Gunn & Moore (GM) Cricket Bats: Range Explained & Reviewed

Few names carry the weight in English cricket that Gunn & Moore do. Founded in Nottingham and trading under the GM badge for well over a century, the brand has shaped the way generations of players have batted, from village greens to Test arenas. If you have ever picked up a club bat in this country, the odds are good that a GM has passed through your hands at some point. This GM cricket bats review is built to help you make sense of the current line-up, because Gunn & Moore now run a broad set of ranges, and knowing which one suits your level makes the buying decision far simpler.

At Mystery Cricket we stock a deep selection of Gunn & Moore cricket bats, spanning lightweight junior willow right through to premium grade English willow players’ bats. Below we walk through each range you will find on the shelf, explain who it is built for, and finish with a clear guide to choosing the right GM for your game. No jargon for its own sake, just honest positioning so you can buy with confidence.

How GM Name Their Bats

Every GM bat carries a range name and a tier. The range, such as Diamond, Mana, Noir or Rival, sets the shape, profile and look. The tier sets the grade of willow and the finish: 404 is the entry English willow bat in each range, followed by 606, 707, 808 and 909, with the Original at the top. Signature, Limited Edition and Players Edition models sit outside that ladder. These are our prices for senior short-handle bats in stock on 14 October 2026.

Two things follow from the table. The Signature is not a near-Original: it is priced between the 606 and the 707. And the biggest step in the ladder is from 606 to 808, £135 to £140 within the same range, so handle both before you decide. GM's own product copy describes the willow behind the numbers: Grade 3 English willow with minor blemishes for a 606, and Grade 1 English willow, predominantly straight grained with minor cosmetic blemishes, for an Original.

Junior and entry-level GM bats: Diamond, Opener and Kashmir willow options

Every GM journey tends to start here, and the Diamond range is the natural home for younger players. We carry the Diamond across the full junior size run, from the smaller Diamond 404 and 404 Lite through to the 606 and 808 junior bats, plus the premium Diamond Original Junior for talented age-group batters who want a properly made English willow bat. The lighter Diamond profiles are a sensible first “real” bat, easy to pick up and easy to swing, which matters enormously when a young player is still building technique and timing.

For the very youngest cricketers, or for a knockabout in the garden, the Opener moulded junior bat is about as accessible as it gets. It is a hardwearing, no-fuss option rather than a match bat, and it lets a child get the feel of holding and swinging a bat without any worry about looking after a premium cleft.

There is also a budget route into the range. The Kashmir willow Rival Junior, at £36.99 in sizes 2 and 3, and the Diamond 101, at £52.99 in sizes 3 and 4, are for a child who is keen but not yet playing hard-ball cricket. If you are weighing up the two timbers, our guide to English willow versus Kashmir willow explains the trade-offs, and the full run of sizes is in our junior cricket bats collection.

Club and Improver GM Bats: the 404 and 606 Tiers

Once a player moves into regular club or school cricket, the 404 and 606 tiers are where most GM buying starts. The 2026 ranges (Diamond, Galaxy, Maxi, Noir and Rival) cost more at each tier than the 2024 and 2025 ranges still in stock: a 2026 404 is £152.99 against £124.99 for a 2025 Mana, Psyche or Verva 404, and a 2026 606 is £199.99 against £164.99. Last season's range at the same tier is the cheapest way into a given grade.

Juniors moving up from a first bat have the Radon, which GM describe as Grade 4 English willow with a factory-fitted cover, at £74.99 to £79.99 in our junior sizes, and junior 404 and 606 versions of the Aion, Diamond, Galaxy, Hypa, Psyche, Rival and Verva from £94.99 to £169.99. If you are unsure how to read the numbers, our cricket bat buying guide breaks down what each tier buys you.

Performance GM Bats: the 707, 808 and 909 Tiers

Above the 606, the 707, 808 and 909 use progressively higher grades of English willow, which shows mostly as straighter, more even grain and fewer blemishes. The Psyche is the only range with a 707 in our stock, at £259.99. The Noir, Maxi and Rival carry an 808 at £339.99 and a 909 at £419.99; the Aion, Brava and Mana carry both at £299.99 and £329.99; the Diamond, Galaxy and Verva stop at the 808. Noir and Psyche add Delta versions, a different profile at the same tier.

For a club batter who plays most weekends, an 808 is the usual step up from a 606. Grade is mostly about appearance and consistency; on its own it does not make a bigger sweet spot, which comes from the profile and the pressing. Choose the range for its shape first and the tier for your budget second. GM's copy gives the shapes: a mid swell on the Diamond and Psyche, a mid to low swell on the Noir and Rival, a mid to high swell on the Galaxy, and a low swell on the Verva and Maxi.

Premium GM Bats: Original, Limited Edition and Players Edition

The Original is the top grade within each range, at £429.99 to £499.99 in our stock for the Aion, Brava, Diamond, Galaxy, Hypa, Mana, Noir, Rival and Verva. Strong age-group players have the Rival Original Junior, at £279.99 in Harrow, and the Diamond Original Junior, at £229.99 in size 5.

Above the Originals sit the showpieces. The Noir, Maxi and Galaxy Limited Edition bats are £749.99, and the Ben Stokes Players Edition, at £879.99, is the most expensive GM we stock. GM describe Players Edition willow as their highest grade, limited by willow availability, and prepare those bats in house with an extra press, linseed oil and an anti-scuff sheet. The Prima Limited Edition from 2023 is still available at £449.99, close to Original money. The Signature models are a different thing: at £194.99 to £239.99 they are priced between the 606 and 707 tiers, well below the Original.

How to choose the right GM for your level

With so many ranges sharing the same numbering, the simplest way to navigate GM is to fix two things first: your standard of cricket and your budget. From there the line-up almost sorts itself.

• New to the game or buying for a child: start with a Diamond junior, the Opener moulded bat, or a Kashmir willow option such as the Diamond 101 or Rival junior. Durable, affordable and easy to wield.
• Regular club or school cricketer: a Verva 404, a Hypa, or any 404 or 606 model across the Diamond, Mana, Psyche, Galaxy, Maxi, Noir or Rival ranges gives you genuine English willow at a sensible price.
• Committed weekend batter: step into the 808 or 909 tier of whichever range you like the look of. This is the value sweet spot for performance willow.

Strong, representative or elite player: the Original at the top of your preferred range, or a Limited Edition or the Ben Stokes Players Edition if you want the showpiece.

Two practical points matter alongside the range. First, bat weight. A bat that feels light and lets you play your full range of shots will always serve you better than a heavier blade you cannot control, so pick up a few before you commit. Second, profile and pick-up, which is the way the weight is distributed through the blade. GM’s shaping is designed to keep the pick-up lively, but the right balance for you depends on whether you favour the front foot, the back foot, or a bit of both. If you want a wider view across brands before you settle, our complete cricket bats collection sits alongside the GM range for easy comparison.

A Note on Willow and Grades

Almost every GM above the youngest junior sizes is English willow. As the tier rises from 404 to Original you are paying for a higher grade of cleft: straighter grain, fewer blemishes and more careful selection. Our cricket bat willow guide explains how grading works across makers, and the grower JS Wright and Sons describes the timber itself. The top grades have become expensive everywhere: City AM reported in February 2026 that top Grade 1 bats had more than doubled in price in a decade, to around £1,000.

The two Kashmir willow juniors, the Rival and the Diamond 101, sit apart. Kashmir willow is denser, heavier and cheaper, and the makers position it for soft-ball cricket and a first bat rather than for regular hard-ball cricket.

Final thoughts: which GM should you buy?

The strength of Gunn & Moore is the sheer breadth of the range. Whether you are buying a first bat for a child stepping into junior cricket, replacing a tired club bat with a dependable Verva or Hypa, treating yourself to an 808 or 909 for the season ahead, or investing in a premium Original or Prima, there is a GM built precisely for that moment. Match the range and tier to your standard of play and your budget, get the weight right, and you will have a bat that rewards you every time you middle one.

When you are ready, browse the full selection at Mystery Cricket’s Gunn & Moore cricket bats collection and find the GM that fits your game.

FAQs: GM Cricket Bats

Are GM cricket bats good?
Yes. Gunn & Moore are one of the most established English bat makers, with a long heritage in Nottingham and a reputation for considered design and reliable English willow across every price band. The breadth of the range means there is a well-made GM for beginners, club players and elite batters alike.

What is the difference between the GM 404, 606, 808 and 909 models?
The number is the willow grade within a range: 404 is the entry English willow bat, 606 a step up, then 707, 808 and 909, with the Original at the top. In our stock a senior 404 costs £119.99 to £152.99 and a 909 £329.99 to £419.99. Signature models are priced between the 606 and 707 tiers.

Which GM range is best for a junior or beginner?
For juniors, the Diamond range covers the full size run, with Kashmir willow options such as the Diamond 101 and the Rival junior for beginners on a budget. The Opener moulded bat is ideal for very young children or garden cricket. Browse our junior cricket bats collection to compare sizes.

What is the most premium GM cricket bat?
In our range it is the Ben Stokes Players Edition at £879.99, followed by the Noir, Maxi and Galaxy Limited Edition bats at £749.99. Below those, each range's Original costs £429.99 to £499.99.

Do GM bats use English or Kashmir willow?
Almost all are English willow. The Rival Kashmir Willow Junior and the Diamond 101 are Kashmir willow, which is denser, heavier and cheaper, and suited to soft-ball cricket and a first bat.

How do I choose the right GM bat weight?
Choose the lightest bat that still feels substantial enough to drive the ball, and always prioritise control over raw mass. A bat you can swing freely through your full range of shots will outperform a heavier one you struggle to manoeuvre. Our cricket bat buying guide explains weight and pick-up in more detail.

Where can I buy GM cricket bats in the UK?
Mystery Cricket stocks a deep range of Gunn & Moore cricket bats, from junior and Kashmir willow options to premium English willow players’ bats. Explore the full Gunn & Moore collection to find the right model for your level.