Your bat is the most personal piece of cricket kit you own. The right English willow bat feels light in your hands, pings off the middle and lasts for seasons. Here’s how to choose the right grade, weight and size, how to knock in a new bat, and our best English willow bats for every budget.
⚡ Quick picks
| Best for | Bat | From |
|---|---|---|
| Best first English willow | SG Thunder Striker | ₹6,449 |
| Best value | SG RSD Xtreme | ₹7,199 |
| Best under ₹15,000 | SS Master 1000 | ₹14,259 |
| Best premium | SS Ton Slasher | ₹20,559 |
| Pro level | SG KLR Icon | ₹27,749 |
Prices at the time of writing. Tap a bat for today’s price, sizes and weights.
English willow vs Kashmir willow
| English willow | Kashmir willow | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel & performance | Softer, lighter, better ping and bigger sweet spot | Harder and heavier, less power |
| Best for | Leather-ball cricket, club and above | Beginners, practice, budget leather or tennis-ball cricket |
| Knocking-in | Essential | Recommended |
| Price | ₹6,000 and up | Usually under ₹5,000 |
If you play leather-ball cricket regularly, an English willow bat is worth it. For kids, beginners and tennis-ball cricket, see our Kashmir willow bats. Never use an English willow bat with hard plastic or very hard tennis balls.
How to choose an English willow bat
- Grade. English willow is graded from Grade 1 (best) to Grade 5. Higher grades have straighter, more even grains and fewer marks. Grade mainly affects looks and consistency; a well-made lower-grade bat can still perform very well.
- Weight. Most adults are comfortable around 1,150–1,220 g. Lighter bats are easier to control and swing fast; heavier bats suit strong players who like to drive and hit hard. Choose a bat you can lift and control easily.
- Size. Short Handle (SH) fits most adults. Harrow suits players around 13–15 years. Long Handle (LH) is for tall players.
- Profile and edges. Thick edges and a big middle mean more power, but often more weight. A mid-to-low sweet spot suits front-foot players on Indian pitches; a higher sweet spot suits bouncy pitches.
- Pick up and feel. “Pick-up” is how light the bat feels in your stance. Two bats of the same weight can feel very different, which is why trying bats in store helps.
Best English willow bats under ₹8,000
SG Thunder Striker
₹6,449 ₹8,599 25% off
A popular first English willow bat for players moving up from Kashmir willow.
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SG RSD Xtreme
₹7,199 ₹9,599 25% off
Trusted SG English willow for club cricketers on a budget.
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SG Sierra 150 (Grade 5)
₹6,749 ₹8,999 25% off
Entry-grade English willow, available in junior sizes too.
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Best English willow bats ₹8,000 – ₹15,000
SG Profile Xtreme
₹8,249 ₹10,999 25% off
A step up in willow quality for regular club matches.
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SS Power Play
₹8,259 ₹11,000 25% off
Built for attacking club batters who like to go big.
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SG Hi-Score Xtreme
₹11,999 ₹15,999 25% off
Better willow and finish for serious club and league cricketers.
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SS Master 1000
₹14,259 ₹19,000 25% off
High-grade SS willow with a great pick-up for its price.
View sizes & weights →Best premium English willow bats (₹15,000+)
SS Ton Slasher
₹20,559 ₹27,400 25% off
Premium SS Ton willow for advanced and tournament players.
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SG Sunny Tonny Icon
₹20,249 ₹26,999 25% off
SG’s famous Sunny Tonny range in a premium Icon version.
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SS Master 5000
₹19,509 ₹26,000 25% off
Top of the SS Master range for players who want premium willow.
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SG KLR Icon
₹27,749 ₹36,999 25% off
Pro-level SG willow for advanced batters who want the very best feel.
View sizes & weights →How to knock in a new English willow bat
A new English willow bat is soft. Knocking-in compresses the fibres on the face and edges so the bat can handle a hard leather ball without cracking. Skipping it is the most common reason new bats get damaged.
- Oil lightly (if your bat isn’t pre-treated). Apply a thin coat of raw linseed oil to the face, edges and toe, avoiding the stickers and splice. Let it dry overnight. Too much oil makes the bat heavy and dead.
- Knock with a bat mallet. Start gently on the face, gradually hitting harder. Go softer on the edges and toe, and angle your blows on the edges to round them, never hit them square-on.
- Take your time. Spend around 6–10 hours in total, spread over several days.
- Play with old balls. Next, use the bat in the nets with old leather balls, then short net sessions before matches.
- Protect it. An anti-scuff face sheet and a toe guard help the bat last much longer.
🏏 Pick your bat in store
Bats vary in weight and pick-up, even within the same model. Visit any of our 6 Prokick stores to feel different bats, or WhatsApp us your preferred weight and we’ll help you choose.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is better: English willow or Kashmir willow?
English willow is lighter, softer and performs better with a leather ball, so it’s the choice for regular club cricketers. Kashmir willow is heavier and harder but much cheaper, which makes it good for beginners, kids and practice.
What weight of cricket bat should I buy?
Most adults are comfortable between about 1,150 g and 1,220 g. Choose a bat you can lift and swing easily; a heavy bat you can’t control will hurt your batting more than help it.
Does a higher grade bat hit the ball further?
Not always. Grade mostly reflects how the willow looks (grains and marks) and its consistency. How the bat is made and pressed, and how well it is knocked in, matter a lot for performance.
How long should I knock in a new bat?
Around 6–10 hours spread over several days, followed by gentle net sessions with old balls before using it in a match.
Can I use an English willow bat with a tennis ball?
A normal tennis ball is fine, but never use hard plastic, rubber or very hard balls. They can dent or crack English willow.
Find your perfect bat
Hundreds of English and Kashmir willow bats in every size and weight, across our website and 6 Prokick stores.
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