Designed With Purpose, Built for Performance
Our passion is for cricket. Our mission is to empower cricketers, whatever their gender, to enjoy playing the game they love. This has been the case for 150 years.
But around seven years ago, we decided we needed to evolve. The assumption was that women should be able to play with standard cricket bats and equipment. That what had always been made or provided would be sufficient for girls getting into the game.
Having talked to our professional ambassadors and a host of amateur cricketers, we found out that these cricketers were performing well in-spite of their kit, not because of it.
And with that, our next evolution - the Gray-Nicolls GEM Collection, cricket gear for women, was born.
Listening to the Needs of Female Cricketers
It’s a memory that sticks out to me, as we interviewed Lauren Winfield-Hill in 2018. She recounted batting with supremely heavy bat in, barely able to lift the blade.
“A lot of the bats I used three of four years ago were too heavy” Lauren recalled. “I remember my first few bats picking them up and they’re like a railway sleeper!”
It’s a wonder Lauren had even wanted to carry on playing but it certainly guided her game.
“I guess it shapes how your game ends up as well. If you’re a 13, 14 year old and your first bat is really heavy, you’re probably not going to play too much off the back foot.”
For the first time she was seeing batting pads and batting gloves that were lightweight and didn’t have oversized straps.
With the GEM collection, we didn’t just want to “pink it and shrink” as so many brands have been criticised for. We wanted this to be a collection of cricket bats, batting legguards and batting gloves that were carefully crafted and engineered for the women’s game.
In fact, our designs for the GEM over the years have been lauded as some of the best we have created regardless of family!
[button]
Engineering the Perfect Women’s Cricket Bat
Our product bat-making team were set the challenge: How do we make a cricket bat that is lighter, with a better pick-up, but that still packs the required punch? We didn’t want to lose any power, so what is the compromise?
The first thing we went to was the blade. Our standard short handle was just too big for most women, so we removed a quarter of an inch from the blade. That slightly shorter blade had the dual benefit of making the pick-up fantastic.
We’ve also slightly reduced the width of the GEM cricket bat. Conventionally a bat would be 108mm; a GEM is 106mm. A very small, subtle, almost imperceptible change that can have a big impact on weight.
Finally, the handle of a GEM bat is super short compared to a standardised short handle.
[button]
Protective Gear That Fits – Without Compromise
It’s not just in our cricket bats that we’ve made adjustments to better suit female cricketers.
Batting pads a particular area we received feedback on – they just weren’t fit for purpose in women’s cricket.
The common complaints? Too long, too much bulk, so much strap that they hang loose. So we remedied the situation.
GEM batting pads come with a narrow, more ergonomic fit to work with the contours of women’s bodies. They are slightly shorter to make running easier, turning ones into twos rather than ones into run outs.
Lastly, the strapping that keeps your pads fastened – that’s been reduced to ensure secure fit and no trailing material.
GEM batting gloves have had similar rethink. The straps on the standard gloves didn’t allow for a secure fit, so the size has been reduced.
Cricket is a game about feel, so we’ve reduced the length of fingers to ensure no excess bulk – batters now feel like the glove is merely an extension of their hands
The right kit is so important in cricket. Feel good, play good. And with the GEM equipment collection, women can finally play with absolute confidence.
[carousel]
[carousel]
Championing the Future of Women’s Cricket
We have continued to invest not just in our GEM Collection which has grown every year, but also in the women that play with it. Our roster of pro female athletes includes a who’s who of international cricket – from Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Sophia Dunkley and Maia Bouchier in the England team, the Bryce sisters for Scotland, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath and Annabel Sutherland for Australia and the amazing Melie Kerr of the Black Ferns of New Zealand.
These modern-day icons follow the heroes of yesteryear who blazed a trail in the game while using Gray-Nicolls such as Rachael Heyhoe-Flint and Jan Brittin.
That's What She Said
"As a player who’s grown up struggling to get cricket kit that fits properly, being somewhat small in stature, the GEM range is crucial for women and girls. Having a range for us leads to the old saying of: you feel good, you play good. I’ve personally loved being part of the Gray-Nicolls GEM collection the last few years and it fits like a range made for me." Tammy Beaumont
A Collection That’s Only Just Getting Started
The GEM collection was created with purpose: to empower female cricketers and inspire the next generation of players. We feel that it’s a collection that does just that and we are only just getting started with a new and improve generation in November. We can’t wait for you to join.
Whether you're just starting out or playing at the highest level, the GEM Collection is made for you.
[button]
GEM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
“What makes GEM bats different?”
GEM bats are lighter, slightly shorter and a fraction narrower than standard short handle cricket bats
“Is the GEM range suitable for junior girls?”
Absolutely; the GEM range comes in a variety of sizes which reflect our junior sizing with the GEM aesthetic so your little one can look like their hero.
“Where can I try or buy the GEM range?”
You can order the GEM range from the Gray-Nicolls website with free delivery and pre-paid returns.
"Are there any other GEM products?"
Yes! Not only do we have GEM items in bats, pads and gloves, we also have a GEM Wicketkeeping glove!
[button]
