Adult Cricket Bat Size Guide: Short Handle, Long Handle & Weight

Choosing the right adult cricket bat size is about far more than picking the biggest piece of willow on the rack. Get it right and the bat feels like an extension of your hands: balanced, easy to pick up and quick through the line. Get it wrong and you will fight the bat all season, struggling for timing and tiring sooner than you should. For most grown players the decision comes down to three things: handle length, blade length and weight. This guide keeps things firmly adult-specific, so if you are buying for a junior you will want our general cricket bat size guide instead.

Adult bats come in a handful of recognised options, namely Short Handle, Long Handle and Long Blade, with the Harrow sitting just below them for smaller adults and tall teenagers. Below we break down who each one suits by height, how to measure yourself properly, and why a lighter bat usually beats a heavier one for the vast majority of players. You can browse the full range in our adult cricket bat collection as you read.

Adult cricket bat size chart

The table below is the quickest way to match your height to the right adult bat. Use it as a starting point, then confirm with the measuring and pick-up tests further down. Height is the main guide, but stance and personal preference matter too.

As you can see, the Short Handle covers the largest band of adult heights, which is exactly why it is the most common bat in club cricket up and down the country. The Long Handle and Long Blade are specialist sizes for taller players, while the Harrow gives smaller adults a properly proportioned alternative to a full Short Handle.

How to measure for an adult cricket bat

You do not need anything more complicated than the bat itself and a moment of honesty about your own height. There are two simple checks worth doing before you commit.

The upright bat test

Stand the bat on its toe, upright, next to your leg with the handle pointing up. As a rough rule the top of the handle should sit somewhere between the top of your thigh and your hip when you are in your normal stance posture. If the handle reaches well above your hip the bat is likely too long, and you will find yourself crouching or reaching to get the toe down to the crease. If it barely reaches mid-thigh, you may have room to size up.

The pick-up test

Numbers on a scale only tell half the story. Pick the bat up with your top hand only and make a few slow shadow drives. A well-suited bat will feel light in the hands even if the scales say it is a touch heavier, because good weight distribution puts the mass where you want it. If the toe drags or your wrist tires after a few swings, the bat is either too heavy or poorly balanced for you. Always trust the pick-up over the printed weight, and read more on this in our piece on how cricket bat weight affects power and timing.

Short Handle vs Long Handle vs Long Blade

This is where many adult buyers get stuck, so let us make it simple. The differences come down to handle length and blade length, and each design suits a particular type of player.

Short Handle (SH)

The Short Handle is the default adult bat and the one the overwhelming majority of club and league players should buy. It suits players roughly 5’8”–6’2” (173–188 cm) and offers a familiar, balanced feel that works for every type of batter, from accumulators to big hitters. Because it is the standard size, you will also find the widest choice of brands, profiles and price points. If you are unsure which size to pick, an SH is almost always the safe, sensible answer.

Long Handle (LH)

The Long Handle keeps the same blade as a Short Handle but adds length to the handle itself. This suits taller players, broadly 6’2” and above (188 cm+), who naturally adopt a more upright stance. The extra handle length lets a tall batter stand tall without stooping, which protects the back over a long innings and helps keep the head still and over the ball. If you are tall and find a standard SH leaves you crouched, the LH is worth trying.

Long Blade (LB)

The Long Blade also targets taller players around 6’2”+ (188 cm+), but instead of extending the handle it extends the blade, giving you more hitting area and a longer sweet spot down the face. Some tall players prefer this because it keeps the handle proportions normal while offering extra middle. The trade-off is that a longer blade can carry a little more weight, so the pick-up test matters even more here. Whether you lean towards an LH or LB usually comes down to whether you would rather lengthen the handle or the hitting surface.

Choosing the right weight, and why lighter usually wins

Adult bat weights typically fall in the range of about 2lb 7oz to 2lb 12oz. That spread looks small, but a few ounces makes a real difference to how a bat plays over a two-hour innings. There is a persistent myth that a heavier bat hits the ball further, and while a big, heavy blade can feel powerful in the nets, the maths of batting favours bat speed over sheer mass for most players.

A lighter bat is quicker through the line, which gives you more time to react to the ball, cleaner timing and the ability to adjust your shot late. That late adjustment is priceless against quick or swinging bowling. A lighter bat is also far less tiring, so your last 20 overs feel as sharp as your first. Power in cricket comes mostly from timing and finding the middle, not from swinging a club, so unless you are an exceptionally strong player who consistently middles a heavy bat, you will usually score more freely with something lighter.

A sensible approach is to start in the middle of the range, around 2lb 8oz to 2lb 9oz, and only go heavier if you genuinely middle it with no loss of bat speed. If in doubt, go lighter. For a deeper look at the trade-offs, our cricket bat buying guide walks through balance, profile and willow grade alongside weight.

When an adult should consider a Harrow

Not every adult needs a full Short Handle. Players around or below 5’8” (173 cm) are often better served by a Harrow, which is a slightly smaller bat than a full adult SH. The shorter, lighter blade is easier to control and pick up for smaller-framed adults, and it lets you play your shots without wrestling a bat that is simply too big for your reach and strength.

The Harrow is also the natural choice for tall, strong teenagers who have outgrown junior sizes but are not quite ready for the length and weight of a full adult bat. If a Short Handle feels unwieldy in the pick-up test, or the upright bat test shows the handle sitting well above your hip, do not be afraid to drop down. You can see the options in our Harrow cricket bats collection, and there is no loss of quality in doing so, only a better-fitting bat.

Final thoughts

For most adults the answer is straightforward: a Short Handle in a sensible weight around the middle of the 2lb 7oz to 2lb 12oz range. Taller players approaching or passing 6’2” should look at a Long Handle for a more upright stance or a Long Blade for extra hitting area, while smaller adults will often play better with a Harrow. Above all, let the pick-up test be your final judge, because the right bat is the one that feels light, balanced and ready to go in your hands. When you are ready to choose, browse the full cricket bats range and our dedicated adult cricket bat collection.

FAQs: Adult Cricket Bat Size

What is the most common adult cricket bat size?
The Short Handle (SH) is by far the most common adult size. It suits players roughly 5’8”–6’2” (173–188 cm) and is the standard bat used across club and league cricket, which is why it has the widest choice of brands and profiles.

What height do you need for a Long Handle bat?
Long Handle bats are generally aimed at players around 6’2” and above (188 cm+). The extra handle length lets taller batters stand upright in their stance without stooping over the ball.

What is the difference between a Long Handle and a Long Blade?
A Long Handle adds length to the handle while keeping a standard blade, suiting tall players with an upright stance. A Long Blade keeps a normal handle but extends the blade for more hitting area. Both target players around 6’2”+ (188 cm+).

How heavy should an adult cricket bat be?
Adult bats typically weigh between about 2lb 7oz and 2lb 12oz. A weight around 2lb 8oz to 2lb 9oz suits most players, with lighter bats helping bat speed, timing and stamina over a long innings.

Is a heavier cricket bat better for power?
Not usually. Power in cricket comes mostly from timing and finding the middle rather than sheer mass. A lighter bat is quicker through the line, giving you better timing and more control, so most players score more freely with something lighter.

Can an adult use a Harrow bat?
Yes. Players around or below 5’8” (173 cm) are often better suited to a Harrow, which is lighter and easier to control than a full Short Handle. It is also ideal for tall, strong teenagers stepping up from junior sizes.

How do I know if my cricket bat is too big?
Stand the bat upright next to your leg: if the handle sits well above your hip it is probably too long. In the pick-up test, if the toe drags or your wrist tires quickly, the bat is too heavy or poorly balanced for you.

Does height or weight matter more when choosing an adult bat?
Height determines the correct size band (SH, LH, LB or Harrow), while weight and balance determine how the bat actually plays. Use height to pick the size, then let the pick-up test confirm the weight feels right in your hands.