A green light illuminates and the door unlocks. We’re in. With the aroma of chilled seafood disappearing we can shift our focus to the task at hand – the 2026 Bat Test. Five testers, 13 bats, and countless deliveries sent down in HiTZ’s state of the art indoor nets powered by BatFast technology. Their bowling machines are capable of delivering seam, spin and swing, along with ball-tracking, instant video replays, and a series of Harry Brook-led training and match-scenario exercises. It’s a hell of a setup.

Each bat is tested across three metrics:
• aesthetics and initial impressions (mark out of five)
• pick-up and feel (mark out of five)
• overall performance (mark out of 10)

As ever, it’s not about picking an out-and-out winner. The Bat Test is more about assessing the new models on the market and seeing what they can offer different types of players. Just because a certain bat suits one person doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll feel good in the hands of another. From Test level down to village green, your best chance of scoring runs is if you like the bat you’re playing with.

This year, we also tested what we’re dubbing “the mystery bat” – something that could revolutionise the production and affordability of cricket bats for years to come. But more on that later. For now, another season is fast approaching and with one of these bats in hand, may it be your best yet.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more...

The Testers

MATT THACKER
AGE: 56
JOB: WCM managing editor
CLUB: Authors XI
IDEAL BAT: Traditional, forgiving, trustworthy and confidence-inspiring
FIRST BAT: Duncan Fearnley Shield Polyflex
FAVOURITE PLAYER: Graeme Fowler

REGINA SUDDAHAZAI
AGE: 20
JOB: Freelance journalist
CLUBS: Roffey CC and Ansty CC
IDEAL BAT: Neon Pro Players – Cricket District edition
FIRST BAT: Gray-Nicolls Powerbow
FAVOURITE PLAYERS: Usman Khawaja and Hayley Matthews

CAMERON PONSONBY
AGE: 30
JOB: Freelancer
CLUB: Spencer CC
IDEAL BAT: Joe Root’s (alas his ability doesn’t come with it)
FIRST BAT: BS Babri
FAVOURITE PLAYERS: Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting

JON HOTTEN
AGE: Old. “Suffice to say I’m happy if I score more than it”
JOB: Writer
CLUB: Authors XI
IDEAL BAT: One of those new Gray-Nicolls Scoops
FIRST BAT: Stuart Surridge
FAVOURITE CURRENT PLAYER: James Vince

PHIL WALKER
AGE: 40 (ish) – don’t worry about it
JOB: WCM editor-in-chief
CLUB: Gidea Park & Romford CC
IDEAL BAT: Oval handle, thickish-neck, rounded face, duckbill toe - all about the pick-up
FIRST BAT: Stuart Surridge Lightning (lest we forget)
FAVOURITE PLAYER: Mark Waugh

Gray-Nicolls

One of the most recognisable and respected names in the industry, Gray-Nics, fronted by the brilliant Alex Hohenkerk, have two offerings for us this year, the Havoc and the Imperia. They strayed from tradition somewhat in 2025, with the release of the Neocore, made with a cored internal scoop which involves removing a column of wood from inside the middle of the blade, and this year they continue to evolve with the Imperia, a wonderful bat with a low sweet spot perfect for front-foot domination, and the Havoc, as used by Harry Brook, boasting a feather-light pick-up ideal for generating serious bat speed.

Imperia 1.0

Premium English willow

Large hitting area

Large edges and spine

Semi-oval handle

Low-mid sweet spot

Grade: 550
Weight: 2lb 9oz
Toe guard: No
Toe shape: Semi-round
Grains: 7

“Looks like a blacksmith’s bat, for the strongest man in the village. As a weak man, not for me. Strong people will hit it miles” CP

“Classic bat with evenly distributed weight. I like a thicker handle” RS

Havoc 1.0

Premium English willow

Powercurve semi-rounded face

Mid-blade profile with exaggerated spine profile

Semi-oval handle

Mid-position middle

Grade: Players edition
Weight: 2lb 9oz
Toe guard: No
Toe shape: Semi-square
Grains: 12

“A classic. Not a brute of a bat, it felt well balanced, full value.” MT (who gave it 17.5out of 20)

“Lots of grains which is ideal. Two-tone, good wood with a lovely finish. I would use that” PW

New Balance

The team at New Balance continue to put out quality bats available at a range of price points, further enhancing their reputation as a huge sporting brand with a firm commitment to cricket. Ever popular with young players who want to emulate their hero Joe Root, this year we had two bats to try, the DC 1000 Max and the TC 1000 Max, both oozing that clean New Balance feel.

DC 1000 Max

The finest English willow

Large edges and big sweet spot

Low swell

Light pick-up

Semi-oval handle

Grade: 2
Weight: 2lb 9oz
Toe guard: No
Toe shape: Slightly rounded
Grains: 12

“Decent grip, good grains, stickers might be a little over the top, though” PW

“Aesthetically clean, feels old school” MT

TC 1000 Max

Quality English willow

Large edges and sweet spot

Mid swell

Semi-oval handle

Grade: 2
Weight: 2lb 10z
Toe guard: No
Toe shape: Rounded
Grains: 11

“Didn’t think it would pick up as well as it did, really gorgeous thick handle. Beautifully light, still travels when you don’t hit
the middle. Well balanced and gave me a lot of confidence” MT (who gave it 9/10 for performance)

“Feels better balanced than it looks. It doesn’t pick up like a particularly heavy bat. NB prepare their bats really nicely” JH

Neon

Wiltshire-based Neon are part-owned by Ian Bell and specialise in custom-styled bats and equipment designed to stand out. The idea of Neon, founded by Adam Bolton, came from his university dissertation and has only grown from there, with the brand very popular with kids, with its funky colours and social presence appealing to the younger demographic who no longer care what bats the county pros are using in the T20 Blast. In their Bat Test debut they offered up two sticks that were a hit with our testers – the Vibe and the Kaleidoscope.

Neon Vibe

Available in small adult/women’s, light, medium or heavy

Short handle

Stand-out design

Quality English willow

Grade: Pro Players
Weight: 2lb 9oz
Toe guard: Yes
Toe shape: Semi-round, angled
Grains: 9

“Love the shape of it and it feels solid” RS

“The grip is too thin but the finish is lovely. It offsets its sturdiness with an elegant finish and went very nicely” PW

Neon Kaleidoscope

Available in small adult/women’s, light, medium or heavy

Short handle aBalanced profile

Stand-out design

Quality English willow

Grade: Performance
Weight: 2lb 9oz
Toe guard: Yes
Toe shape: Semi-round, angled
Grains: 8

“Felt like a modern bat. It’s really light and makes you want to cane everything straight” CP

“I really liked it, it’s a nice-looking bat. A shot-maker’s bat with a proper handle” JH (who gave it 18.5 out of 20)

D&P

Based in Ottery, Cape Town, D&P is headed up by Paul Borst and proudly boasts being “South Africa’s leading cricket brand and bat manufacturer”. For their first outing in the Bat Test they sent us the Hybrid Pro, an impressive piece of English willow with a light pick-up and a wide middle, ideal for attacking stroke-makers.

D&P - Hybrid Pro

Pre-oiled and knocked in

Includes anti-scuff guard

Minimum of eight straight grains

Long, wide middle

Finest grade 1 English willow

Grade: 1+
Weight: 2lb 10oz
Toe guard: Yes
Toe shape: Rounded
Grains: 12

“Shoulders like Schwarzenegger. Hell of a lot of wood in it, looks powerful” JH

“There’s a lot of bat there but it still feels light. Feels good in the hands” PW

The Top Three

MIDS

A debut for MIDS (M.Ilam Din and Sons) in the WCM Bat Test and they earn themselves a place in our top three with the Legend Imam 26, a bat used by Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq. A brand dating back to the late 1920s, they’ve served up a beautiful subcontinental-style bat with a look that screams 00s Pakistan. It’s a blade that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the hands of the likes of Inzamam or Mohammad Yousuf, giving us a sense of déjà vu despite it being a new model. We reckon Shahid Afridi in his prime would’ve belted it miles with this.

Legend Imam 26 (third place)

Thick edges

Big sweet spot

Treble spring multi-piece cane handle

Pre-knocked in, ready to play

Mid-to-low sweet spot

Grade: 1
Weight: 2lb 10oz
Toe guard: Yes
Toe shape: Square
Grains: 15

“Lovely light pick-up and brilliant glittery green stickers – I feel like Younis Khan” CP

“Picks up beautifully. I love the thin handle” JH

DKP

Birmingham brand DKP have made it into our top three two years in a row after supplying us with a couple of beautiful blades once again. This time around we have the Maxpower and the Limited Edition to play with, two brilliantly balanced pieces of English willow, perfect for hitting through the line. Keep an eye on DKP, they keep going from strength to strength.

DKP Maxpower

Low middle

Triple pressed

12-piece handmade rubber handle

Light pick-up

Grade: 1
Weight: 2lb 9oz
Toe guard: No
Toe shape: Semi-square
Grains: 15

“Very stylish, lovely bat. Beautiful wood, straight grain, two-tone with a lovely finish, clearly handcrafted” PW

“Feels great when you make proper contact and really nice in the follow through. A good T20 bat” RS

DKP Limited Edition (runner-up)

Low middle

Multiple blade profiles available

Triple-pressed

12-piece handmade rubber handle

Enhanced pick-up and bow shape

Grade: 1+
Weight: 2lb 10oz
Toe guard: No
Toe shape: Semi-square
Grains: 10

“A quietly good bat. It doesn’t scream at me off the shelf but it won’t let you down” JH

“Love the pick-up and really like the finish. It has a subcontinental style to it. I would happily walk out with that” PW (who gave it 9/10 for performance)

Newbery

An English cricket stalwart, Newbery has really pulled out all the stops this year. The Academy, is a bat with a Super Short blade, one-inch shorter than a traditional short handle, meticulously designed for perfect weight distribution. Then there’s the SPS with its classic look and modern feel – you can really see the best part of two decades of craftsmanship and development coming to the fore. Very popular with our testers across the board, we had to prise the SPS out of Matt Thacker’s hands to make sure he didn’t take it home with him.

Newbery Academy

Super Short blade

Wide sweet spot

Duckbill toe for extra stability

Grade: 3
Weight: 2.6
Toe guard: Yes, standard rubber
Toe shape: Duckbill – straight edge finish
Grains: 9

“Very light and perhaps not enough meat to the bone. Designed for teenagers and they’ve got it spot on – good for those who find adult bats too heavy” CP

Newbery SPS (winner)

Hand crafted by Newbery’s master bat makers

Wide sweet spot

Duckbill toe for extra stability

Semi-oval handle

Grade: 1
Weight: 2.9oz
Toe guard: Yes – standard rubber
Toe shape: Duckbill – straight edge finish
Grains: 8

“A classic Newbery, don’t mess with a good formula. Nicely balanced, good handle shape, picks up beautifully; nicely presented with a forgiving, big middle” JH

“Adored it, perfect for me. Handle is chunky but pick-up feels like it’s going to lift you up into the air – just gorgeous” MT

Mystery Bat

This one could be a game changer. Richard Mansfield of Macron (although it is important to note that this project is separate from Macron) sent us his composite bat. An alternative to willow, the blade is made primarily of fibreglass, carbon and kevlar, materials more commonly found in the production of an F1 car than a cricket bat. Designed to tackle shortages and costs involved with producing willow cricket bats, the main aim is to make cricket more accessible and affordable.

The bat is constantly being tweaked and redesigned to make sure it doesn’t outperform willow bats and it’s not until then that a real conversation can be had with the MCC. It may well follow the route of the development of hockey sticks, formerly all wooden but today primarily composite. It’ll be a slow process, with the plan being to test the bat in junior cricket for the next few years before introducing it to the adult market.

Composite bat

Grade: N/A
Weight: 2.4oz-2.12oz (we had a 2.6oz)
Toe guard: No
Toe shape: Semi-rounded
Grains: N/A

“Has a lovely pick-up. Makes the occasional Kwik Cricket sound but it performed as well as any of the other bats we tested today” MT

“Makes the noise of a plastic bat hitting a wind ball but came off the bat very nicely” CP

“Feels great in the hands and is going to change the world. I can get over the discordance of the noise very quickly” PW

“It doesn’t feel like a willow bat, but it felt great in a completely different way. If you hit it out of the middle it pinged. So light for its size too that you felt you could play any type of shot with it” JH