Cricket Bat Size Chart — Junior to Adult (Height-Based Guide)

Choosing the right cricket bat is the single biggest equipment decision a parent or player makes. An oversized bat slows a junior's stroke play, encourages bottom-hand dominance, and breeds bad habits that can take years to unlearn. An undersized bat in adult hands costs you power and reach. The fix is simple: pick your bat by height first, age second.

This guide gives you the exact height-based size chart used by professional bat-makers and Cricket Australia coaches, explains every size from a Size 0 toddler bat through to a Short Handle and Long Handle adult bat, and walks you through how to check fit in 30 seconds. If you're shopping online, this chart is the safest way to get it right. If you're in NSW, you're welcome to visit any of our four stores — Kingsgrove, Parramatta, Artarmon or Newcastle — and we'll fit your young cricketer in person.

Cricket Bat Size Chart by Height (Quick Reference)

Rule of thumb: the top of the bat handle should sit comfortably at your hip joint when the toe of the bat is resting on the ground beside your back foot. If the handle is above your waist, the bat is too long.

The MCC's Law 5 of the Laws of Cricket caps an adult bat at 38 inches (96.52 cm) overall length and 4.25 inches wide. Every size in the chart above is well within these limits.

Age-Based Cricket Bat Sizing (For Parents)

Height is more reliable than age — kids grow at very different rates — but age is a useful starting point when you're shopping for a Christmas or birthday gift and you don't have your child standing in front of you with a measuring tape.

If your child is between two sizes, always go smaller, not larger. Australian junior coaches are unanimous on this: a slightly small bat lets a young player swing freely with both hands working together. A bat that's too big forces the bottom hand to dominate, which destroys timing and front-foot drives for years.

The 10 Cricket Bat Sizes Explained

Size 0 (25" / 64 cm)

The smallest practical cricket bat, designed for 4–5-year-olds taking their very first swings. Almost always made from Kashmir willow at this size — there's no point in premium English willow for a bat that will be outgrown in 12 months.

Size 1 (26" / 66 cm)

Suits a 5–6-year-old around 130–137 cm tall. Light enough to swing with proper technique; durable enough for backyard tape-ball cricket and softball junior matches.

Size 2 (27" / 69 cm)

The Year 1–2 size. Now you'll see entry-level English willow appearing alongside Kashmir willow — useful if your child is playing in a junior club competition with a real cricket ball.

Size 3 (28" / 71 cm)

The Year 3–4 size, roughly 144–150 cm tall. This is where Cricket Australia's official Junior Cricket Formats start using a slightly heavier 142 g junior ball — a real English willow bat genuinely improves performance.

Size 4 (29" / 74 cm)

For most 9–11-year-olds, around 150–157 cm. The most common size for kids transitioning from Stage 2 to Stage 3 cricket. Pick-up weight matters more than blade size now — aim for 2 lb 4 oz to 2 lb 8 oz.

Size 5 (30" / 76 cm)

For pre-teens entering Stage 3 cricket and starting to play with the standard 156 g cricket ball. Many brands offer this size in both Kashmir and English willow with mid-range pricing.

Size 6 (31" / 79 cm)

The last of the "junior" sizes. Suits 11–13-year-olds at 165–173 cm. Players at this size typically need a properly knocked-in English willow bat if they're playing club junior cricket with the hard ball.

Harrow (32" / 81 cm)

Named after Harrow School in England, where the size originated for tall schoolboys. This is the bridge between junior and adult bats — same blade shape and edge profile as a Short Handle adult bat, but lighter (typically 2 lb 5 oz to 2 lb 9 oz) and slightly shorter. Ideal for 12–14-year-olds who aren't quite ready for a full-size adult bat but have outgrown a Size 6.

Short Handle / SH (33.5" / 85 cm)

The default adult size. Suits 90% of adult players — anyone from 5'10" to 6'3". Weights run from 2 lb 7 oz (a "light" bat) up to 2 lb 12 oz or heavier (a "powerful" bat for big hitters).

Long Handle / Long Blade / LH (34.5" / 88 cm)

For players over 6'3". Long Handle bats have a longer grip area (handle); Long Blade bats have a longer blade. Some manufacturers offer both. Big-hitting tall players like Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green use long-handle or long-blade configurations.

How to Measure for the Right Cricket Bat

You don't need a measuring tape, just the player standing in cricket shoes.

1.       Stand the player upright with the bat in a natural batting stance — toe of the bat resting on the floor next to the back foot, handle pointing up.

2.       Check the top of the handle. It should come up to the top of the thigh, where it meets the hip — roughly the hip joint or the front pants pocket.

3.       Reject if the handle sits at the waist (too long) or at mid-thigh (too short).

4.       Pick-up test: the player should be able to lift the bat to a high backlift in one smooth motion, with both hands working together, without the bottom hand dominating.

If you're between sizes after this test, take the smaller bat. Always.

Cricket Bat Weight — Why It Matters More Than You Think

Two bats of the same length can feel completely different depending on weight. A common parent mistake is buying a heavy junior bat thinking it will "last longer" — it won't help, because a heavy bat in young hands forces a slow, bottom-hand swing that wrecks technique.

Recommended Pick-Up Weights

A bat's pick-up weight (how heavy it feels when lifted into a backlift) is more important than the dead weight on the scales. A well-balanced 2 lb 10 oz bat can pick up lighter than a poorly balanced 2 lb 7 oz one. Always pick the bat up and shadow-bat a few drives before buying. (This is exactly what we do for every customer in our Kingsgrove, Parramatta, Artarmon and Newcastle stores.)

English Willow vs Kashmir Willow — Does It Matter for Juniors?

For a 6-year-old hitting a tennis ball in the driveway, premium English willow is wasted spend. For a 14-year-old playing Junior Premier League with a Kookaburra 4-Star, a properly grade-matched English willow bat genuinely changes their game. We help families calibrate this every weekend in-store.

The Five Most Common Cricket Bat Sizing Mistakes

5.       Buying "one size up" so they grow into it. Don't. A junior who learns to bat with an oversized bat develops a slow, bottom-hand swing that takes 2–3 years to fix.

6.       Ignoring weight. A correctly-sized but heavy bat is worse than a slightly small light bat for any junior.

7.       Sizing by age alone. A tall 8-year-old may need a Size 4; a small 10-year-old may still suit a Size 4. Always size by height.

8.       Not picking the bat up before buying. Two bats with the same printed weight can feel very different. The pick-up weight is what counts.

9.       Skipping the knocking-in. Even the best new English willow bat needs 4–6 hours of knocking-in before facing a hard ball. PS Cricket offers professional knocking-in on every bat we sell — many customers don't realise this until after they've split a fresh bat on day one.

When to Upgrade Your Junior's Cricket Bat

Plan to size up roughly every 12–18 months during the growth years. Watch for these signs:

·       The handle now sits above the hip joint when the bat toe is on the ground.

·       Your child can't get the bat into a full backlift smoothly anymore.

·       Their bottom hand is starting to dominate — drives are going square instead of straight.

·       The bat is significantly damaged (split edge, toe crack, broken splice).

If you're close to a size change at the start of a cricket season, size up at the season's start so the bat lasts the whole summer rather than mid-season.

Try Before You Buy — Visit PS Cricket

Online charts are a great starting point, but nothing replaces having your junior cricketer hold the bat in their actual cricket stance. Every one of our four NSW stores — Kingsgrove, Parramatta, Artarmon, and Newcastle — has the full junior and senior bat range in stock. Our staff can:

·       Fit your child to the exact right size and weight in 5 minutes

·       Demonstrate pick-up weight and balance properly

·       Show you the difference between brands (GM, Kookaburra, SG, SS, Gray-Nicolls, MRF, Shrey, New Balance, BAS, CA Sports and our own PS Cricket label)

·       Professionally knock-in any English willow bat before you take it home

·       Repair, re-bind, re-grip or re-handle older bats

Explore our Junior Cricket Bats collection, our Grade 1 English Willow range, and our Kashmir Willow range online, or call your nearest store for advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size cricket bat does a 10-year-old need?

Most 10-year-olds are between 140 and 155 cm tall, which puts them in a Size 4 (29 inch) bat. If they're tall for their age — 155 cm or above — a Size 5 (30 inch) is the right call. Always size by height, not age.

What size cricket bat does a 12-year-old need?

A 12-year-old typically needs a Size 5 (30 inch) or Size 6 (31 inch), depending on whether they're 157–165 cm or 165–173 cm. Tall 12-year-olds approaching 173 cm may already be ready for a Harrow.

What's the difference between a Harrow and a Short Handle bat?

A Short Handle (SH) is 33.5 inches long and weighs 2 lb 7 oz – 2 lb 12 oz, suitable for adult players 5'10"–6'3". A Harrow is 32 inches long and lighter (2 lb 5 oz – 2 lb 9 oz), designed as the bridge between junior and adult bats for 12–14-year-olds at 173–178 cm.

What's the difference between Long Handle and Long Blade?

A Long Handle bat has a longer grip area, suiting tall players who like more handle leverage. A Long Blade bat has a longer blade for extra reach. Both are intended for players over 6'3". Brand availability varies — GM, Gray-Nicolls and Kookaburra all offer at least one variant.

Is a heavier cricket bat better?

No. Heavier bats hit a well-timed ball further, but they're slower through the line and harder to manoeuvre. A well-balanced bat with a fast pick-up nearly always outperforms a heavy one for most batters. Pick the heaviest bat you can swing freely — not the heaviest you can lift.

Do junior bats need knocking in?

Entry-level Kashmir willow junior bats usually come pre-knocked-in and ready to use with a soft ball. English willow bats — even junior sizes — always need 4–6 hours of knocking-in with a bat mallet before facing a hard cricket ball, or the willow will dent and crack. PS Cricket offers a professional knocking-in service on every bat we sell.

What's the maximum legal cricket bat size in Australia?

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Law 5 sets the global limit at 38 inches (96.52 cm) overall length, 4.25 inches (10.8 cm) wide, with an edge no more than 40 mm and a maximum depth of 67 mm at the deepest point. Cricket Australia uses these same dimensions for all senior and junior formats.

Can a left-hander use a right-handed bat?

Yes — cricket bats are not handed. The same bat works for left- and right-handed batters; only the grip and stance differ.

How long does a cricket bat last?

A junior willow bat typically lasts 1–2 seasons before being outgrown. An adult English willow bat lasts 3–5 seasons of regular club use with proper care: knocked in correctly, kept oiled, stored in a cool dry place, and re-binded when the toe shows wear.

Should I buy online or in-store?

If you know your size and brand preference, online is fine. For a junior's first "real" bat, or any English willow purchase over $300, we strongly recommend visiting a PS Cricket store. The 10 minutes spent fitting in person regularly saves a $400 mistake.