Gunn & Moore Icon DXM Original

I like Gunn and Moore as they are one of the older English cricket bat companies and seem to produce a consistently good product. The Icon DXM is their new bat for 2009 and utilises the newest GM machinery - that's what the DXM means. Immediately upon seeing the bat I noticed that the edges are very thick for an English made bat. The bat weighed 2lb 10oz which is more than I usually like however the Icon has a mid to high middle and so picked up much lighter. It felt brilliant in the hands. I couldn't wait to hit a few balls with it. The ball flew off the bat, even the mis-hit shots soared. I can't believe that this is the second best of the range (the Original LE). A devastatingly good cricket bat!

RRP - £280

Ping - 9/10
Durability - 8/10
Pick Up - 10/10

Overall - 9/10

Do you own/ have you owned one? If so please comment below on your experience with it.

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Just a quick post to say that if anyone wants to see a particular cricket bat reviewed I can try and get my hands on it to do one. Also if you have any comments, agreeing or disagreeing with my review please add them. Thanks in advance.

Newbery Series 1 *****

At first glance the bat looked like it wouldn't perform. It only had 6 grains of grade 2 English Willow and they weren't very straight. The Series 1 has a traditional very profile very similar to the Mjolnir. The pick up was similar as well. The middle was good without being spectacular. When the ball hit the toe finger breaking vibrations were sent up the bat, more so than any other bat I've used. I had the bat for 2 years as my main bat. The outstanding aspect of this bat was that after two years when I took off the anti-scuff cover there was absolutely nothing to show that it had been used. Unfortunately the bat did seem to go slightly dead after the second year. The middle didn't seem to quite ping. A good solid bat for the price.

RRP - £125

Ping - 6/10
Durability - 8/10
Pick Up - 8/10

Overall - 7/10

Do you own/ have you owned one? If so please comment below on your experience with it.

Newbery Uzi SPS

Originally designed specifically for use in Twenty20, the longer handle and shorter blade increases bat speed allowing for bigger hits. The bat was so popular that it is now used in all types of cricket. The profile is much thicker than the Mjolnir however there is still less concaving than many of the other bats available. I used a 2lb 8oz with 12 straight grains which testified to that it was grade 1 English willow. It felt good in the hands and when I started playing with it I quickly really how powerful and huge the middle was! My only worry with it is that Newbery may have compromised the durability in order to increase performance relative to their other models. One of the opposition players had gone through five in just one season and they are expensive bats.

RRP - £320

Ping - 9/10
Durability - 6/10
Pick Up - 8/10

Overall - 8/10

Do you own/ have you owned one? If so please comment below on your experience with it.

Newbery Mjolnir SPS

When you first see the bat you immediately think it's too thin. It has a traditional profile, one of the smallest on the market which contrasts with the dried out thick profiles of Asian bats. The wood is Grade 1 English Willow with lovely straight grains. There were 10 on the one I used. It weighed 2lb 9oz but it picked up a touch lighter than I thought it would. The middle is fairly large and the ball really races away. The bat feels more solid than the Woodworm. A teammate of mine has had one for 3 years and it's still going well, not even a surface crack. As with all good things, it doesn't come cheap. A top bat!

RRP - £320

Ping - 8/10
Durability - 10/10
Pick Up - 8/10

Overall - 9/10

Do you own/ have you owned one? If so please comment below on your experience with it.

Woodworm Torch Premier

The bat is supposedly made of grade 1 English Willow. However the two I've had looked more like grade 2 or 3 and they both broke very quickly. One I was only able to play with for about 3 matches. They cracked straight through the centre of the bat along the toe. I liked the profile and the middle was devastating until the bat broke (it was a little small though). The toe guard was useless on both as it came off after a match or two while I was batting. I had a 2lb 8oz and a 2lb 10oz. The pick up on the 2lb 8oz was great, really light. The latter felt a touch too heavy. For the price I paid for the first of £160 and even £120 for the second there are much better bats available.

RRP £220

Ping 7/10
Durability 2/10
Pick Up 7/10

Overall 5/10

Do you own/ have you owned one? If so please comment below on your experience with it.