In this guide, we’re looking at some of the best cheap cricket sets for 2023. Cricket can be an expensive hobby, especially if you get to the point where you are playing for a team, and you need all the gear. Going into bat in a match scenario you need pads, a helmet, gloves, a bat, and other protective gear such as a box. It can quickly add up.
Fortunately, if you just want a casual game of garden or beach cricket with the family, you can buy a set to get you going that does not have to cost the earth, plus it has everything in it you need to get playing.
In this post, we’re providing you with a simple buying guide to help you choose the right set for your needs, and also sharing some examples of the best cricket sets on a budget.
Plastic Set or Wooden Set?
A lot of beginners assume that wood is best. We’d all laugh if Joe Root came out to bat with a plastic bat, right?
Well, actually, at the cheap end of the market, plastic can give you a lot more durability than the cheap woods used in kids cricket sets or affordable family cricket sets, making it a much better choice in general.
Even if you do opt for a wooden bat, it doesn’t mean that you are going to be able to play using a hard ball. Instead, you’re going to need to use a soft ball that doesn’t run the risk of damaging the bat. A proper cricket ball has a good chance of tearing through any cheap bat.
What to Look For in a Cheap Cricket Set
How do you choose a cheap cricket set that isn’t going to leave you disappointed? There are a few things you need to consider, even though this may not seem like a huge decision to make (it isn’t like spending £600 on a top-of-the-range bat, anyway).
So, what should your criteria and considerations be?
- Does it have everything you need? This is the whole point of getting a set, right? It is a neat way of getting all you need to play a game without having to dig your dad’s old bat out of the shed. Bat, ball, stumps should all be included.
- Durability. Even a cheap set shouldn’t break when you are playing, and some level of durability is required to make sure you get your money’s worth.
- Size. Cricket bats come in both adult sizes and children’s sizes, as well as “Harrow” which is a sort of in-between. You may not get a full SH adult bat in a cricket set, but you definitely need something that is going to be big enough for everyone playing. Often, these family games span the generations.
- Price. We’ve already explained that cheap is one of the key criteria. You may not be looking to spend a lot on a quick family game of cricket at the beach, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Best Cheap Cricket Sets
Let’s dive into a couple of the top options for cheap cricket sets. We’ve picked out one plastic set and one wooden set for you to take your pick.
Village Cricket Co. Plastic Cricket Set – Best Plastic Set
£25 – Buy on Village Cricket Co.
The Village Cricket Co. Plastic Cricket Set is designed to be fun for kids and adults alike. It includes a size 5 bat which is a great option for kids of many different ages, as well as being big enough for an adult to have a swing, too.
It comes with a ball that will never damage the bat, and is also great for practising your bowling. There are three stumps within a convenient base so you don’t have to worry about damaging the ground in your garden. There’s also an extra single stump and base to mark out the non-striker’s end.
On top of all this, the plastic set is built for easy storage with its handy carry bag. You can put it in the back of your car or carry it to the park with no problems.
All of this for just £25, plus the set is built to last, so you can rest assured that it is going to be a great way to entertain the kids for many summers to come.
Gunn & Moore Sparq Cricket Set – Best Wooden Set
RRP £39 – Buy on Cricket Direct
On to the top wooden choice for those just wanting a cheap set for the occasional knockaround. This comes with a bat that is far from the quality willow many of us wish for from a bat, but it does the job for a garden game of cricket.
As well as the cricket bag, you get a Sparq cricket bat (not one of their high-end Sparq models) plus a pair of ambidextrous batting gloves, a tennis-style cricket ball, a set of stumps with bails and a single stump for the bowler’s end.
This is on sale with a size 2, 4 or 6 bat, so you can choose which size you need, but the smaller kids sizes definitely don’t make it easy to have a game for the whole family, so a size 6 bat is the only real option for adults to have a go, too.
The lower-quality wood can be a victim of poor weather conditions and the wood can degrade over time. Also, keep in mind the fact that the stumps don’t have a base, so you might end up having to knock them into your precious garden turf.
Summary
There are a couple of good options out there whether you want to use a plastic bat or stick with a traditional wood design. If you want a cheap set, the chances are you are happy with no-frills cricket, and just want to facilitate a fun game for a day out.