How to Choose a Cricket Bat for a Junior

Buying a cricket bat for children isn’t as simple as it may sound. When your child starts playing, naturally you will want to invest in the right equipment, which will help them master the skill. And even if they don’t go on to play professionally, the right equipment will help them learn how to play with proper form and develop good habits, which will have a positive impact on their physical health.

Sports are very important for child development, so if your child is showing interest in playing cricket, you are a lucky parent. Cricket is fun, which makes it a great choice for kids, but most importantly it comes with a lot of health benefits. First of all, cricket offers a full-body exercise that will help your child strengthen their muscles, as well as improve their motor skills, including their balance and coordination.

Moreover, this is also a great sport for building endurance, as well as improving hand-eye coordination. While any type of physical activity is crucial for children, sports like cricket come with many additional benefits, including improving social skills, learning to work with others, being a part of a team, learning about responsibility and building self-confidence. Most importantly, it has a very positive impact on their mental well-being.

However, there are many things that you need to buy for your child’s cricket kit and this isn’t cheap, or easy. And whether you are buying clothes, shoes, balls or cricket bats, the options are vast. Thankfully, you can easily find youth cricket bats sold by reputable cricket stores, which will be suitable for your child’s age, size and skill.

Choose Size According to Age

Probably the most important thing you need to take into consideration is the size of the cricket bat. It’s wrong to assume that you can get them a bat that’s a little too big for them because they are still growing. Playing with a bet that doesn’t have a suitable length will affect your child’s game negatively. But more than that, the wrong youth cricket bat will affect their posture, balance and positioning.

There are nine cricket bat sizes, suitable for cricketers of different ages and skills. There are some general estimates about age and bat size. For instance, kids over 15 and adults play with a full-sized cricket bat, with a long handle, 4- and 5-year-olds need a bet size 1, whereas 12- to 14-year-old children should play with a harrow bat. A harrow size cricket bat is considered to be right in the middle, between children’s and adult bats. These youth cricket bats are 82.5cm long, with a handle length of 28cm and a blade width of 10cm.

Nevertheless, when you are choosing the size of the cricket bat for your child it’s far more important to consider their height. Cricket bats go from 60cm to 89cm in length. A harrow cricket bat is considered to be suitable for players that are between 1.6 and 1.7m tall, this may include some of the kids between 12 and 14 years old, but it may include younger and older people as well. Essentially, when you are choosing the size of the bat for your child, you should use height as your reference.

There is one more way to measure if the length of a cricket bat is right for your child. Namely, the child should stand straight with their arms hanging freely by their side. Then you should place the bat next to them, as upright as possible. If the top of the bat handle is reaching their wrist, the size is correct.

Choose Weight According to Personal Preference

Another important thing to consider is the weight of the bet. If the bet is too heavy for the child, they won’t be able to control it, which means they won’t be able to play well. They won’t even be able to learn the proper technique, and they won’t be able to distribute the right amount of power to the bat needed to play. A youth bat that is too lightweight is not ideal either.

The goal is to find the perfect balance. However, there aren’t clear rules when it comes to weight. Lighter bats offer more speed and faster reaction times, while heavier bats provide more power and control. So, when it comes to youth cricket bats, the only guideline to follow is your child strength and preference.

Other Considerations

When you are buying a cricket bet for your child, it’s really important to have a clear image of how it will be used. For instance, if you know that it’s simply a passing fancy, and the child will only play with it once or twice in the backyard, you don’t have to invest in a top-grade bat. On the other hand, if your child is serious about playing, and they don’t have a good quality bat, it may not survive the competition.

If you are getting a youth size cricket bat for a child that will train, there are several things you need to factor in, regardless of the age of the player. Cricket bats are made of wood, and the best amongst them are made of either English willow or Kashmir willow. English willow bats are the most expensive ones, so they are not the most suitable for kids. Aside from the material, you should make sure that the bat is constructed well, with smooth finishes and without flaws. The handle should be balanced, and it should provide a good grip.