It is the question we get asked more than any other in the workshop: what size cricket bat do I actually need? The short answer is that size is set by height, not age. Two 12 year olds can be a head apart, and the shorter one swinging a Harrow will spend the season dragging the bat through the shot rather than swinging it.
Cricket bat size chart
Use this as your starting point. Measure the player without shoes, standing straight against a wall.
| Bat size | Player height | Approx age |
|---|---|---|
| Size 1 | Up to 129cm (4ft 3in) | 4-5 years |
| Size 2 | 129-137cm (4ft 3in - 4ft 6in) | 6-7 years |
| Size 3 | 137-144cm (4ft 6in - 4ft 9in) | 8-9 years |
| Size 4 | 144-150cm (4ft 9in - 4ft 11in) | 9-10 years |
| Size 5 | 150-157cm (4ft 11in - 5ft 2in) | 10-11 years |
| Size 6 | 157-163cm (5ft 2in - 5ft 4in) | 11-13 years |
| Harrow | 163-172cm (5ft 4in - 5ft 8in) | 12-14 years |
| Short Handle | 172-188cm (5ft 8in - 6ft 2in) | 15+ / adult |
| Long Handle | 188cm+ (6ft 2in and over) | Adult |
Short Handle is the standard adult bat and the one the vast majority of grade and club cricketers play with. On our bench, a Short Handle is built as a 300mm handle and a 550mm blade. Long Handle adds length to the handle rather than the blade, which is why very tall players do not end up with a heavier bat, just a longer one.
The Laws set the ceiling
Whatever size you land on, the Laws of Cricket cap a bat at 38 inches (96.5cm) long and 4.25 inches (10.8cm) wide, with limits on edge and depth. Every bat we make sits inside those limits, so you never have to think about it. If you are buying second hand or from overseas, it is worth checking.
The two tests that beat any chart
Charts are a guide. These two checks are what we actually do when someone walks into the Rydalmere workshop.
1. The stance test. Have the player take their normal stance with the bat grounded behind the back foot. The top of the handle should sit roughly at the top of the thigh, around hip height. If the handle is up near the ribs, the bat is too long.
2. The hang test. Standing straight, arm relaxed by the side holding the bat at the top of the handle, the toe should hang just off the ground. If the bat is resting on the toe with the arm bent, it is too big.
Do not buy a size up to "grow into"
This is the single most common mistake parents make, and we understand why. Bats are not cheap and kids grow fast. But an oversized bat teaches a young player to compensate. They shorten their backlift, they play across the line to get the bat around in time, and they lean back to get the toe off the ground. Those habits take years to unpick.
A correctly sized bat lets a junior play straight, drive properly, and actually enjoy batting. That is worth far more than a season of extra life out of a bat that is too big.
Harrow or Short Handle?
This is where most teenagers get stuck. Harrow is a genuinely different bat, not just a shorter Short Handle: the blade is narrower and shallower as well as shorter, so it typically comes in lighter. If a growing 14 year old is strong enough to swing a light Short Handle properly, moving straight up is usually the better call, because they will not outgrow it in six months. If they are struggling with the weight, stay on Harrow.
What about weight?
Size and weight are separate decisions. A Short Handle can be built anywhere from a light 2lb 6oz through to a hefty 2lb 12oz. Get the size right first from the chart above, then choose a weight you can swing at full pace late in an innings. We cover that in detail in our guide to how much a cricket bat should weigh.
When the chart does not fit
Plenty of players fall between sizes: a 175cm player with short arms, a 190cm player who wants a standard blade, a junior with a big frame. Because every JPGavan bat is made by hand from a raw cleft, we are not restricted to off-the-shelf sizes. In the custom cricket bat builder you can set your own handle and blade length in millimetres, and we will shape the bat to it.
For juniors, our Little Ripper junior cricket bats cover Size 2 through to Small Mens, all properly proportioned rather than scaled-down adult bats.
Still not sure?
Send us the player's height and we will tell you honestly what to get, even if it is a smaller bat than you were hoping to buy. You can also browse pre-made cricket bats ready to ship, or build your own from scratch.
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