CORRECT SIZING OF CRICKET BATS
| Height of player | Bat Size |
|---|
| Up to 4ft 3in | 1 |
| 4ft 3in - 4ft 6in | 2 |
| 4ft 6in - 4ft 9in | 3 |
| 4ft 9in - 4ft 11in | 4 |
| 4ft 11in - 5ft 2in | 5 |
| 5ft 2in - 5ft 4in | 6 |
| 5ft 4in - 5ft 6in | Harrow |
| 5ft 6in - 5ft 9in | Academy |
| 5ft 9in and over | Full Size |
CORRECT SIZING OF BATS, PADS AND
GLOVES FOR JUNIOR PLAYERS.
BATS
The correct size of bat is important if a player
is to make full use of his potential. This applies
just as much to junior players as to seniors.
All too often junior players use bats that are a
size too large for them, especially when
stepping from a Harrow to a Full Size.
Unfortunately, parents are often the worst
culprits, treating bats like clothes, in wanting
their young players to have a bigger bat than
is necessary in order to "grow into it". This
really is not a good idea.
If a bat is too heavy it forces the player to alter
his grip trying to lift the bat when playing a
shot, bringing the bat down across the line of
ball. Bats that are too long prevent the bat
being picked up correctly as the top of the
handle gets in the way. Choosing the correct
bat is vital for proper technical development.
A young player, playing a reasonable level of
cricket is much better off with a slightly smaller,
lighter bat, which will help him improve his
stroke play, than a heavy, oversized bat which
will cause his play to deteriorate and maybe
lessen his interest in the game.
The main aim for a comfortable bat is to
enable the player to play strokes without
undue effort or hindrance. To help you judge
what size you should be looking for, the chosen
bat should be placed on the outside of the right
foot (if right handed), left foot (if left handed),
and allow the bat to be placed on the inside of
the thigh. The top of the bat handle should sit
no further than the top of the groin, otherwise
it will get caught up in the pads. Also, it will
be too heavy to handle. To judge the weight,
ask the player to hold the bat straight out in
front of him at shoulder height with his
playing hand. If the bat moves or trembles
at all, then again it is too heavy.
PADS
The simplest method of ascertaining the correct
pads is to ask the player to put the pads on
and see if the knee is sitting in the middle of the
horizontal knee bolster. If the knee is below,
then the pad is too large, if above, then you need
to try a larger size.
GLOVES
The fingers should be quite near the finger ends
of the gloves, so that the protective finger rolls
can do their job. It is no good to have an inch
or so of glove flapping at the end of the hand,
as it impairs grip. So again, no "growing into
gloves" either! Once on, turn the player's palm up,
run the thumb across the palm left to right,
pressing firmly. If there is a lot of leather palm
creasing at the end, then the gloves are too small,
will cause great discomfort during a game and
will once again impede grip.