Cricket 101

[abpanther]

You're 100% right mate, just watched a tutorial video on youtube with Damian Fleming who explains seam position and where your arm should finish up for in and out swingers, you arm should indeed finish inside you for inswingers.

Also show out to bowl off and leg cutters, will try some stuff out at the nets.

 

[abpanther]

Here's the link by the way for that bowling tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBa1OxNYI-Y&feature=PlayList&p=D876E84753BF42D5&index=5

 

[jargan83]

On the subject of Bats I currently use a Kookaburra Big Kahuna that weighs 3 pound 2, have been looking at new bats but yet to commit to anything. Had a look at one at a Cricket shop here in the West on Saturday when I went to get some new gloves and new thigh pad but for the moment can't remember what it was, I do remember that it was Kookaburra

 

[abpanther]

That's a nice bat mate, like Ponting's one isn't it? Pretty heavy to, you must like to play off the front foot

Here's the Kookaburra's I looked at: http://www.kingsgrovesports.com.au/cricket/go/Bats/Premium-Brands/Kookaburra-(Senior)

 

[jargan83]

I like to play off both feet, but nothing beats cover driving a fast bowler for 6

Bats really do depend on the owner though. I need the LB bats because I'm slightly taller then the average batsman

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Regarding Cricket Bats.

Grains do play a role but dont just go off them. In general bats with more grains will ping better, but its not a set rule, more a widely seen view. There is no better test than to get a mallet and hit the bat you want to make sure the middle is good. And also remember, each bat is different. Say for example you are looking at a Kookaburra Mayhem ($385 at KG Sports), then the difference in one kooka mayhem and another can be huge, as obviously they are completely different pieces of willow, despite having the same stickers.

I guarantee if you go to a good cricket shop and are willing to spend a bit of time you can find bats in the $300-$400 price range which will ping just as good as bats in the $700 range. You just need to spend some time. Dont walk in hit the first one and assume it wont. Go through as many as you can and I guarantee you will find a cracker in there somewhere. In vice versa, in the players range, im sure if you hit every Kookaburra Players bat youd find 1 or 2 which shouldnt be sold for $300 never mind $700. Remember they all come from the same tree, and are all blank bats at one stage. The higher graded ones generally just from the middle of the tree and cause of that dont have branches near them (knots), or two tone wood (which while gets graded as a Grade 3 Grade 4 bat is actually good...have a look at all the pros bats)

If you want a hot tip, look for the dark grains, as from all my experience I can say they Ping better than everything else. Also dont be scared of knots despite what people think and have said on here. Hit a knot with a mallet and some of them are so springy its incredible. Obviously Ponting and that arent going to walk out with a knot on there bat, but thats just cause of the cosmetics.

 

[abpanther]

Great advice, I'm gonna go down to KG this Thursday to check some out, need to grab some pads anyway...

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Good stuff mate.

Best to hit each one but in general this year the GN Ignite Kings for $425, Kooka Mayhems for $385, all SS Bats (if you can stand the weight) , most puma bats are good. If you go through them youll find somthing very good.

 

[abpanther]

Well I had a look at plenty of bats, still haven't bought one yet but will soon. Just wanted to see if anyone else had more feedback on which bats they have found best?

I can't really afford to spend more than $200-$230, I've narrowed it down to a Kookaburra (Kahuna Illusion, Sub Ice or the Crazy Beast), a Slazenger or a Puma Ballistic or Iridium.

Anyone have any advice on which bat makes are better for down here? I'm thinking I'll go with a safe Kookaburra but I reckon those Pumas look awesome and they pick up nice too...

 

[Twizzle]

they mostly all hit the ball the same

it depends who is holding the bat

just go with the one that feels comfortable for you,

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Well I had a look at plenty of bats, still haven't bought one yet but will soon. Just wanted to see if anyone else had more feedback on which bats they have found best?

I can't really afford to spend more than $200-$230, I've narrowed it down to a Kookaburra (Kahuna Illusion, Sub Ice or the Crazy Beast), a Slazenger or a Puma Ballistic or Iridium.

Anyone have any advice on which bat makes are better for down here? I'm thinking I'll go with a safe Kookaburra but I reckon those Pumas look awesome and they pick up nice too...

You wont get an Iridium under 230 and I dont know what a Kahuna Illusion is. Even in the Slazenger range, i dont know if theres anything under $230 besides the master blaster which i wouldnt. If you can go as high as $260 or so, get a Kingsport Prodigy... you wont be dissapointed.

If you must stay under 230 id look at the Puma Kinetic HPI for $195, the Ice Sub for $235 or the Crazy Beast for $180. Find yourself a mallet and hit every single one of these you can find, and one or two of them should ping extremely well.

In saying that as mentioned above, you have to like the pick up to begin with or your going nowhere.

 

[abpanther]

You wont get an Iridium under 230 and I dont know what a Kahuna Illusion is. Even in the Slazenger range, i dont know if theres anything under $230 besides the master blaster which i wouldnt. If you can go as high as $260 or so, get a Kingsport Prodigy... you wont be dissapointed.

If you must stay under 230 id look at the Puma Kinetic HPI for $195, the Ice Sub for $235 or the Crazy Beast for $180. Find yourself a mallet and hit every single one of these you can find, and one or two of them should ping extremely well.

In saying that as mentioned above, you have to like the pick up to begin with or your going nowhere.

Firstly, thanks for the feedback mate, I really appreciate it.

I saw this Iridium for $225 - http://www.cricketcentre.com.au/product_list/pages/product.php?Operation=SetSessionVariable&Variable[ProductCodeID]=BAP946

There's also a Ballistic for $200 - http://www.cricketcentre.com.au/product_list/pages/product.php?Operation=SetSessionVariable&Variable[ProductCodeID]=BAP912

I really like the Iridium look (havent tried it yet) or the Kookaburra Beast/Ice, I figure they are all grade 2 English willow at this price so I'll just see which ones ping best. What am I listening for in the ping, anything in particular?

I really like the look of the PUmas but am not sure if they are ok, I feel like the kookaburras are 'safer'

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Firstly, thanks for the feedback mate, I really appreciate it.

I saw this Iridium for $225 - http://www.cricketcentre.com.au/product_list/pages/product.php?Operation=SetSessionVariable&Variable[ProductCodeID]=BAP946

There's also a Ballistic for $200 - http://www.cricketcentre.com.au/product_list/pages/product.php?Operation=SetSessionVariable&Variable[ProductCodeID]=BAP912

I really like the Iridium look (havent tried it yet) or the Kookaburra Beast/Ice, I figure they are all grade 2 English willow at this price so I'll just see which ones ping best. What am I listening for in the ping, anything in particular?

I really like the look of the PUmas but am not sure if they are ok, I feel like the kookaburras are 'safer'

Ahh my bad I assumed you were looking at Kingsgrove not GC Cricket Centre. I dont know the Iridium 3000, but to be honest i was dissapointed with all the other Iridiums this year - in higher models, they seemed a bit hard. The ballistic (again i havent seen that particular model) but I have always found them good. If your checking out those ones, be sure to check out the Kinetic Puma (the yellow one) for $230 which i saw there. From what I know they seem to be better than the Iridiums.

In the Ping, you want somthing clean (and not rocky) but also if you hit it with the Mallet it should spring off the bat quick (some will spring off quicker and faster than others). Best to get the staff member there to have a look. What store are you going too btw?

One further thing if you plan on going to GC Cricket Centre, give them a buzz first cause they have a lot more different bats than Kingsgrove I think, but they dont get the quantities KG get so the stock goes a bit quicker (they may already be sold out).

 

[abpanther]

Ahh my bad I assumed you were looking at Kingsgrove not GC Cricket Centre. I dont know the Iridium 3000, but to be honest i was dissapointed with all the other Iridiums this year - in higher models, they seemed a bit hard. The ballistic (again i havent seen that particular model) but I have always found them good. If your checking out those ones, be sure to check out the Kinetic Puma (the yellow one) for $230 which i saw there. From what I know they seem to be better than the Iridiums.

In the Ping, you want somthing clean (and not rocky) but also if you hit it with the Mallet it should spring off the bat quick (some will spring off quicker and faster than others). Best to get the staff member there to have a look. What store are you going too btw?

One further thing if you plan on going to GC Cricket Centre, give them a buzz first cause they have a lot more different bats than Kingsgrove I think, but they dont get the quantities KG get so the stock goes a bit quicker (they may already be sold out).

Nah that's cool man, I was initially only looking at Kingsgrove but then I found GC Cricket Centre. Just in relation to that, I have found internet sites that sell the bats much cheaper (e.g. http://thecricketsale.com/), bit I figure it's better to go to KG or GC as I assume they get first dibs on bats and store the best ones, would you agree that I should buy from one of these places? Is either of them better than the other (KC vs GC)??

With the kinetic, that $230 yellow one at GC looks good, I'll take your word that the Kinetic is better than the Iridium, I'll try the Ballistic also. Would you go with the Pumas over the Kookaburra Beast or Ice? They are all grade 2 willow right?

With the ping, can I trust the staff to pick out the best pinging bats? Wasn't sure whether they would simply try to sell me the worst, thanks for the advice on what to look for.

 

[Bazal]

Late to the discussion I know, but I've always loved Slazengers. I started out with a GM, moved to a Kooka then a Slazenger and have used them ever since. Having said that, I'm not too sure about the newer range, they seem nice and have a good pick up and balance but I haven't found one that I've liked enough to replace my V600 yet...

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Nah that's cool man, I was initially only looking at Kingsgrove but then I found GC Cricket Centre. Just in relation to that, I have found internet sites that sell the bats much cheaper (e.g. http://thecricketsale.com/), bit I figure it's better to go to KG or GC as I assume they get first dibs on bats and store the best ones, would you agree that I should buy from one of these places? Is either of them better than the other (KC vs GC)??

With the kinetic, that $230 yellow one at GC looks good, I'll take your word that the Kinetic is better than the Iridium, I'll try the Ballistic also. Would you go with the Pumas over the Kookaburra Beast or Ice? They are all grade 2 willow right?

With the ping, can I trust the staff to pick out the best pinging bats? Wasn't sure whether they would simply try to sell me the worst, thanks for the advice on what to look for.

KG and GC both get first dibs on bats and will generally get better ones. What the Cricket Sale is is pretty much left over stock from the suppliers (Slazenger, GM etc..) and cause its left overs they sell them cheaper. It may be worth a gamble cause the prices are so good but only downside is you cant pick and feel the bat before you buy.

You should be able to trust most staff at both GC and KG. I know the staff at both and most of them are pretty legit. If your unsure get the mallet and see what you think has more spring in it. Even if youve not done it before its not hard to pick up. Whose better? Both similar. Ive got an affiliation to KG, but given what you want maybe GC is better as it has more bats in that 200-230 price range (given that they are all in stock)

 

[abpanther]

Late to the discussion I know, but I've always loved Slazengers. I started out with a GM, moved to a Kooka then a Slazenger and have used them ever since. Having said that, I'm not too sure about the newer range, they seem nice and have a good pick up and balance but I haven't found one that I've liked enough to replace my V600 yet...

Problem for me is that the Slazenger's are out of my price range, the Oz Blade Ultimate looks nice though...

 

[abpanther]

KG and GC both get first dibs on bats and will generally get better ones. What the Cricket Sale is is pretty much left over stock from the suppliers (Slazenger, GM etc..) and cause its left overs they sell them cheaper. It may be worth a gamble cause the prices are so good but only downside is you cant pick and feel the bat before you buy.

You should be able to trust most staff at both GC and KG. I know the staff at both and most of them are pretty legit. If your unsure get the mallet and see what you think has more spring in it. Even if youve not done it before its not hard to pick up. Whose better? Both similar. Ive got an affiliation to KG, but given what you want maybe GC is better as it has more bats in that 200-230 price range (given that they are all in stock)

Yeah I think if I'm gonna spend the money might as well ensure I get a good bat, better to go to a reputable source.

Any thoughts on Puma vs Kookaburra, I assume Kookaburras are better for our conditions or is that just a myth??

Will head down to KG tomorrow again, then GC on Saturday...

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Yeah I think if I'm gonna spend the money might as well ensure I get a good bat, better to go to a reputable source.

Any thoughts on Puma vs Kookaburra, I assume Kookaburras are better for our conditions or is that just a myth??

Will head down to KG tomorrow again, then GC on Saturday...

On Bazals suggestion of Slaz they are very good, in fact the Oz Blade Ultimate is by far the best selling bat this season. But obviously its getting out of ur price range of what ur looking at. On kooka vs Puma, theres none better really in what I see. Both pretty good brands i think and id even say possibly Puma is better if i had to call it. If you go to KG, just have a small look at the Kingsport Prodigy which is $265. Its 35 more than what you wanted to spend but for wood quality its very very good.

 

[abpanther]

I ended up going with the Puma Kinetic HPI for $195 from KG. Got a real beauty, 2lb 9.5oz, pinged really nice, beautiful sound and nice spring off the bat, 9 grains on it, real happy with it, felt much better than the 3000 Ballistic for $235.

Thanks for all the advice fellas, know I gotta go make some runs, will keep you posted