat is usually more suitable if you’re a professional, or aspiring pro. Size Establishing what size of cricket bat is much more difficult for juniors than it tends to be for adult batters. Fortunately, there’s a convenient chart that you can use (below) which accounts for the height and age of a batter. Sizes 1-6 tend to be graded for children to use. The Harrow size is a sort of in-between for shorter adults, women, and teenagers. Adult sizes tend to be broken down between SH and LH, short handle, and long handle models for different builds of adults. Even if you’re going to buy your bat online it might make sense that you go to a sports store to get some idea of the difference in sizes. BAT SIZE APPROX. AGE HEIGHT OF BATTER BAT LENGTH BAT WIDTH 1 4-6 Years Old Up to 4ft 3inches 25 1/4 inches 3 1/2 inches 2 6-8 Years Old 4ft 3" - 4ft 6" 27 3/4 inches 3 1/2 inches 3 8-9 Years Old 4ft 6" - 4ft 9" 28 3/4 inches 3 3/4 inches 4 9-10 Years Old 4ft 9" - 4ft 11" 29 3/4 inches 3 3/4 inches 5 10-11 Years Old 4ft 11" - 5ft 2" 30 3/4 inches 4 inches 6 11-13 Years Old 5ft 2" - 5ft 5" 31 3/4 inches 4 inches HARROW 12-14 Years Old 5ft 5" - 5ft 8" 32 3/4 inches 4 1/6 inches FULL SIZE (Short Handle) 15+ Years Old 5ft 8" - 6ft 3" 33 1/2 inches 4 1/4 inches FULL SIZE (Long Handle/Blade) 15+Years Old 6ft 3" and above 34 3/8 inches 4 1/4 inches Weight Cricket bats tend to weigh between 2lb 7oz and 2lb 10 oz. The difference is subtle, but it does make a difference. If you want to know if you can handle the bat, hold it at arm’s length, and if it is comfortable for extended periods of time then this could be the bat for you. In the world of cricket bats there is always a compromise. Some thicker and heavier bats can hit the ball a distance, but it might be harder for you to manoeuvre with a bat like this. A touch player might want a lighter bat. There’s always a balance to be struck. The Village Cricket Bat is a 2lb 9oz model, and suitable for the more intricate player or the power-hitter. You need to be able to access all areas with your bat, and it shouldn’t feel like trying to swing a giant kettlebell. Wood The wood used on a cricket bat is an area of some debate. The term ‘swinging the willow’ is accurate, as the vast majority of cricket bats are made out of willow. There is a specific type of willow used, as Weeping Willow, the most popular variety, is not suitable due to its density. Salix Alba is the wood used, and this is grown in the UK, but also in India. Englishmen grew this willow in parts of India with a similar climate to the UK in an attempt to create a more abundant source. The wood is identical in terms of genetic makeup, but there are a few subtle differences due to the climate, including the colour. Indian Salix Alba has some benefits. As well as being much more affordable, it even lasts longer before you need to replace it. This wood has been used by some big-name cricketers including Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh. “Kashmir” willow is what is used in the Village Cricket Bat. Shape (and the “Sweet Spot”) Most modern bats are designed to be all-rounders. They can do a good job no matter what type of player you are, but some do have a certain advantage for some styles of play. For instance, a mid or even low sweet spot (the strong area where you want the ball to hit) is great for playing off of the front foot. Higher sweet spots are good for back foot players. Plenty of bats, including the Village Cricket Bat, can be used for a variety of styles of play. If you get a bat that can do both, you don’t have to worry too much about matching up the shape, curvature, or sweet spot to suit your style. Brand The brand of a cricket bat can be a difficult thing to get your head around. Of course, certain brands do indicate quality. The big brands often got to where they are by having a great track record of making incredible bats. However, brands have a lot of overheads. Big brands spend money sponsoring professionals and ‘chasing’ players to endorse their bats. At the Village Cricket Co., we avoid doing this so that we can pass the savings on to our customers. Some smaller brands are still capable of creating fantastic bats that are great value for money. It’s also possible to buy a dud bat from a big brand. For amateur cricketers, it doesn’t usually make sense to pay for the big-name brands, especially if you are going to have to replace your bat after a few years. Value and brand are both considerations that work closely together. Longevity This is a difficult thing to judge, but if you buy a bat that isn’t made out of quality willow, don’t expect it to last you a long time. Instead, you should find something that is made out of high-quality wood, and from a brand with a history of making great bats. As we’ve already mentioned, Kashmir willow can be a good solution if you want a bat to last. If you want your bat to last, it isn’t just about buying something that is high-quality, as our next point explains... Maintenance You need to look after your bat. Keep it in a place where there won’t be extreme changes in temperature. Don’t be tempted to leave the bat in the back of your car where it will be subjected to drops in temperature and then rises in temperature when the sun hits. The most important aspect of maintenance for a cricket bat is “knocking-in” which you need to do with a new bat, or one you haven’t used in a while. You can pay a sports shop to do this if you want, but a lot of village cricketers choose to do it themselves. It’s not a great deal of fun. Knocking-in involves continually hitting the bat with a mallet to bind the fibres together and increase the strength. You’re effectively preparing it for those 70mph deliveries to hit it. You also need to oil the bat, to reinvigorate it and strengthen it. These can be tough skills to master, and if you’ve never done it before you might make a mistake. You don’t want to mess up and risk your £400 bat getting broken first use. Fortunately, the Village Cricket Bat comes already knocked in. You’re ready to use it the minute it arrives at your front door, and you can go straight to the nets and start hitting. Further Considerations There are a few more things to consider when you are choosing a suitable cricket bat, and some may even be unique to your own situation. Bats for Kids – They Will Grow Out of Them This is one of the most important considerations if you are buying a cricket bat for juniors. They grow fast. It’s the same conundrum you may have when buying clothes for children, you don’t want to spend a fortune on something they won’t get any use out of this time next year. There’s definitely a balance to be struck when it comes to choosing a cricket bat for junior players. You don’t want something that will break straight away, but similarly, spending £300 every time your child goes up a size in bat is just not sustainable for a lot of people. How Regularly Do You Play? Do you play cricket once a week on a Saturday? Or is it your life? If you’re a young cricketer and you have ambitions to play at a high level, your demands from a bat might be a little higher than your average Joe who is just happy to see a few deliveries on the weekends. Also, you’ll need to think about the punishment your bat is going to take. At a high level, your bat could face hundreds of 80mph deliveries. At a village level, you might be facing 40mph more regularly. The Pitches You Play On The Village Cricket Bat is made for use on English pitches, primarily, with a low pickup to suit the lower bounce of the English conditions. This is definitely worth considering before you make your decision on which bat to buy. The Village Cricket Bat – Value and Quality Our bat has been designed to give a “best of both worlds” option to cricketers. We don’t chase endorsements or waste marketing budget, instead, we create a reliable bat that can help you hit six after six on your local pitch. We understand that cricket equipment can be expensive, so the idea of getting a great bat for around £120, or even less for juniors, can be very appealing.
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Best Kashmir Willow Cricket Bat (suitable for hard ball cricket)
If you are looking for an affordable cricket bat for use playing on a Saturday for your local village team, you might well be looking at options made out of Kashmir willow. This material is more affordable due to the fact that it is more abundant than English willow, which is the traditional material for making cricket bats. In this guide, we’re exploring the best Kashmir willow cricket bats, and how you can choose a suitable bat for your style of cricket (and budget). Material is just one of the considerations. Read on to explore the best way to make your choice, as well as exploring a recommended bat for your cricket needs. What is Kashmir Willow? Kashmir willow is one variety of the Salix Alba willow tree, which was first discovered around 300 years ago here in the UK. The willow trees have been grown for centuries, and when they were first used for cricket bats they were found to be the perfect density. Weeping willow trees are too hard and heavy for bats. In the 19th century, British people in India worked out that they could grow the tree in the climate. Saplings were planted and grew successfully! That’s where we get Kashmir willow. The origin of the trees is identical. While there is sometimes snobbery regarding the type of tree, the only difference between the two is the climate in which they are grown. Well, perhaps it isn’t the only difference, the price of the two materials is also vastly different. What Makes a Bat Suitable for Hard Ball Cricket? When you are looking for a bat, either for kids or adults, you need to make sure that it is great for use in hard ball cricket. If you are practising with a softer ball such as a practise ball, you might find that a bat performs perfectly, but once you use a hard ball it can break. Some bats snap completely from the handle. Bats must be a high grade of willow in order to be able to cope with the hard cricket ball hitting them time and time again. They also need to be knocked in. More on this below. Kashmir Willow vs English Willow There are a few differences between the two types of wood. This should definitely be considered before you make a choice. Kashmir willow is marginally denser. However, if you are looking to buy a willow bat that is 2 lb 9oz or 2 lb 10 oz, it makes very little difference how dense the wood is, and when you are actually playing you are unlikely to notice this difference. It also doesn’t put any more strain on your body. 2lb 9oz is the same weight, no matter what the density is! English willow is said to have a slightly better ‘ping’ to it. This is something reserved for the pros, really. At the village cricket level, very few of us amateur cricketers can feel the benefits of the additional ‘ping’ of the cricket bat made out of English willow. Kashmir willow can actually last a lot longer. This means that instead of having to replace your bat every couple of seasons, you might get much more use out of a Kashmir willow bat such as the Village Cricket Co bat. There is often a big difference in the colour of the bat. Kashmir willow varies more in colour, and while English willow tends to be much paler, the Kashmir models can be a little darker. The willow is much more variable when sourced from Kashmir, so it’s inevitable that the bats can come with different looks to them. Both types of willow come in different grades. Higher grades of both are harder to distinguish. The grade one Kashmir bats have even been used in test cricket. Sachin Tendulkar and Sir Viv Richards have both used this type of wood. How to Choose a Kashmir Willow Cricket Bat What are the key criteria when you are looking to choose a Kashmir willow cricket bat? There are plenty of myths about Kashmir bats when compared to English willow bats. Below, we delve into all of the things you should consider when choosing a Kashmir willow cricket bat. Price For the vast majority of people, price is a consideration when you are looking to buy a cricket bat. We’d all love to buy a £500 bat, but this isn’t an option for a lot of us. If you’re buying for a child, then you certainly won’t want to spend a fortune on a bat that they are likely to grow out of in a matter of years, or even months. While an English willow bat could cost £400-500, you may be able to find a Kashmir willow bat for £200 or less. Kashmir willow is not only attractive due to the price. This type of willow was used by Sachin Tendulkar at times in his career. You can enjoy the quality that it has to offer without having to part with a fortune. Size Cricket bats come in two different adult sizes as well as a number of junior sizes. Here at the Village Cricket Co, we stock a variety of different sizes so you can match your bat to the size you need. While a lot of the decision on size can be made via age, you may get the most suitable bat size based on your height, or the height of your child. Adults up to 6ft 3in can use SH bats (this stands for “short handle”) and over 6ft 3in it may make sense to opt for a LH bat (“long handle”) which may be more suitable for your build. Children’s cricket bats come in sizes 1-6, and Harrow bats are suitable for adolescents and small adults. You can buy any of these on the Village Cricket Co website. Whether you’re buying for a four-year-old or a 40-year-old, it’s all about matching up the right size. Bat Weight Adult cricket bats normally weigh between 2lb 7oz and 2lb 10oz. If you’re used to holding someone else’s bat at practice, this is the sort of weight and feel you will be used to. Naturally, if you are buying a smaller bat, for children, the weight will be significantly lower. Knocking In Knocking in your bat involves hitting it with a mallet to compress the fibres. Some people also use a cricket ball inside a sock. This gradually prepares the bat for being hit repeatedly with a hard cricket ball. Knocking in can be annoying for a couple of reasons. It can be time-consuming, but also, if you don’t know what you are doing, you might not do a great job. This means it is more likely that your bat will break when you use it in your next match or even while you’re in the nets. Nobody wants that. The Village Cricket Bat is shipped to you already knocked in. The minute it arrives at your door you can head out and start to play with your friends. Recommended Bat - Village Cricket Bat We know what people who are looking for Kashmir bats tend to be looking for, and we’ve sourced our products accordingly. As well as being available in all of the mainstream bat sizes, the Village Cricket Bat is made with both quality and value in mind. Crucially, for village cricketers, the bat has a low middle and a low sweet spot. This suits English pitches and conditions and means that if you get a great connection, the ball absolutely flies. This bat could be your ideal accomplice in getting boundary after boundary. The bat also comes with a carefully constructed curvature to accommodate the modern, 360-degree player, and give you the utmost in flexibility. It comes knocked in, so you don’t have to worry about doing this yourself when it arrives. We know you want to get straight to work on your game. The bat is durable, and will only need knocking in again after a prolonged period where you don’t use it at all. We’re so confident in the bat that we are happy to give a 180-day guarantee. This bat is built to last, and we are sure you’re going to get many seasons of use out of it. The bat is a great all-rounder. It can be used by the attacking or defensive batsman, and it is ideal for having in the kitbag at a village cricket club, or as a ‘club bat’ for practice sessions. How do we keep it so cheap? By avoiding chasing endorsements and sponsoring players, and having one simple design for each size, we can ensure that we pass on savings to our customers. The bat is made out of Salix Alba willow from Kashmir, which means that the wood itself is slightly more affordable, but it can still let you smash the ball to all parts.
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27 Things You Only Know If You Play Village Cricket
If you’ve ever played village cricket then the chances are you’ve experienced the full spectrum of frustrating times to absolutely hilarious sights. Whether it’s players pulling out at the last minute as they cannot hack their hangover or teammates leaving early to attend a family bbq - availability can be a struggle for many clubs. On the pitch, seeing your mate get hit in the nuts can leave you in stitches right up until it happens to you just a few balls later. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Village Cricket Co. ? (@villagecricketco) How many of these things have you experienced… 1. Blaming getting out on the bowlers strange action Whether they are bowling off the wrong foot, have a non-existent front arm or they just have a flamboyant action, we’ve all been there blaming everything but ourselves for getting out. 2. The highs and lows of opposition teas We all have our favourite opposition teas. The differences between the best and worst teas is quite staggering. Rocking up at the tea room and seeing a pot of chilli can bring you as much joy as the lukewarm tea urn can bring you despair. 3. Those early season games when it’s barely above freezing No amount of jumpers manages to keep the cold out. There is a reason that cricket is a summer sport, we stand far too still for far too long. So whilst it’s barely 4 degrees whilst we’re patrolling the covers and we’ll likely catch hypothermia. 4. The pain of cricket ball on kneecap (and other places) I’m pretty sure this happens at least once a game, and it seems some players' kneecaps are like magnets to the ball. When it’s not you, it’s brilliant. When it does happen to you, nothing is less funny. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Village Cricket Co. ? (@villagecricketco) 5. Getting annoyed at your club mates for dropping easy catches How hard can it be? It was a dolly and you didn’t have to move. It’s even more frustrating when it’s off your bowling. Just tell them they need more catching practice at training. 6. Then you dropping an absolute sitter Crap. Well at least you aren’t the only one. 7. Jumping back to square leg umpire because the quick bowler dropped it short We’ve all been there, the opposition's opening bowler is much quicker than we’ve faced or remember facing and we suddenly lose the ability to bat, instead we jump around and hope we don’t get hit. 8. You’ve witnessed an 68-year-old opener who has batted the for the entire innings to score 33 not out To be fair, it’s an impressive feat to have faced so many balls and scored such a small amount of runs. This is great when the rest of the team has a good game, less so when the rest of the team fails and you’re defending 67. What do you think? pic.twitter.com/xPvNS3WFjR — Village Cricket Co. ? (@VillagCricketCo) December 11, 2020 9. You find it extraordinary how a man who appears to be about 11 stone overweight is able to clobber your bowlers all over the ground with such ease Their hand-eye coordination is something quite magnificent that you only wish you could ever see the ball so well. Ball after ball, absolutely middling it to the boundary. Who needs to run when you score a four or six every ball. 10. The embarrassment when a 12 year old bowls you out It was probably a peach of a delivery so don’t get yourself down in the dumps. Okay, that probably doesn’t help but just accept your time has come and you’re going to be replaced. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Village Cricket Co. ? (@villagecricketco) 11. The whole team thinks they know better than the captain Choosing to bat first on a soft green pitch - idiot. From fielding placements, to the batting line up. Captains can do no right. But no else wants to do it. 12. You're familiar with the disastrous attempt at a direct hit run out. That inevitably goes for 4 overthrows to add insult to injury. 13. You hate left-handed batsman for being left handed, knowing your bowlers can’t bowl at them and you’ll have to change the field all the time. Just make it the same on both sides of the wicket and we can just keep going like they are both righties. 14. And that left handed batsmen tell everyone they cannot be out LBW You can, and if I’m umpiring. I will give you out. What?! ? pic.twitter.com/wZ51yAT8yS — Village Cricket Co. ? (@VillagCricketCo) December 6, 2020 15. The heart sinking moment a batsman asks for the sightscreen to be moved It’s not even that hard to move, but if you’re playing on a large ground the walk down the sight screen to move it all of 3 foot for the batsman feels like running a marathon. 16. Always shouting “CATCH IT” every time the ball is in the air We all do it. Just in case the fielder who is watching the ball flying quickly towards their face didn’t need any more encouragement (read: distraction) to take the catch. 17. The most talkative member of the opposition is generally their worst batsman You haven’t even taken guard and he’s already chirping. But don’t worry, he’ll likely miss a slow full toss and get bowled first ball. Some of the finest running between the wickets you will ever see ? pic.twitter.com/BuqMvKmz5G — Village Cricket Co. ? (@VillagCricketCo) December 1, 2020 /wp:html wp:heading 18. You’ve been in a situation where everyone’s ready and in position, then you’ve realised no-one’s got the ball Batsman has taken guard, we’re all ready, the umpire says “play”. And everyone just looks around waiting before realising the ball is still in the changing room. 19. When the opposition refuse to call the game off despite a the 48 hour monsoon that is still going on They are 3rd in the league (and you’re last) so they want those 26 points instead of 10 for the draw. But no amount of sun is ever going to dry up, so just let us all go home. 20. You base how quickly a bowler bowls on the length of his run-up Quaking in your cricket boots as the bowler runs in from the boundary and… it loops up and you’ve played three shots before it even reaches you. It’s rare, but it happens. 21. You’ve had a drinks break that consisted only of hydrating with beer One of my many reasons for playing village cricket is the ability to have a quick beer break and it actually improves my game. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Village Cricket Co. ? (@villagecricketco) 22. The ongoing avoidance of scoring or umpiring Whether you take yourself for a walk around the pitch or hiding in the changing rooms, forever avoiding umpiring. And as for those who pretend they don’t know how to score, now is a great time to learn. 23. There’s always one guy who throws his bat every time he gets out And we love him. He’s usually a great character who loves the game. But whether he’s just scored a double ton or got a golden duck - that bat is being hurled a minimum of 30 yards. 24. Insisting the ball turned a mile when really you just missed a straight one It was a ball of century, honest! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Village Cricket Co. ? (@villagecricketco) 25. The ‘all the gear, no idea’ guy who loves the game He has the shiniest gear in the club, probably worth £3000 in total. Looks an absolute don on the pitch but has a batting average of 6.39 and doesn’t bowl. 26. Rocking up to a game and struggling to see where the square is let alone the wicket you’ll be playing on It’s just a green field. This isn’t a cricket pitch. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Village Cricket Co. ? (@villagecricketco) 27. You wouldn’t change village cricket for the world We love it. Whether in the pouring rain or heat stroke inducing sun. Whether winning, losing, drawing, watching, umpiring (well maybe), scoring (okay not this), batting, fielding, bowling. We absolutely love it and can’t wait for the weekend. Your Stories... I had a great one on Sunday. The opening bowlers were putting it in short at one end and the number 3 decided he needed to wear a lid for the first time ever this season. He was to face the other fuller bowler for his first ball, stretches forward and is stumped for a golden. He then trudged off to the pavilion and declares "The helmet was too heavy, thats why I stretched so far" ??Craig Smith Going to collect the ball from someone’s garden and apologising and probably reimburse for the trampled flowerbeds afterwards.Someone accidentally leaving the gate open and sheep or other wildlife wandering onto the field. Or when the pitch is in the middle of a public park and someone decides to have a picnic or set up their jumper goalposts just off the square and having to try get them to move as “they where here first!” Even though the stumps and boundary flags had been set up since early morn.Richard Evans Your opening bowler thinks the batter doesn't have the right to play the ball so when he creams one through the covers for a 4 all along the carpet he is called a lucky so and so. The nervous talker in the dressing room. Always telling everyone how to chase down a score when really I boils down to get 1 more that then without getting all out.Andy Aucott What are your favourite things about village cricket?
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How to Hold a Cricket Bat Properly
When you are a child, and you head to cricket practice for the first time, you will be taught how to hold a cricket bat properly. This is one of the very basics of cricketing knowledge. There is a recognised “correct” way to hold a cricket bat. But rules are there to be broken. Some big-name cricketers actually grip the bat in a way that wouldn’t necessarily be deemed right by a cricket coach. There aren’t any rules about how you old the bat, particularly, but hundreds of years of evidence tells us that most people find that there is one method that gives you the most control. Why Bat Grip Matters? There are many reasons why you need to pay attention to your grip. It’s important to use the same grip each time, and one that feels comfortable and natural for you. The way you grip the bat forms a huge part of your batting technique and method. A grip can impact on which your strongest shots are, and whether or not you can react in time to play your shot. Once you start using a certain type of grip, it can be incredibly tough to change. This sort of thing plays a huge role in defining your style as a cricketer. The Traditional Bat Grip If you are wondering how to hold a bat properly in cricket then there is a grip that is taught as being the right way, the “V” grip. It’s recognised by the ECB. It’s called this because of the fact that the fingers and thumb form a V as they wrap around the handle. As both hands should wrap around the bat, they should form two V-shapes, one above the other. Your strong hand should go closest to the back of the blade. These should also line up in the centre of splice and handle, and the leading edge of your bat. Something a lot of cricket coaches tell people is to pick up the bat as if you were picking up an axe. You won’t go far wrong. It helps if you have someone to show you how to hold the bat. The next best thing is to pick up the bat in a way that feels natural to you. The two V-shapes of your index finger and thumb should line up to give you the most control. Your strong “leading” hand gives you more power. Closed Face Grips Not many batsmen choose to have a naturally closed-face grip. It focuses more on the bottom hand. Ordinarily, the bottom hand would be left a bit more flexible and loose to allow a lot of movement and rotation. This grip is tighter on the bottom hand. The face naturally “closes” and it is very, very hard to bat towards the off side. Batters with this technique tend to play off their pads a lot. This grip often comes from an overcompensation, but if it is what you get used to then it is not necessarily harmful, even though it can limit your repertoire of shots. Graeme Smith is an example of someone who used this grip to great effect. Open Face Grips The open face grip is a simple approach. It just means you should rotate the bat as the bowler approaches, showing more of the face of the bat towards the off side. This is a pretty simple adjustment. You don’t really change the grip, though you might hold the bat a bit higher, trying to access more of the field. This is the sort of grip you might see as Jos Buttler or Chris Gayle approach the closing overs of a T20. It prepares for the big hits of a 360 player, but it can be a risky approach. It doesn’t lend itself to defensive shots. The Don Bradman Grip Bradman was more or less one of a kind. For that reason, we don’t really recommend trying to replicate his grip. Maybe there’s something to be said for the unorthodox technique he used. He did average almost 100! However, it seems to take that something extra to be able to pull this technique off. You should follow the steps for the traditional V-grip, but then rotate your bottom hand. It goes under the bat handle. The outside of the fingers is inline with the bat face. This grip will leave the bat facing towards roughly second slip. If you watch Bradman’s batting technique in the rare footage that exists, you may see that it looks incredibly rounded and involves a lot of rotation of the arms. How High Up to Grip The Bat? This is another question you need to answer when you’re looking to grip a cricket bat properly. Luckily, the answer is pretty simple: Whatever comes naturally. Some batters hold the bat higher up, with the theory that it gives a bit more leverage to play huge shots. Some hold closer to the face thinking this provides them with more control. The truth is that there isn’t a lot of evidence for any of this, and batters have been successful holding higher up or lower down on the bat. Don’t overthink this. Hold the bat in the way that comes naturally to you. The ECB recommended grip is a great place to start. However, there are so many different variants of how people approach cricket and their technique, and it is one of those sports that allows for the odd outlier. The greatest batsmen are often those who stray a little from the norm. The lesson? While it is a good idea to get a grounding in the traditional techniques, cricket can allow you a bit of space to do what feels right for you as you develop your own style.
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Cricket Bat Sizes: Adult & Junior Size Guide (incl. Chart)
Your bat is your trusted partner when you are out in the middle. Choosing the right bat involves a lot of different decisions, but the first thing to get right is the bat size. Cricket bat sizes can be confusing if you are just starting out, but for adult cricketers, most bats are roughly the same size. Juniors will find it more difficult to find the perfect bat for them. Just like your kids are always growing out of their shoes, they’ll constantly be growing out of their cricket bats, too. Let’s hope they get a big IPL contract one day to repay you for all those junior bats. Cricket Bat Size Chart The chart below is a simple overview of bat sizes including the age and height of the batter in question. This is a way to ensure that you don’t end up with a bat that is the wrong size completely. The age is very much an approximation. The more important measurement is your height. Don’t worry too much, especially when it comes to junior cricket bat sizes. It is more about getting a bat that you’re comfortable using. SH vs LH Bats The majority of bats sold are of the “SH” variety. This means they have a short handle, but are known to be full size, suitable for adult batters up to around 6’3” or even 6’4”. “LH” bats are a good solution for those who need a little extra length. They have about an extra inch within the handle, which can help with grip, but also with the reach of your bat. Bigger cricketers might find that an LH bat is suitable, but they are not essential. Looking at bats in person might be confusing. One of the things you might find tough to understand when you are looking is that most adult bats are just labeled SH or LH. These are both “adult” sizes. Some manufacturers have slightly different criteria and recommendations for their bats. Gray Nicholls actually recommend that an LH bat should be used for anyone over 6’ tall. It’s a good idea to have a feel of some bats, and maybe borrow your friends’ bats for a quick knock, just to see what feels most natural to you. Cricket Bat Weights As well as a cricket bat size guide, it might be useful to look at cricket bat weights to help make your decision. Bat Size Approximate Weight Junior Bat 3 1lb 13oz - 2lb 1oz Junior Bat 4 2lb 1oz - 2lb 3oz Junior Bat 5 2lb 2oz - 2lb 4oz Junior Bat 6 2lb 3oz - 2lb 5oz Harrow lb 5oz - 2lb 7oz Light SH 2lb 6oz - 2lb 10oz Medium SH 2lb 10oz - 2lb 12oz Heavy SH 2'12oz + Note that “light, heavy, and medium” aren’t different sizes, but you will hear bats described as light, heavy, or medium depending on whether they are a heftier design. What Are The Rules on Cricket Bat Sizes? There are some rules within the Laws of Cricket regarding the size of a bat. It must be “no longer than 38 in (965 mm), the width no more than 4.25 in (108 mm), the overall depth no more than 2.64 in (67 mm) and edge no more than 1.56 in (40 mm)” As long as your bat fits these rules, it’s fine to use. The origin of the rules is actually very amusing. The “Monster Bat Incident of 1771” saw laws published after a cricketer tried to play in a county game with a bat that was the width of the whole wicket! Size of The Village Cricket Bat Our cricket bat, the Village Cricket Bat, was designed to be a fantastic solution for the everyday village cricketer. As such, it is made in the size that the vast majority of adult batsman go for, the SH adult size. The bat weighs 2lb 9oz, a perfect balance to let you play defensive shots and hit huge sixes with ease. It even comes pre knocked in, so you can head straight to the nets for a practice. Our cricket bat size guide is a great help if you are looking to buy a bat for a particularly tall (or short) batter, or for juniors who still have some growing to do. In the majority of instances, you will probably want to start with an SH bat. Some manufacturers claim that over 90% of the adult bats they sell are SH, and if you have a “club bat” that is used communally, the chances are that it is this size. The Village Cricket Bat is SH, and can prove to be a versatile playing partner for the defensive opener, the middle order slogger, or the tailender who is yet to get into double figures!
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Cricket Bat Care Guide: Everything You Need To Know
Cricket bats are surprisingly needy. They require quite a lot of care and attention if you want to keep them in good condition ready for hitting it out of the park every Sunday! In this guide, we’re making cricket bat care simple. There are some basic and easy rules to follow to keep your bat in good nick. The number of people who buy a £400 bat and then leave it in the wrong conditions or don’t look after it is frightening. Understanding Your Bat A good cricket bat is made out of high-quality wood. A fine piece of willow normally does the trick. It is important to understand that this bat will face immense pressure, especially against quick bowlers. Even with superb-quality wood, the fibres can come loose over time. That’s why we have processes that keep the bat in the best possible condition and prepare the bat for the season ahead. A bat needs to be oiled and “knocked-in”. This is an intimidating process for beginners, which is why it is often a good idea to get a bat that is pre-knocked in. This means that as soon as it arrives it is ready to get out to the nets and hit some balls. The Village Cricket Bat is designed exactly for this purpose. You get the bat in ideal condition to start playing. No Bat is Immune You might have watched cricket before and seen a bat break. If a 90mph delivery hits the bat in just the wrong place, it can break it at the splice, or anywhere else for that matter. It’s important to realise that precautions keep your bat in far better condition, and make it less likely that anything like this will happen, but it is still possible. Ok, so you’re probably not going to face any 94mph, Jofra Archer rockets at your local cricket club, but that doesn’t mean your bat will last forever. How to Store Your Cricket Bat Your bat should always go inside a cover when not in use for any prolonged period. However, this is not the only protection your bat needs. There are many different considerations including the humidity or moisture in the air, and the temperature. Wood is naturally sensitive to changes in temperature. If the bat is constantly heating up or cooling down then you might end up with a misshapen or even brittle bat. If your bat is having to deal with the temperatures rising and falling all the time (for instance, if it is kept in a car) then this can be a real issue. A garage, or even a cupboard in the home away from radiators, windows or any other sources of heat, can be the perfect spot for it. Think of it as if you were storing food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but isn’t going to last as long if you leave it in direct sunlight. Oiling Your Bat For more information on oiling your bat, head to our full guide here (link) If your bat has spent a bit of time in storage and you need to prepare it for the next season, oiling it is one of the key steps. Oiling your bat means applying a layer of linseed oil, usually around 2-3 teaspoons in total. The bat can soak this up, and it reinvigorates the fibres, reinforcing the front of the bat. Once the oil has been applied it needs to be left for 24 hours before the next step; knocking in. Knocking-In Your Bat Once again, we have a full guide to knocking in your bat here, where we explain why it is vital and the exact steps to follow. Knocking-in prepares the bat by creating a simulation of what it will have to cope with when you take to your crease on the weekend (or not if you tend to give up your wicket for a duck). Specific bat mallets can be bought to aid the process. You can knock the front of the bat gently at first, and get more forceful over time as the fibres of the bat bind together and get stronger. Eventually, you can graduate to throwing a soft, older ball at the bat to get it used to coping with the pressure. Eventually, it will be ready to face deliveries from your league’s fastest bowler. Some people have slightly different methods such as foregoing the mallet and using a ball inside a couple of socks! The important thing is to gradually build up pressure, and to knock in the edges of your bat, but not at a right angle. Do so by recreating the kind of glancing blows your bat will take when you inevitably edge to slip (or edge for runs, if you’re lucky). More Bat Care Tips There are a few more simple rules and tips to allow your bat to stay in the best condition. Don’t let the bat get wet. Especially the edges, and toe of the bat. If you get a few cracks around the edges or on the face of the bat, that’s nothing to panic about. Sand them out using 180-220 sandpaper and apply a little linseed oil. If your bat appears to be getting dry through the season, oil it more frequently. Keep a close eye on your bat. Visual signs are often the best way to tell if something is wrong. If you’re lucky, your cricket club will either have a local sports store or a club veteran who can help with bat care. You might have to pay for some maintenance and repairs, but it is better than paying for a new bat. When we set out to develop the Village Cricket Bat, we didn’t want any more maintenance than was necessary for the buyer, so all of our bats come knocked in and ready to use.
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The Best Cricket Bat For Defensive Players in 2025
A defensive cricketer will look to occupy the crease for as long as they possibly can. Think of someone like Alistair Cook. He amassed record-breaking amounts of runs opening for England, but you wouldn’t say he was an attacking player. He was happy to bide his time and defend the new ball while he waited for the bad deliveries to put away. Some people think of this type of player as a dying breed, but for opening the innings, or providing some staying power at the low end of the batting order, a defensive player can be gold dust for your team. What are the criteria that make the best cricket bat for a defensive player? In this guide, we’re looking at some of the top methods of choosing a bat to defend and protect your wicket at all costs. Bat Weight The bat weight you opt for can be one of the most important criteria for buying a bat. If you are a defensive player, then a heavy bat probably won’t be the best choice for you. Heavy bats are good for big-hitting. If you’re a powerful player who picks up the flight of the ball early then a heavy bat can give the extra power needed to clear the fence for six. However, heavier bats are big and cumbersome. They don’t give you the flexibility of a lightweight or average weight bat. The average weight for a bat is 2lb 9oz. The Village Cricket bat weighs...2lb 9oz. It gives you the best of both worlds. The weight is low enough that the bat is still flexible, and lets you play the ball late as a good defensive player should. However, the curvature of the bat, and considerable “sweet spot” means you can hit big shots if you need to as well. Low Grip This can be achieved via the bat grip itself or the way you hold the bat. Most people find that a low grip is the best way to get accuracy and make sure that the ball is hitting the middle of the bat more often than not. Gripping low on the handle, closer to the blade itself, means that you can play late with a lot of accuracy. Curvature How a bat is curved is another thing that divides opinion among cricketers. It’s a matter of personal preference. However, a decent curvature on the bat can make it easier to play difficult shots and to reach tough angles. In modern cricket, it’s good for any player to have a 360 shot repertoire, and that is the same whether you are defensive or attacking in mindset. A curved bat can give you the flexibility to pick out the quick singles that you might not have found otherwise, and keep rotating the strike (or get the attacking batsman on strike). Quality Wood The type of wood you use is an important decision, too. This is true whether you are a defensive or attacking cricketer. A good bat will last longer and resist warping or damage that might make you more likely to nick off to slip. The Village Cricket Bat uses Salix Alba willow, which is actually far more affordable than English willow, but still does an exceptional job. Even if you are on a budget there is no excuse for poor quality wood. Salix Alba has been used by professionals for decades. The Village Cricket Bat - The Best Budget Bat For Defensive Players Buy the Village Cricket Bat - Only £117 The Village Cricket Co. set out to make a bat that could give village cricketers the benefits of a high-end bat without the price tag. By not chasing professionals for endorsements, and by using sturdy but affordable Salix Alba willow, the price could be lowered significantly. No need to spend £400 on a bat just to try and steal a few singles or bat time in the lower order. What makes this bat great for defensive players? Low middle – the low middle is designed with English conditions in mind. A lot of village cricket pitches have a slow and low bounce. By having a low middle, the Village Cricket Bat helps you to make good contact with more deliveries and not get caught out by the one that stays low. It’s standard weight – 2lb 9oz is ideal for defensive players. It means you can adjust to play defensive shots late, but you can still slog if you need to. Designed to last – some cricket bats can break easily if you don’t look after them. Salix Alba willow has been tested to a high degree and shows that it is a fantastic, long-lasting option for cricketers of all types. This bat won’t be a one-season wonder. It is designed to last for many years. There are no secrets to the way the Village Cricket Co. operates. By not spending money on professional endorsements, and by using robust willow from outside of England, the savings can be passed on to the customers, but the bat quality remains the same. The average village cricketer doesn’t want to spend hundreds of pounds on a bat to use on the weekends. In the modern age, you don’t have to. Many of these bats are expensive because of the fact that professionals in the BBL and international cricket use them. The Village Cricket Co. gives you an option for a budget bat, perfect for keeping in the club kitbag or treasuring as your main bat. It will last many years, and is a great choice for defensive players, being curved, flexible and lightweight, helping you to steal the odd single or play endless forward defensives on a Saturday afternoon.
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Best Cricket Podcasts for 2024 (as voted for by you)
The world of cricket podcasts is expanding all the time. Whether you’re looking for something made by one of the big media companies like Sky Sports, or you are looking for quirky podcasts made by comedians and cricket lovers, our list has something for you. At the start of every season, we reach out to our customers, readers, subscribers and followers to make sure we feature the most popular and up and coming cricket podcasts. And 2024, you voted in your hundreds (413 to be exact) for your favourite. There is certainly something for everyone in this list. Enjoy. 1. Tailenders Greg James, Jimmy Anderson and Felix White with an alternative (and sometimes musical) look at cricket. Tailenders is less about the podcast and more about the family. Grumpy Uncle Jimmy, the unendingly articulate Felix and the ever-enthusiastic Mattchin are glued together by G-Force’s wit and Sharky's editorial skills (fuelled by the occasional beer, hand-delivered by his son, Will). 2. No Balls No Balls podcast is hosted by Kate Cross and Alex Hartley and has some incredible insights into both the men’s and women’s formats of the game. The podcast was launched independently before being picked up by BBC and is now distributed on BBC sounds. Many of the podcasts are covering huge cricketing events, but there are also some very special guests including current players on the No Balls pod. 3. Test Match Special Podcast This comes out once a week, and more when England are playing in a test match. Test Match Special, or TMS, features some voices we’ve all come to love in the world of cricket and has some of the best access to current and former players. It’s a great way to keep up-to-date with how England are doing, too. 4. Wisden Cricket Weekly Wisden is a name every cricketer knows. They aren’t just about the huge annuals you can use as doorstops, and Wisden Cricket Weekly is a podcast that has been going since 2017. Cricket podcasts UK-based in nature tend to have a focus on the England team. Wisden does a good job of focusing on global cricket, so if you love to keep up with India, Australia and other huge cricketing nations, this is the podcast for you. 5. Sky Sports Cricket Podcast Most of us cricket fans love the Sky coverage of England. There are some big characters in the punditry team. We can’t get enough. After a long day of watching the cricket, we’ve still got time for “The Debate” on Sky Sports TV and to listen to the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. Some of the shows feature sections made up from coverage on the TV, but the access to guests is incredible. You can go from Ben Stokes one week to Jos Buttler the next. Even if they are often short interviews. Sky make some incredible content around cricket, and we strongly recommend the recent episode featuring “When Mikey and Ebony Spoke”. This features the fallout from the incredible Black Lives Matter interviews featuring Michael Holding and Ebony Rainford-Brent. 6. Zero Ducks Given Are you the sort of person who could listen to people chat about cricket for hours? 'Zero Ducks Given' has less of a focus on current cricket statistics and results, and more of a focus on the amazing and funny stories that cricket can provide, whether you are playing at a high level or in your village cricket team. Former England cricketer Steven Finn is joined by Radio X’s Toby Tarrant and Test Match Special’s Dan Norcross in this podcast, and all three of them share some brilliant tales from the world of cricket. 7. Middle Please, Umpire Hosted by England cricketer Mark Wood and comedian Miles Jupp, this podcast has it all, with hilarious insights from two of the wittiest hosts you can imagine. There are also a number of incredible guests, too. The recent episode with Jos Buttler was both funny and insightful. A must for cricket fanatics. 8. The Grade Cricketer Originally a book, and a love letter to the sport, even at grass-roots level, The Grade Cricketer has expanded to become a podcast and there are even live shows. The humorous yet emotive view of cricket in the book is echoed through the podcast, and the weekly show also has news, interviews, and more features. Recent tributes to Shane Warne were particularly moving. 9. Following On This podcast is made by Talk Sport. They’ve put a real effort into cricket in recent years and gained the rights to a lot of commentaries. They focus on “Watch-A-Long” episodes as well as having some great interviews and access to current cricketing royalty. “The Cricket Collective” episodes have featured none other than Jimmy Anderson, England bowler extraordinaire. 10. Stumped Stumped is another BBC distributed podcast, which also goes out on the World Service as a radio show. It is made in conjunction with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and All India Radio. Stumped offers some fascinating stories from the history of cricket with a “Tales From The Test” feature. Guests join regular presenters Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma for a fascinating global view of the world of cricket and its impact on society in general. 11. The Final Word Cricket Podcast This is not as well-known as some of the other podcasts out there but The Final Word cricket podcast is brilliant for those who want to keep up to date with Australian cricket. Hosts Geoff Lemon and Adam Collins describe the podcast as “your friendly guide to the world’s strangest sport”. This podcast doesn’t have as many guests as some of the others, but when there are guests they tend to be great episodes. A 2020 Christmas special featured Jim Maxwell, and it’s well worth a listen. 12. The Analyst Inside Cricket This podcast is brought to you by Simon Hughes and The Cricketer Magazine. It also features opinions and views from “The Analyst”. A hard-hitting recent podcast (pun intended) was the Isa Guha episode where she talked about her experience as an Asian woman in cricket and cricket punditry. The Analyst Inside Cricket, as you might expect, often takes a slightly more analytical view than a comedic one but there is still plenty of fun and comedy within, as well as some huge names. Ian Bell featured on a recent episode. 13. Cricket Unfiltered This show might not be the best for English cricket fans as it has a real focus on Australian cricket (that’s to be expected, the hosts are Aussies). Andrew Menczel, Paul Dennett, and Jelisa Apps offer you a chance to hear what’s happening down under. For the Aussie cricket fan, it can feel like many of the podcasts have a UK focus, but this podcast certainly makes up for that. 14. The Golden Ducks Podcast This is released biweekly and features loads of coverage of the cricket world by the weCricket crew. It has a focus on following England and there is a lot of content released whenever there is a test match, or white ball game involving England. This humorous take on the game is even better in video, so the Golden Ducks Podcast YouTube channel is a must-view. 15. Willow Talk Are you ready to hear the latest and greatest in the world of cricket? Look no further than Willow Talk, a podcast hosted by Adam Peacock and Brad Haddin. They provide their unique perspectives on the biggest issues in the cricket world and are joined by some of the best storytellers in the game including Adam Gilchrist, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Greg Blewett, Merv Hughes and many more. Willow Talk is your go-to source for cricket conversations that you won’t hear anywhere else, including the latest news, opinions, and untold stories from around the globe. 16. Stumps, Umps & Beer Pumps It is a fantastic concept, with a focus on the sort of cricket we can all relate to; village cricket. It means that you don’t have to be some sort of superstar cricketer to be featured, and there are some guests on the pod that you won’t see on any global cricket outlets. It’s focused on the “salt of the earth” volunteers and village cricketers who keep the sport going for everyone. 17. Storylines: The Women's Cricket Show BBC commentator & Gloucestershire player Melissa Story is joined by fellow BBC commentator & Surrey cricketer Nikki Chaudhuri to discuss all things women’s cricket with interviews and in-depth analysis. 18. 98 Not Out ‘98 Not Out’ is a podcast that brings the latest news and discussion about the national and international cricket scene all year round, featuring guest interviews with the likes of Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Henry Blofeld, David Gower and David “Bumble” Lloyd. ‘98 Not Out’ will give you the cricket fix you need. 19. The 80’s and 90’s Cricket Show A chance of a walk down memory lane. The ’80s and ‘90s cricket show is great for those of us who remember some of the big tests of the time, or who want to discover them for the first time. Loads of the current pundits and TV personalities in cricket were involved at the time, which means some amazing presentation on the show. Nasser Hussain and Ian Botham are featured in recent top episodes. There’s not a great deal to explore with these podcasts so we’re hoping that they make more. The host, Gary Naylor, does a great job of revisiting those tests as if they were happening now. 20. Completely Cricket Podcast The Completely Cricket Podcast, hosted by Avinash Ehathasan and Zaid Ahmed, is your go to weekly cricket podcast covering all things cricket. From worldwide match summaries and England series reviews to discussion about the latest cricket gossip, we have it all here. 21. Women’s Cricket Chat Hosted by Hannah Thompson and Alex Pereira, the Women’s Cricket Chat podcast covers the women’s game both globally and domestically. As well as some coverage of huge events, such as the recent women’s World Cup, the Women’s Cricket Chat podcast is able to give a female perspective of the game, including unique episodes such as a recent chat about motherhood as a professional cricketer. 22. Noughtie Child Podcast This is a charming and fun podcast that discusses women’s cricket and features a lot of guests as well as coverage of the biggest events in the cricket calendar. The hosts are Richard and Polly, who are father and daughter, and the relationship between the two makes this a really fun and personable podcast. 23. The Disability Cricket Podcast This podcast is described as “results and discussions with players, coaches and key people in the county disability tournament”. Launching in 2021, it has already racked up dozens of fascinating episodes that allow you to keep up with disability cricket, but also provide you with some great info and analysis from key figures within the game. 24. Length Does Matter Length Does Matter is a fantastic podcast hosted by Chris Rushworth (Durham bowler) and Jonny Hayes (described in his own words as a “below average village cricketer”). The podcast is now in its second season and as well as the likeable hosts you can enjoy guest appearances from former and current cricketers. A recent episode with Mark Wood was a particular highlight, and the England paceman is always good value as a podcast guest. Joe Denly and Simon Jones are among some other guests who have made an appearance. 25. The County Cricket Podcast Are you a county cricket lover? This podcast makes it easier than ever to keep up with all that is happening in county cricket and to enjoy some of the fascinating and even funny stories from county cricket. Released all through the summer you can keep track of what your local county team is doing from one week to the next, all in the company of Aaron Viles AKA The Cricket Connoisseur, Lancs fan Joe ’Nutzy’ Nuttall, and Glamorgan fan Lucy Rees. 26. Down At Third Man Podcast This podcast focuses on all aspects of cricket from club cricket to big franchises through to test matches. There are features on modern cricket as well as diving into the history of cricket. Presented by Ash Turner, Ade Lello and Jonathan Maskrey this show also has regular panelists: Jim Amis, Andy Mountford and Simon Swift, going through all of the key cricket discussions on a week-by-week basis. 27. The Brett Lee Podcast Brett Lee needs no introduction. His podcast has a unique perspective into life as a cricketer after Brett’s long and successful career. The podcast has some great analysis and takes on modern cricket, as well as banter and stories from a colourful career full of amazing relationships. There are also some special guests, many of whom played with (or against) Lee in his career 28. Dealt With The Dealt With podcast has the USP of not having any cricket experts, and this gives it the feel of friends chatting about the sport in the pub. Dealt With is in its infancy but early episodes show a lot of promise and there is even a chat with Darren Stevens in a recent episode. This concludes our list of the best cricket podcasts. All of the podcasts above are available easily online, through your Podcasts app, and many of them are available through Acast. If, like us, you can’t get enough cricket in your eyes and ears, all of them make a great listen. Let us know if we've missed any and we will get them added!
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