New Cricket Equipment Guide - Testing Testing 1,2,3 .......

We have recently put together a technical advice guide on cricket equipment via a new independent website. Please take a look by going to: http://www.cricketequipmentguide.co.uk/

We are yet to formally 'launch' the site, as we still plan to add some additional interactive imagery around each product area.

However, we are most of the way there now, so thought 606v2 members might be a good place to test what people think.

Good, bad, or indifferent? Hopefully there is enough there to get the thumbs up!

Good stuff guys Very useful to younger folk just getting in to the game, and a learning curve for those slightly longer in the tooth, too.

I think it covers some excellent points that may otherwise have been overlooked by someone purchasing a piece of equipment i.e. knocking in a bat properly etc.

Just had a look and it looks good to me, lots of useful info in there, and some pretty handy advice too. One mild criticism, both keeper and batsmen pads have exactly the same paragraph in the "purchasing decisions" bit. Now this me just be my personal opinion, but as a keeper with keeping pads I look first at comfort and mobility, with protection a rather distant second (decent keeper use their hands to catch the ball anyway ) whereas with batting pads it's much more of an equilibrum between the two.

Overall it's pretty sound advice. My two-pence worth:

1) Prices: unfortunately I think in general you do get what you pay for, with some exceptions. One suggestion is to purchase in the off-season (around now) or even better right at the end of the season when there are often bargains to be had as shops try to shift last year's kit, but unfortunately this is a double-edged sword in that the kit which wasn't shifted occasionally just isn't very good. But honestly nowadays you're unlikely to get much resembling a decent bat for less than £150, and decent gloves will set you back £50, shoes £60-80.

2) Bats: in my experience the most common mistake made, in particular (but not only) by kids, is to have a bat too heavy for them, thinking that this will enable them to hit the ball harder. Pro players use heavy bats, but
- they are heavily pressed so wouldn't feel their weight
- the top players are fantastic athletes who can pick up far more weight than your average cricketer, and your growing one in particular.

Also, a heavy bat isn't the only way to send the ball further, bat-speed is another key component, and of course this is far more easily achieved with a lighter bat.

As a guideline, if you can't comfortably play a drive all the way through (backlift to follow through) using only your top hand then the bat is too heavy.

I'm a big fan of the Harrow-size for 14-15 year-olds, glad that's starting to come through more regularly.

On knocking-in: 3 hours is on the short side for me. I'd do 45mins to an hour a day for 5 days. Then use on old-balls, then in nets, then in a match. If you don't have a bat hammer, use an old ball wrapped in a sock, this works just as well (if slightly more cumbersome). Very sound advice otherwise on the site, including good guides on knocking in edges. I'd also knock in pre-knocked in bats for an hour or two.

2) Balls: very important! As it says, poor balls break bats!

The ball has to be round (this may sound silly, but is worth close inspection). It should also be symmetric about the seam. Look out in particular for any rough patches or dents, any paint marks (on non-red), a too-pronounced seam (it will hurt your fingers as well as break bats), uneven surface (e.g. bumps) and the join being too sharp. Some balls are also too hard or have a heavy feel: they are likely bat breakers.

Most white balls are of unbelievably poor quality. Kookabura's are great but very expensive. Avoid Surridge (I may get in trouble for saying this, but last time we used them we broke 4 bats in 2 games!) at any cost, as well as cheap options from the subcontinent. They're rubbish.

Practice balls are a must for anyone serious about their cricket.

3) Gloves: almost as important as the bat, they have to feel comfortable whilst affording suitable protection for your level. Again, avoid gloves which feel rigid or heavy.

4) Pads: you need to be able to run comfortably in them. To be honest I am yet to find a pair of pads which doesn't afford suitable protection.

5) Shoes: honestly I still reckon Aasics are in a league of their own here: comfy, solid protection and breathability. Always worth buying a set of plastic studs for the one day where you play on synthetic or the pitch is doing a Galle impression.

IMPORTANT (and not raised on the site, I think it should be): fast bowlers should always buy a pair at least a size too big for them, otherwise they will probably experience bruising. I have heard some coaches suggest fast bowlers shouldn't have spikes on the heel part of their front foot. Personally I think this is nonsense.

Nice work their Mike Agree on bat-breakers - I'd say £2 balls from Sports Direct tend to fall into that category.

Great stuff guys - much appreciated. We shall look to tweak a few areas over the coming weeks on the back of your excellent advice. Keep the comments coming!

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