New Balance, Salix, CA, Chase & Newbery Cricket Bats Explained

Most cricketers can name the giants of the willow world in a heartbeat, yet some of the most rewarding bats sit just outside that obvious shortlist. If you have ever picked up a friend’s bat and wondered why it felt so alive, the maker on the splice was probably one of the five names in this guide. This is our take on cricket bat brands explained for players who want something with a bit more character, whether that means hand crafted English willow, cutting edge global engineering or serious power for the money.

The five brands here cover a genuinely wide spread. Salix and Newbery represent premium English craftsmanship, made in modest numbers by people who care deeply about grain and pickup. New Balance is the modern global name that arrived with real intent and now sponsors some of the biggest players in the world. CA brings value driven subcontinent power, the sort of bat that hits hard without emptying your wallet. Chase rounds things off as the British value brand offering hand made bats at sensible money. Think of this as a working cricket bat brands list, with the heritage, the character and the ranges we actually stock, so you can match a maker to your own game.

New Balance cricket bats

New Balance may be best known for trainers and running kit, but its cricket arm has become one of the most recognisable sights in the modern game, carried into Test arenas by some of the sport’s leading run scorers. The brand entered cricket with a clear ambition: to bring slick design, consistent manufacturing and bold branding to a category that had long been dominated by traditional English names. The result is a range that feels contemporary, clean and confident.

The character of a New Balance bat is all about pressing and shape. The willow tends to be pressed for a responsive, lively feel, with profiles built around big edges and a generous middle, so the ball pings away with relatively little effort. These are bats that suit the aggressive, front foot dominant batter who wants instant feedback off the face.

Our New Balance cricket bats collection spans the headline families the brand is known for. The TC range, including the TC 1000 Max, TC 660 and TC 600, is the classic willow line built for traditional players. The DC range, such as the DC 1000 Max, DC 800 and DC 500 Max, leans towards modern, powerful profiles. Alongside these sit the Burn and Heritage families, from the Burn 800 Pro and Burn 600 to the Heritage 1000 Max and Heritage 800 Max, plus a full sweep of junior bats so younger players can grow into the same look. This is a brand for the cricketer who wants modern engineering and a recognisable presence at the crease.

Salix cricket bats

Salix is English bat making in its purest form. Based in Kent and named after the Latin for willow, the company has built a quiet but fierce reputation among purists for hand crafting bats in small batches, with an obsessive focus on grading, pressing and finish. These are not mass produced bats, and that is rather the point. Each one is made to perform and to last, and many players who try a Salix never look back.

The character here is traditional in the best sense: clean lines, natural willow on show and a pickup that feels balanced rather than artificially light or heavy. Salix tend to let the wood speak for itself, with subtle stickers and a craftsman’s attention to the spine and edges. The feel at impact is crisp and pure, the kind of response that rewards good technique and timing.

In our Salix cricket bats range you will find the tiered structure that defines the brand. The AIR series, including the AIR Marque and AIR Alba, sits towards the top for players chasing premium English willow and a featherweight feel. The AMP Performance offers a high grade option for the serious club and representative cricketer, while the AJK Select carries the initials of founder Andrew Kember and delivers beautifully made willow at a more attainable grade. The Nitric Acid models, available in G2 and G3, round out the line with that distinctive treated, characterful finish. Salix suits the discerning batter who values craftsmanship, natural feel and English provenance above flashy graphics.

CA cricket bats

CA, based in Sialkot, Pakistan, is one of the subcontinent’s most prominent bat makers and has long been associated with raw, ball striking power. The brand has equipped a long list of international cricketers and is a familiar sight in white ball cricket, where its big, bold profiles and explosive middles come into their own. For players who want maximum punch for their money, CA is hard to ignore.

The character of a CA bat is power first. The willow is typically pressed to give a firm, hard hitting response, and the shaping tends towards large edges, thick spines and a low to mid middle that suits attacking strokeplay. These bats reward the batter who likes to dominate, clear the ropes and dictate terms, and they offer a level of performance that punches well above their grade.

Our CA cricket bats collection is led by the well known Gold and Pro families. At the top sit statement bats such as the Gold Dragon, Gold Player Edition and Gold 17, with the Gold 15000, Gold 8000 and Gold 5000 stepping through the grades. The Pro line, including the Pro 15000 and Pro 12000, offers serious performance, while the SM-18 Five Star and Plus 5000 broaden the choice further. There is also a strong junior presence with bats like the Pro 15000 Junior and the JR20 Performance 15000, so younger power hitters are well catered for. CA is the natural pick for the aggressive batter who wants subcontinent power and excellent value.

Chase cricket bats

Chase is a British brand with a loyal following among club cricketers who want hand made willow without the premium price tag of the biggest English names. Based at Dummer Down Farm in Hampshire, where it has been handcrafting bats since 1996, Chase has built its reputation on honest, well shaped bats and a willingness to offer real performance at sensible money. For many players this is the sweet spot, a proper bat that feels personal rather than mass market.

The character of a Chase bat is dependable and player friendly. The shaping is generous without being extreme, the pressing aims for a forgiving yet lively middle, and the overall feel tends to suit a wide range of techniques rather than one narrow style. These are bats designed to be picked up and trusted straight away, which is exactly what most weekend cricketers are after.

Our Chase cricket bats range is organised into clear model families, each available across several grades. The A-10, F-16, Vortex and Volante lines run through Select, Player and Elite tiers, so you can choose your level of willow and finish within a shape you like. Above these sit limited and premium options such as the FLC Pro Edition and the Platinum Limited Edition for players who want something special, while the R4 Finback and a deep selection of junior models keep the range accessible. Chase suits the club cricketer who wants British made quality and genuine value across the grades.

Newbery cricket bats

Newbery is one of the most respected names in English bat making, with roots that stretch back through generations of craftsmanship in Sussex. The brand is held in high regard by serious players and has a strong presence in county and representative cricket. A Newbery is a bat for the cricketer who appreciates pedigree and wants premium English willow shaped by people who have been doing it for a very long time.

The character of a Newbery bat blends traditional craftsmanship with modern profiling. Expect well pressed, high grade willow, balanced pickups and middles positioned to suit committed strokeplay. The feel is refined and responsive, the kind of pure contact that good players notice immediately, and the finish reflects the care that goes into each bat.

In our Newbery cricket bats collection the famous model names lead the way. The Master 100 family, including the Master 100 SPS, Master 100 Players and Master 100 5 Star, is a long standing favourite. The Kudos range, with the Kudos SPS, Kudos Players and Kudos 5 Star, offers a more modern profile, while the Pulse line, from the Pulse SPS and Pulse Players down to the Pulse 5 Star and Pulse 4, broadens the choice. Junior options such as the Kudos 5 Star Junior mean younger players can start on the same heritage. Newbery suits the serious batter who wants premium English craftsmanship and a name with genuine standing in the game.

How to choose between them

With five distinct brands in play, the right choice comes down to your priorities. Start with where your loyalty sits between feel and power. If you crave pure, hand crafted English willow and a refined contact, Salix and Newbery are the natural homes, with Newbery leaning slightly more towards established county pedigree and Salix towards small batch purity. If you want raw power and the most performance for your outlay, CA is the standout, especially for white ball hitters who like big edges.

If modern engineering and a recognisable, contemporary look matter to you, New Balance delivers slick design across the TC, DC, Burn and Heritage families. And if you want hand made British willow that balances quality with value, Chase is the dependable middle ground that suits the broadest range of club players.

Beyond the badge, the usual fundamentals still apply. Get the weight and pickup right for your strength and style, since a bat that feels light in your hands will always serve you better than one chosen on grade alone. Consider the grade of willow against your budget and how often you play, and think about whether you favour a low, mid or high middle for your shots. If you want to dig into the wood itself, our cricket bat willow guide explains grades and grains in detail, and our cricket bat buying guide walks through sizing, weight and knocking in. You can also browse everything together in our full cricket bats collection.

Conclusion

These five brands prove there is far more to the bat market than the household names. Salix and Newbery carry the torch for premium English craftsmanship, New Balance brings modern global engineering, CA delivers subcontinent power and value, and Chase offers honest British quality at a sensible level. Whichever way your game leans, there is a maker here built to match it. Take your time, handle a few profiles if you can, and pick the bat that feels like an extension of your hands. When you are ready, explore the New Balance, Salix, CA, Chase and Newbery ranges and find the one that suits you.

FAQs: Cricket Bat Brands

Which cricket bat brand is best for power?
For sheer ball striking power and value, CA is the standout among these five, with big edges, firm pressing and explosive middles that suit aggressive, white ball strokeplay. New Balance also offers powerful profiles in its DC and Burn families if you prefer a more modern feel.

Are Salix and Newbery worth the premium?
For players who value pure feel, hand crafted English willow and long term quality, yes. Both brands make their bats in modest numbers with close attention to pressing and finish, which is why so many serious club and representative cricketers stay loyal to them once they have tried one.

Is New Balance a serious cricket bat brand?
Very much so. Despite being better known for footwear, New Balance has invested heavily in cricket and sponsors several leading international batters. Its TC, DC, Burn and Heritage ranges are designed and pressed to compete with the established names at the top of the game.

What makes Chase good value?
Chase makes hand finished British willow and offers it across clear grade tiers, so you can buy a properly shaped bat without paying the highest premium prices. That combination of British production and sensible pricing is why it appeals so strongly to everyday club cricketers.

What is the difference between English and subcontinent willow bats?
Broadly, English willow as used by Salix, Newbery, New Balance and Chase is prized for its pure, responsive feel and longevity, while subcontinent makers such as CA are known for firm, powerful pressing and excellent value. Our cricket bat willow guide explains the grades in more detail.

Do these brands make junior cricket bats?
Yes. New Balance, CA, Chase and Newbery all offer junior models in this guide, often shaped and pressed like their senior counterparts so younger players get a similar feel. Sizing matters most for juniors, so check our buying guide before choosing.

How do I choose between these five brands?
Decide whether you prioritise feel, power, value or modern design, then match that to the brand: Salix and Newbery for craftsmanship, CA for power and value, New Balance for contemporary engineering and Chase for British value. After that, get the weight and pickup right for your style.

Where can I see all the ranges together?
You can browse every maker in our full cricket bats collection, then drill into the individual Salix, Newbery, CA, Chase and New Balance collections to compare models.