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.

A quick word on GM’s heritage and build

Gunn & Moore have long been associated with hands-on bat making and a willingness to engineer their profiles rather than simply cleave a cleft and hope. The brand is well known for the way it presses and shapes its English willow to chase a generous hitting zone. GM also press a range of willow grades across their ranges, which is exactly why the same range name can appear at several different points in the line-up. The headline to remember is simple: the GM family is wide, the construction is considered, and there is a sensible bat at every stage of a batter’s journey.

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 true budget route into the range. The Diamond 101 Kashmir willow junior bat uses Kashmir rather than English willow, which keeps things affordable and durable for beginners. Similarly, the Rival Kashmir willow junior bat gives parents a low-cost, robust choice for a child who is keen but not yet committed to the game. If you are weighing up the two timbers, our guide to English willow versus Kashmir willow explains the trade-offs in plain terms. You can browse the full junior selection over on our junior cricket bats collection as well.

Club and improver GM bats: Radon, Verva, Hypa and the 404 and 606 tiers

Once a player moves into regular club or school cricket, the conversation shifts towards reliable English willow that performs without demanding a top-end budget. Gunn & Moore cover this band well.

The Radon sits at the gentle end of the senior and junior crossover, a tidy, dependable bat for players who simply want something honest to get out and play with. Stepping up, the Verva 404 is a classic club-level GM, the sort of bat that suits a weekend cricketer who wants real willow and real performance without paying for the very top grades.

Across most of the modern ranges you will notice a numbering system that helps enormously here. The 404 models are the entry English willow option in each family, the 606 models move up a grade with a cleaner face and a step in performance, and these two tiers together form the backbone of club cricket. We carry 404 and 606 versions across ranges such as Diamond, Mana, Psyche, Galaxy, Maxi, Noir and Rival, so you can pick a look and a price band that suits and still get a properly made bat. The Hypa range is another well-judged club and improver option, available in 404 and 606 forms including junior sizes, and it remains a popular pick for batters who want a balanced, easy-swinging profile.

If you are unsure how to read all these numbers and grades, our cricket bat buying guide breaks down what each tier actually buys you in terms of willow quality and finish.

Mid-range performance GM bats: the 707, 808 and 909 tiers

This is the heart of the GM range for committed players, and it is where the brand arguably offers some of its best value. As you climb past the 606, the 707, 808 and 909 models bring progressively better grades of English willow, cleaner grain, and the kind of ping that more experienced batters notice straight away.

We stock these higher tiers across the bulk of the current line-up. The Psyche range, for example, runs from the 606 right up to the 707, 808 and the eye-catching 808 Delta, giving a clear ladder for a player who wants to upgrade within a profile they already trust. The Mana follows the same logic with 606, 808 and 909 options, the Brava offers a 909 alongside its premium bats, and the newer Noir, Maxi and Galaxy ranges all carry strong 808 and 909 models, with Noir also adding an 808 Delta and a 404 Delta for players who like that profile shape. The Rival line is similarly deep, with 606, 808 and 909 bats plus junior 606, 808 and Original versions for serious age-group cricketers.

The takeaway for this band is that you are buying genuine performance willow with a noticeably larger, more responsive middle, without yet reaching limited-run prices. For a club opener or middle-order batter who plays most weekends and takes their cricket seriously, an 808 or 909 GM is very often the sweet spot.

Premium and players’ GM bats: Original, Signature, Limited Edition, Prima and Galaxy

At the top of the range, Gunn & Moore reserve their finest clefts for the players’ tier. These are the bats hand-picked from the best willow, pressed for performance, and finished to look the part at the crease.

Almost every modern range has an Original at its summit, and we carry the Diamond Original, Mana Original, Brava Original, Psyche Original, Noir Original, Maxi Original, Rival Original, Hypa Original and Galaxy Original. These are premium grade English willow bats aimed at strong club, representative and elite players who want the best feel and the largest, most responsive hitting zone the range can offer. The Signature models, found across ranges such as Psyche, Mana, Brava, Noir, Maxi and Rival, sit just below the Original as high-performing players’ bats in their own right.

For collectors and those chasing something genuinely special, the Limited Edition bats in the Noir, Maxi and Galaxy ranges represent the showpiece end of the line, while the Prima Limited Edition is a standout premium cleft for batters who want a true flagship. These bats reward a player with the technique to make the most of a finely pressed, top-grade blade.

You can see the current premium pieces, and everything else mentioned here, on the full Gunn & Moore collection.

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: a Signature or Original sits at the top, with Limited Edition and Prima bats for those wanting a true flagship cleft.

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

It is worth understanding what you are paying for as you move up the GM ladder. Almost all of the performance bats above are made from English willow, prized for its light, fibrous, shock-absorbing structure and its ability to deliver that satisfying ping off the middle. As the model numbers rise, and as you move from 404 through to Original, you are generally buying cleaner, straighter grain and a higher grade of cleft, which tends to mean better feel and a larger effective sweet spot.

The Kashmir willow options, such as the Diamond 101 and the Rival junior, sit deliberately apart from this. Kashmir is a denser, more economical timber that is harder wearing and ideal for beginners, occasional players and younger cricketers who are still growing into the game. Neither timber is simply better than the other, they are built for different jobs. Our cricket bat willow guide goes deeper into grading and what to expect at each level, and it pairs neatly with this review if you want the full picture before buying.

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 numbers indicate the willow grade and performance tier within a range. The 404 is the entry English willow option, the 606 steps up a grade, and the 808 and 909 use higher grades with cleaner grain and a more responsive middle. Above these sit the Signature and Original players’ bats.

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?
The players’ tier sits at the top, with Original models across most ranges and showpiece Limited Edition bats in the Noir, Maxi and Galaxy lines. The Prima Limited Edition is a standout flagship cleft for batters who want the very best willow GM offers.

Do GM bats use English or Kashmir willow?
Most GM performance bats are made from English willow, prized for its light, responsive feel. A small number of entry-level and junior models, such as the Diamond 101 and Rival junior, use Kashmir willow, which is denser, more durable and more affordable for beginners.

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.