Something New Is Coming
Laminated cricket bats · Coming December
The pros can't use it. You can.
We're building a laminate bat you're going to love. First run is limited. VIP members see it first.
4,700+ bats sold. Bat makers in Sydney since 2012.
Scroll for the why
What you can expect
Our first laminate bat
VIP members get first access when it launches.
GET VIP ACCESSWhat actually changed
The MCC has announced a new edition of the Laws of Cricket taking effect on 1 October 2026, with 73 material changes. One of them amends Law 5.8, Categories of bat.
It permits laminated bats, known as Type D, in open age recreational cricket for the first time. Until now they were allowed only in junior cricket.
The part that matters is not that other timbers are allowed. It is that laminating finally gives them a job. On its own, no other wood does what English willow does on the face of a bat. Bonded behind that face, where weight matters more than the striking surface, another timber can do work that willow was never the best answer for.
The MCC's stated reason is cost rather than performance. English willow is in short supply, demand has surged, and the price of bats has climbed with it.
Whether you can use one in your competition is set by your governing body, so ask your club or association if you play at a higher grade. The top level of the game is expected to stay on single piece willow.
We have spent months on what this makes possible. Prototypes built, a couple broken, changed, and put into real matches with real players. It launches in December and there will not be many.
Read it yourself
- MCC announces new edition of Laws from 1 October 2026Lord's, the official announcement
- MCC changes law on laminated bats as cost of willow risesReuters
- Laws of Cricket changed to allow previously illegal batsThe Independent
- Ten major changes to the Laws for the 2026 editionMCC, PDF
- What is a laminated cricket bat? Your questions answeredJPGavan, the full Q&A
Laminated cricket bats, answered
| Single piece English willow | Laminated (Type D) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pieces of wood in the blade | 1 | Up to 3 |
| Junior cricket | Legal | Legal |
| Open age recreational cricket | Legal | Legal from 1 October 2026 |
| Top level of the game | Legal | Expected to stay single piece |
What is a laminated cricket bat?
A blade built from more than one piece of wood bonded together, instead of a single cleft. The MCC calls them Type D bats. Read the full Q&A on laminated cricket bats.
Are laminated cricket bats legal?
From 1 October 2026 the Laws allow laminated bats in open age recreational cricket. Before that they were junior only. Your governing body sets the rules for your competition, so check with your club or association if you play at a higher grade.
What is a double cleft or triple cleft cricket bat?
Other names for a laminated bat. A double cleft bat bonds two pieces of wood into one blade, a triple cleft bat bonds three. Three is the most the Laws allow.
Can a cricket bat be made from wood other than English willow?
In a laminated bat, yes. English willow stays on the face, where the ball is hit. Another timber can sit behind it, where weight matters more than the striking surface.
When can I get a JPGavan laminated bat?
Our first laminate range launches in December and the first run is limited. Waitlist members hear about it first, so sign up below.
The bat you will be using in 2027.
