With top performing international players such as Sam Curran and Jofra Archer now endorsing the Adidas brand, it is no surprise Adidas cricket bats are some of the most popular among grass-root cricketers.
For the 2021 season, Adidas have continued to produce just two styles of cricket bat – the Incurza range and the XT range. Each have their own style, which are designed to compliment different batting techniques.
The Adidas 2021 Range
The Incurza range is styled for the more modern batsman, playing a shorter format of the game. This style allows a batsman to channel their aggression effectively, with a mid to high middle and spine that tapers down to the toe. Each stroke is backed up with plenty of wood.
On the other hand, the XT range is designed for all round stroke play. A mid to low middle caters for play off both the front and back foot, perfect for longer games. This range follows a more traditional style with a sharper spine and minimal concaving.
When it comes to both styles of bat, Adidas have developed something for everyone in terms of price. In this article, we explore the whole Adidas range and list our favourite parts at each price range. We have reviewed 10 Adidas models and we think the Adidas Incurza 1.0 cricket bat is the best possible pick for the 2020 season.
Table of Contents
Best Adidas Cricket Bat - Editor's Choice
Adidas XT 1.0 Cricket Bat
FEATURES
- Grade 1 English Willow
- 8 Grains
- Large Middle
- Face Guard
- Toe Guard
The best Adidas cricket bat for the 2021 season is arguably the Incurza 1.0. The cricket bat is made from the finest Grade 1 English willow. The willow is bleamish free, very clean without a mark in sight. We counted 8 straight grains on the face of the bat, displaying the beauty of the willow used. The willow is nothing but sapwood, ensuring a responsive performance.
Incurza does not have full spine, tapers down slightly. Not a duck bill toe. Mid to high middle. great for front foot stroker play. fuller. hitting it off centre – get lots of wood around it.
The weight of this bat is fairly light, sitting around the 2lbs7 mark. This is surprising given the beefy specification of 37mm edges, 62mm spine and a 21mm toe. The bat feels extremely low density which is why the bat feels so light.
Regarding pick-up, the bat feels feather light. It does not feel bottom heavy by any means. The shape of the bow contributes to lighter pick-up. The handle is of medium thickness – not too thick or thin. There is a semi oval at the bottom, great for any bottom handed players.
The bat responds to the mallet as any top grade cricket bat should. The willow feels soft, responsive and bounces off the long middle. The density ensures it shouldn’t take too long to reach peak performance. It does however require further knocking in.
Our only issue with the top grade is that it is covered in a fibre sheet. With this quality of willow, we think players should have the option as to whether a sheet is fitted on the bat. This is definitely something to consider if looks are at the forefront of your cricket bat decision.
If you are a fan of the Incurza range, this is the best option money can buy. We think it is perfect for any top order batsman that is aggressive, plays off the front and serious about their cricket. You won’t be disappointed by the quality of this bat.
Best Adidas Cricket Bat For All-Round Stroke Play
Adidas XT 1.0 Cricket Bat
FEATURES
- Grade 1 English Willow
- 8 Grains
- Large Middle
- Face Guard
- Toe Guard
We can’t really split the XT and Incurza. The only reason why we have picked the Incurza as our overall favourite is because of the playing style we prefer. It just may be that you play off the front and back foot and so the XT would most likely be your preference.
Exactly the same grade 1 willow is used to create the Adidas XT 1.0. Again, we counted 8 bleamish free-grains. The willow feels soft with very low density creating an overall responsive cricket bat.
The shape is slighly different to the Incurza, with a full spine than runs down to the toe. This bat has a mid to low middle which is great for playing off the front and back foot. The spine is sharper and slightly less full. There is minimal concaving also, ensuring maximum wood is behind every shot.
The specs are slightly smaller than the Incurza, with 36mm edges, a 60mm spine and a 19mm toe. This is one or two inches smaller. What’s surprising is that the two bats weigh the same between 2lbs7 and 2lbs9. The bat has a medium bow.
Regarding pick-up, the XT 1.0 felt slightly heavier than the Incurza. This is due to the fuller spine and mid to low middle, which shifts weight towards the tow of the bat. Remember pick-up is personal preference
We especially like the classy stickers used for the XT model. The embossed chrome lettering looks fantastic on the grey background. The sticker allows the quality of the willow to show.
The handle is pretty much identical to the Incurza, the only difference being the the colur scheme of the grip. Again, this is perfect for top-handed players.
The bat performed excellently off the mallet. The bad is relatively soft off the mallet – shouldnt take too long to reach peak performance. It does require further knocking in.
Again our only issue with this bat is the antiscuff sheet. Yes – they are great for durability and protection, however some batsman want to display how good the willow they use actually looks.
Best Budget Adidas Cricket Bats
If you don’t want to spend a huge amount of money on an Adidas cricket bat, then the the Incurza and XT 5.0 Cricket Bats are options to consider. These bats are the entry-level option, yet we still think they offer magnificent value for those of you on a budget.
The 5.0 has pretty much the same silhouette as the 1.0 in both instances, however there are a few slight differences. The main difference is the grade of willow which is used. 5.0 stands for grade 5 willow, which is used in the making of both of these bats.
After inspection, we think the willow could pass as Grade 3. This is a classic case of willow mis-grading by Adidas, which is why we think these bats offer so much value at their current price. The other difference is the spine. On the budget options, the spine is slightly smaller which reduces the overall size of the bat.
The 5.0 weighs between 2lbs7 and 2lbs9. Adidas can not guarantee exactly the same weight per bat, however any bat falling within this range can be considered light.
Unlike the 1.0, the pick-up is not feather light. It feels around a medium pick-up, so don’t expect the bat to be much lighter than its dead weight when playing a stroke.
Other features to mention are the top sheet which adds another layer of protection to the bat and covers any blemishes in the face. There is also an Adidas branded toe guard which will protect the bottom of the bat.
Maybe you’re not playing cricket regularly, find yourself further down the batting order or you need a back-up bat to use during net sessions – we think your money will go a long way with the features this bat offers.
Best Adidas Cricket Bats Under £300
Currently available for under £300, the Incurza and XT 2.0 are a fantastic option for those who don’t want to shell out on the very top of the range. In our opinion, the bats are almost identical with only one major difference.
Like the other bats in this range, that difference is the willow. Grade 2 English willow is used in the making of this bat, hence the 2.0 in the name. The willow could easily pass for the highest grade. We found one small blemish on the face of the bat, which is probably why it is categorised as grade 2 rather than grade 1. We think this only adds value considering it is considerably cheaper than the 1.0.
We think the 2.0 is great for those who want an exceptional cricket bat, yet they may not bat frequently due to being further down the order. Which style you pick is totally up to you.
Best Adidas Cricket Bats Under £200
Sitting within the middle of both ranges is the 3.0. Two excellent cricket bats manufactured from grade 3 English willow. We think this bat is great for any bat
Best Adidas Cricket Bats Under £150
One step up from our budget pick is the Incurza and XT 4.0. Currently available at around the £150 mark, these bats are perfect for any batsman sitting at the top of their order at club level.
Grade 4 English willow is used in the making of this bat. The willow could easily pass for the highest grade. We found one small blemish on the face of the bat, which is probably why it is categorised as grade 2 rather than grade 1. We think this only adds value considering it is considerably cheaper than the 1.0.
We think the 2.0 is great for those who want an exceptional cricket bat, yet they may not bat frequently due to being further down the order. Which style you pick is totally up to you.
