Tempted to get the same bat as Sachin Tendulkar or any other top international player from the sub-continent?
Beware - Hero Honda is a motor manfacturer, they do not make bats. They sponsor international cricketers, who use their red and white stickers on high quality bats (most notably, the SS and BAS brands) - but Hero Honda do not make bats. Be careful with this as most of the Hero Honda bats on Ebay are not the ones used by international players but cheap fakes (more on this here).
Same story for Britannia. They are a biscuit company and also do not manufacture bats. If you have a Britannia bat, it's probably an el cheapo.
A possible exception is MRF (tyre manufacturing company) - this brand of bat is sold in some Ebay stores as well as in private auctions. Personally, I would not buy one as some of them are made of Kashmir Willow (see my other guide on willow type and grades here). One of the selling points of the MRF range is that they are used by the likes of Brian Lara and Tendulkar - but Tendulkar often uses MRF stickers on an SS bat.
Also remember, some of these listings state that the bats are made of Grade A willow - there is no such thing as "Grade A" willow. There is only grade 1 through to grade 5 - with grade 1 being the best and running all the way through to the lowest quality grade 5... "Grade A" is just something some sellers have made up to confuse people into thinking it is somehow superior. Bat-makers do not recognise this grading and neither should you.
Final thought - there is nothing wrong with getting one of these "sponsored" bats (even if it is made of Kashmir Willow and is of an inferior grade) if you wish to play social cricket in the park - but be careful if it is for serious cricket at club or higher level. Don't pay top money for what is essentially just a novelty item.
Beware - Hero Honda is a motor manfacturer, they do not make bats. They sponsor international cricketers, who use their red and white stickers on high quality bats (most notably, the SS and BAS brands) - but Hero Honda do not make bats. Be careful with this as most of the Hero Honda bats on Ebay are not the ones used by international players but cheap fakes (more on this here).
Same story for Britannia. They are a biscuit company and also do not manufacture bats. If you have a Britannia bat, it's probably an el cheapo.
A possible exception is MRF (tyre manufacturing company) - this brand of bat is sold in some Ebay stores as well as in private auctions. Personally, I would not buy one as some of them are made of Kashmir Willow (see my other guide on willow type and grades here). One of the selling points of the MRF range is that they are used by the likes of Brian Lara and Tendulkar - but Tendulkar often uses MRF stickers on an SS bat.
Also remember, some of these listings state that the bats are made of Grade A willow - there is no such thing as "Grade A" willow. There is only grade 1 through to grade 5 - with grade 1 being the best and running all the way through to the lowest quality grade 5... "Grade A" is just something some sellers have made up to confuse people into thinking it is somehow superior. Bat-makers do not recognise this grading and neither should you.
Final thought - there is nothing wrong with getting one of these "sponsored" bats (even if it is made of Kashmir Willow and is of an inferior grade) if you wish to play social cricket in the park - but be careful if it is for serious cricket at club or higher level. Don't pay top money for what is essentially just a novelty item.
Guide created: 26/06/08 (updated 06/10/08)


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