IXU Cricket Bats: Who Makes Them, Ranges and Prices

IXU cricket bats are made by IXU Sport, a South African cricket brand whose best-known player is Faf du Plessis. It has four English willow ranges: Enigma FX at the top, then Enigma, Nexus and Axon. Every IXU bat arrives oiled, knocked in and fitted with a face cover. We stock the 2026 Enigma, Nexus and Axon in senior and junior sizes, from £132.99 to £574.99. This guide explains who IXU are, what separates the four ranges, and every IXU bat we have with our prices.

Who Makes IXU Bats

IXU Sport sells through independent shops rather than its own stores. Every stockist on its store finder is in South Africa, including the Wanderers Stadium shop in Sandton, and its contact number is in Pretoria. The name is meant to be filled in by the player: the brand calls the "x" a variable "you can fill in the blanks to". IXU does not say on its site where the bats themselves are made, so we do not claim a factory. It does run its own refurbishment centre, and the IXU Sport site says players can send a bat in for a service.

The brand came to English shops in 2022. Du Plessis, IXU's brand ambassador, visited a sports shop near Durham that August to launch it there while he was playing in The Hundred, as local press reported at the time. In 2025 IXU marked a decade of working with him through the Enigma FX range.

The Four IXU Ranges

IXU grades all four ranges as English willow and separates them by the look of the grain and the shape. Each comes with a semi-oval handle and a slight bow.

• Enigma FX: Players Grade English willow, a full profile with a high-and-low sweet spot, and thick edges with a pronounced spine. IXU's own line is that "This is not a bat for everyone."
• Enigma: First Grade English willow with near to no imperfections, a mid sweet spot for all-round stroke play, and thick edges with a strong spine.
• Nexus: First Grade English willow that may have minor imperfections, a mid-to-low sweet spot, and solid edges with a defined spine.
• Axon: First Grade English willow that may show visible imperfections, a mid sweet spot and moderate edges, which IXU says is built for progression.

So the order runs Enigma FX, Enigma, Nexus, Axon, and the step down is mostly in the appearance of the willow and the size of the edges. Marks on the face do not stop a bat playing well; our cricket bat willow guide explains what grading measures.

Every IXU Bat We Stock

Short handle (SH) and junior bats in stock on 11 November 2026; we do not hold the Enigma FX. IXU bats have no collection of their own on our site, so you will find them in our cricket bats collection, and the juniors in our Harrow cricket bats.

Which IXU to Buy

1. Club player on a budget: the Axon at £244.99, the lightest of the three in our stock at 2lb 9oz.
2. Front-foot player: the Nexus at £344.99, the only IXU with a mid-to-low sweet spot.
3. Cleanest willow we hold: the Enigma at £574.99, for a strong player happy with 2lb 11oz.
4. Teenager on a Harrow: the Axon Junior at £169.99, or the Enigma Junior at £219.99 for the better willow.

No IXU bat has been through The Cricketer's or Wisden's recent bat tests, so there is no independent score to quote. If you want a tested bat at a similar price, our guide to the best cricket bat brands compares the makers. IXU's ready-to-play preparation shortens the work before a match, and our guide to knocking in a new cricket bat covers how to check it. Use our cricket bat size guide to choose a junior size.

FAQs: IXU Cricket Bats

Who makes IXU cricket bats?
IXU Sport, a South African cricket brand. It sells through independent shops and runs its own bat refurbishment centre.

Does Faf du Plessis use IXU?
Yes. He is IXU's brand ambassador, and in 2025 IXU marked a decade of working with him through the Enigma FX range.

What is the difference between the Enigma, Nexus and Axon?
The appearance of the willow and the shape. The Enigma has near to no imperfections and a mid sweet spot, the Nexus a mid-to-low sweet spot, and the Axon visible imperfections with moderate edges.

How much does an IXU bat cost?
With us, £244.99 for the Axon, £344.99 for the Nexus and £574.99 for the Enigma. Juniors start at £132.99.

Are IXU bats ready to play?
IXU sends them oiled, knocked in and fitted with a face cover.