ALTHOUGH it may be hard to believe, spring is getting closer and therefore so is the cricket season.
This means cricketers across the country will be dusting off their old kit bags for indoor nets whilst many others head to the shops to buy brand new gear.
Unfortunately for them, cricket bats are notoriously expensive as explained by John Reeve, the owner of a Millichamp and Hall franchise in West London.
Reeve said: “People might say a cleft only costs X and a handle only costs Y which adds up to 100 pounds but they forget that there is factories, showrooms and skilled staff who might spend three hours making a bat resulting in 200 pounds of labour.”
However, it’s not just the cost of the manufacturing that is expensive, these cricket companies are in a very competitive market so the price of promotion can skyrocket.
Reeve said: “Aside from website costs, you also have these big brands like MRF or Hero Honda who are sponsoring these big players; so someone has to cover those costs.”
The timing of the cricket season in the UK also plays a big part as there is often only a small window when bats and other equipment can be sold.
Reeve said: “Cricket is 22 weeks in the summer and most people want to buy their bats in the first four or five weeks of that meaning companies have got make hay whilst the sun shines.”
Cricket Pads and Protective Equipment
However, it’s not just bats than can be costly as the sport requires a large amount of safety equipment such as pads, gloves and helmets.
Reeve said: “You will get nice bits of leather, they will look good and have all the extra protection, but you score runs with your bat and not your gloves or pads.”
Reeve advises that: “Ultimately, you need a pair of gloves and some pads so buy the cheapest you can that has got the protective levels required; spend 90% on the bat and 10% on the rest.”
However, for those who are bowlers or perhaps don’t want to spend as much on a bat, there are cheaper alternatives available locally and abroad.
GJ Cricket CEO Arjan said: “You can get a great pair of gloves for £50 and really good pads for £70,” when talking about the items he sells at his West London budget cricket company.
There is a lot of nuance to buying cricket equipment so check out this YouTube Video to find out more.
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