Buying a second-hand cricket bat: a checking guide

Establish the size before discussing the deal

Start with the player’s measured height and the maker’s size chart. Ask for the size printed on the bat and its overall length if the label is missing or unclear.

For a junior, a cheap adult bat is not a saving if it is awkward to control. Compare it with the current bat where possible. A seller’s age recommendation cannot establish the right fit for another child.

Ask for photographs that answer a question

Request recent photographs of the complete front and back, both edges, toe, shoulders and handle. Ask for close-ups of any repair, lifting protection or damage.

A fresh grip and stickers may make a bat look tidy without explaining its history. Kookaburra warns that replacement stickers sold online can be counterfeit; branding alone should not establish the identity or value of a used bat. Do not ask a seller to damage a facing just to supply a photo.

Check the finished weight and feel

Ask for a scale reading with the current grip and protection fitted. Clarify whether a description such as “2.9” means pounds and ounces or a decimal weight.

If you can inspect the bat in person, compare a few controlled movements using your batting gloves. Keep the length, finished weight and pickup as separate observations. A seller describing it as light does not tell you how it will feel to you.

Ask directly about repairs and storage

Find out whether the handle has been replaced, cracks repaired, the blade reduced or the bat exposed to damp. If you cannot judge a defect, ask a repairer before purchasing rather than budgeting on an assumed easy fix.

GM’s repair service asks uncertain customers to send images and details. A repairer’s willingness to assess a photograph does not establish that it has inspected or approved this particular sale.

Calculate the price you will actually pay

Add the purchase price, delivery and any confirmed preparation or repairs. Treat an unknown repair bill as unknown. Do not write zero beside it just to make the bargain work.

For a hypothetical comparison, a £70 bat plus £10 delivery and a quoted £45 service totals £125. A £110 bat that needs no confirmed work might therefore cost less initially. Those figures are examples, not market prices or a judgement about either bat.

Questions to ask before paying

• Is this the exact bat in the current photographs?
• What are its size and measured weight with the grip fitted?
• What ball was it used with, and how was it prepared?
• Has it had repairs, a new handle or blade reduction?
• Are there cracks, soft areas or movement I should know about?
• Can I inspect it, and what happens if its condition differs from the description?