Airwalk Select

Advantages: Brilliant middle, nice design
Disadvantages: None as yet

...After finishing my first season at my local cricket club with no cricket bat of my own, I decided it was about time to buy my own. After lots of recommendations about different bats I decided to go to the sports store and find out more. Thats when I stumbled upon an end of season price for the Slazenger V500 Select of £30. Usually this particular bat is £70. I plumped for the Short handle (mainly because it was the only one left in the shop!!). I wasn't disappointed. The bat didn't need 'knocking in' due to the protective cover over the front so I was straight in the Winter Nets with it. After a few overs getting used to the bat, I found the middle quite easily. The middle of this bat is not for the faint hearted!! A nice cover drive saw the ball hurtling THROUGH the bottom of the net and towards the far corner of the room... Read review

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Advantages: Lovely Bat
Disadvantages: Seems A Lot Of Money To Some

...As it is now coming up to the new cricket season, I was in desperate need of a new bat, a good new bat unlike my previous few. I opoted for the Slazenger V600 Select (same model as Mark Butcher, England and surrey uses, but obviously a better bat), it was £94 from www.cricket-hockey.com, (RRP £120) with free P&P within 5 working days. The bat is made from grade three English willow, and with cricket-hockey, it came pre-knocked in (saves sitting there with a mallet for nine hours), and also with a toe gaurd, so you don't much up the bottom of the bat while using it. Although it came pre-knocked in, I would advise more knocking in to get the best perormance, and save it getting cracked in it's early stages of life. The new design for 2004, has made this bat designed with a maroon grip (handle), and a maroon patter on back... Read review

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Advantages: Two double width straps
Disadvantages: No instep protection

...The Slazenger Select Test pads are a good alternative for anybody looking for a fairly inexpensive pair of batting pads with the general comfort of a quality pair of batting pads but without the price tag. These pads usually retail around the £39.99 mark, but many wholesalers such as Morrant, Romida or Bourne are likely to have them for closer to £30. I used a set of these, which I had borrowed off a friend, for the indoor season (I play a lot of indoor cricket in Austria) and was very impressed with them. Pads have improved immeasurably, in the 15 years that I have been playing cricket, with buckles being replaced by Velcro fastenings, which can allow you to get the tightness of the pads more accurately. As regards the straps of these pads, they were great, with the bottom (ankle) and the middle (shin) straps being both 2 inches wide... Read review

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