Instagram story viewer> @thebatcurator> Posts
POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED
πŸ”₯🏏 A BEAUTIFUL BAT IS ONE THING. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN REAL CRICKETERS GET THEIR HANDS ON IT?

We've seen the vision. We've watched the craftsmanship. We've witnessed Toby turn my requirements into a finished Kingsbury cricket bat.

Now comes the moment that matters.

THE PLAYERS' VERDICT.

No fancy marketing claims. No judging the bat purely by its looks, grain count or impressive dimensions.

Just genuine reactions from cricketers experiencing the bat for themselves.

And it's always fascinating to see how different players respond to the same piece of willow!

The bat under the spotlight:
βš–οΈ 1235g | 40mm edges | 32mm toe | 26mm shoulders

For me, this journey has been about much more than acquiring another cricket bat.

It's about understanding the people, passion, knowledge and craftsmanship behind the product.

A huge thank you to Rhyd, Toby and the entire Kingsbury crew for making this custom-bat journey such a memorable experience. πŸ™

If you've ever dreamed of having a cricket bat built around your personal preferences, I'd encourage you to have a conversation with @kingsburycricket.

🎬 This is the final chapter of The Bat Curator's Kingsbury Series.

Watch the players' feedback, hear my final thoughts and experience the conclusion of a very special journey.

Because the best cricket bats aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest edges or the most grains. They're the ones that feel right in YOUR hands. ❀️🏏

#TheBatCurator #KingsburyCricket #cricketaustralia #EnglishWillow #cricket taken in Perth, Western Australia by @thebatcurator
10
4 days ago
Download
πŸ”¨πŸ 1235 GRAMS OF WILLOW. COUNTLESS DETAILS. ONE MASTER BAT MAKER.

Ever wondered what happens when a skilled bat maker takes your exact requirements and transforms a piece of willow into something truly personal?

Welcome to Part 2 of The Bat Curator's Kingsbury Series.

This is where the magic happens.

Watch Toby from @kingsburycricket at work β€” shaping, refining, comparing profiles and explaining the details that go into creating a genuinely custom cricket bat.

And then comes one of my favourite moments: the final presentation of the finished bat!

The specifications:
βš–οΈ 1235g
πŸ“ 40mm edges
πŸ“ 32mm toe
πŸ“ 26mm shoulders

Impressive numbers? Perhaps. But the real art is in how those dimensions come together in the hands of a player.

And that's exactly what I wanted to discover.

From Toby's workshop to my ping test and finally into the middle β€” does the finished bat deliver on its promise?

πŸŽ₯ Watch the journey. Listen to the willow. See it in action.

Because great bats aren't defined by numbers alone. They're defined by the craftsmanship behind them and how they perform.

Next: What happens when other cricketers get their hands on this Kingsbury? πŸ‘€

#TheBatCurator #KingsburyCricket #cricket #cricketaustralia #englishwillow taken in Perth, Western Australia by @thebatcurator
2
5 days ago
Download
🏏 WHAT DOES A TRULY CUSTOM-MADE CRICKET BAT LOOK LIKE?

Not just choosing a weight, a profile or a sticker. But having a bat built around YOU.

That was the experience I wanted when I approached @kingsburycricket.

From my very first conversations with Rhyd, where we discussed exactly what I wanted, to Toby, the master bat maker, bringing those ideas to life β€” this has been a fascinating journey into genuine craftsmanship.

And the result? A beautiful piece of English willow that has already given me plenty to talk about!

🏏 The finished bat:
βš–οΈ Weight: 1235g
πŸ“ Edges: 40mm
πŸ“ Toe: 32mm
πŸ“ Shoulders: 26mm

But numbers only tell part of the story. What about the balance, pickup, pressing and, ultimately, performance?

🎬 Welcome to Part 1 of The Bat Curator's Kingsbury Series.

Come behind the scenes with me as we explore what it really means to have a bat made just for you.

Next up: From raw willow to a finished masterpiece. You won't want to miss Toby at work! πŸ”₯

#TheBatCurator #KingsburyCricket #cricket #EnglishWillow #cricketaustralia taken in Perth, Western Australia by @thebatcurator
8
5 days ago
Download
Dual Shade Desi Ghee Willow Game Changer Edition by MB Malik UMZ (The Real Game Changer) customise made for brother SANKAR @thebatcurator 

β€’ 1150 Grams of pure balance βš–οΈ
β€’ Grade 1+ Willow = Elite Performance 🌟
β€’ Full Profile. Semi Oval Handle. Total Control πŸ”₯
β€’ Built for players who don’t compromise πŸ’―
.
.
.
.
#cricket #gamechanger #cricketer #cricketlover #cricketreels taken in Pakistan by @thebatcurator
14
19 days ago
Download
Age is just a number 🏏

The real joy is in continuing to do what you love.

This week, I had the chance to get out in the middle, have a hit, and enjoy cricket with like-minded people at Dallas Super Kings β€” and moments like this remind me why the game is so special.

It is not always about age, level, scorecards or statistics.

Sometimes it is simply about being out there, playing the game, sharing the passion, and enjoying every shot.

And when that passion is supported by a bat that performs, it becomes even more fun.

The DC7 once again showed why it deserves attention β€” quality willow, good craftsmanship, excellent response, and genuine performance without breaking the bank.

A bat does not always need to be the most expensive to bring joy. @dc7.sports_

It needs to feel right, respond well, and make you want to keep playing.

That is what cricket is all about.

Passion.
Community.
Friendship.
And doing what you love for as long as you can.

#cricket #cricketlovers #cricketreels #englishwillow #thebatcurator by @thebatcurator
4
19 days ago
Download
β€œSPECIAL CUSTOMISED GAME CHANGER EDITION 🏏 DISPATCHED TO DALLAS, USA πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ FOR BIG BROTHER β€˜SANKAR BHAI β€˜ .THANKS BIG BROTHER FOR TRUSTING MB MALIK UMZ AGAIN 🫑.”
WHATSAPP:+923424491226

#trending #viral #foryou #fyp #viralvideos taken in Dallas, Texas by @thebatcurator
7
22 days ago
Download
Big edges look impressive.

But do they tell the full story?

In this part of the Paul Aldred Γ— The Bat Curator series, Paul continues the conversation around pressing β€” and explains something many players often misunderstand: the relationship between edge size, pressing and actual bat performance.

Modern cricket bats are often judged by how big they look.

Big edges.
Big profiles.
Big presence.

But as Paul explains, size alone does not make a great bat.

What matters is how the willow has been pressed, how the weight is distributed, how the bat feels in the hands, and whether the performance is coming from good bat making β€” not just clever shaping.

A big edge may catch the eye.

But the real test is response, feel, durability and what happens when the ball hits the middle.

This is where Paul’s experience as a bat maker really stands out. He is not chasing numbers or cosmetics. He is looking at the willow, the structure, the pressing and how to bring the best out of each cleft.

For players, this is an important lesson:

Do not judge a bat only by the edge size.
Do not judge it only by the profile.
Understand how it has been made.

Because performance is not created by one feature alone.

It is created by the balance between willow, pressing, shape, feel and preparation.

Next up, Paul takes us into another area players often get wrong:

Knocking techniques.

#cricket #cricketlovers #cricketreels #thebatcurator #aldredbats taken in Derbyshire, United Kingdom by @thebatcurator
2
25 days ago
Download
The Art of Pressing a Cricket Bat 🏏

One of the most misunderstood parts of cricket bat making is pressing.

Most players talk about grains, edges, weight and profile β€” but the way a bat is pressed can completely change how it feels, responds and performs.

In this part of the Paul Aldred Γ— The Bat Curator series, Paul explains the thinking behind pressing technique, why it cannot be treated as a simple mechanical step, and how experience plays such a big role in getting it right.

Press too soft, and the bat may feel lively early but lack durability.
Press too hard, and you can take away the natural response of the willow.
Get it right, and the bat starts to find that balance between performance, feel and longevity.

This is where true bat making becomes an art.

It is not just about force.
It is not just about machinery.
It is about understanding the willow in front of you.

Every cleft is different.
Every piece responds differently.
And a good bat maker knows how to bring the best out of that individual piece of willow.

This is Part 1 of a three-part discussion around performance preparation.

Next, Paul talks about edge size, pressing and what players often misunderstand.

And after that, we move into knocking techniques β€” another area where many players get confused.

Paul Aldred Γ— The Bat Curator
Pressing Technique β€” Part 1

#cricket #cricketindia #cricketlovers #cricketreels #thebatcurator taken in Derbyshire, United Kingdom by @thebatcurator
1
a month ago
Download
Robinson Sports β€” quality, value and a serious understanding of cricket bats.

In this reel, I wanted to look beyond just one bat and talk about the story behind Robinson Sports β€” a business that continues to produce genuine quality bats with excellent value for money.

At the heart of the business are the Jolly brothers, with Surinder Singh Jolly being the person I have had the pleasure of interacting with through The Bat Curator journey. What stands out is the knowledge, honesty and willingness to understand exactly what a player is looking for.

Robinson Sports has built a strong reputation for custom profiles, and for me, they are among the very best in India when it comes to SRT-profile bats. Their ability to shape bats around player requirements is what makes them interesting.

To put one of their bats to the test, Karthik β€” captain of Plano Super Kings, a champion team based out of Dallas, Texas β€” helped The Bat Curator test a Robinson Signature Edition.

And the results are there for the audience to see.

The pickup.
The balance.
The rebound.
The response through the middle.

This is exactly why Robinson Sports deserves more attention from serious players looking for performance without unnecessary hype.

But this is only the beginning.

I have now thrown Robinson Sports a challenge β€” to produce a bat based on a very specific, almost crazy custom spec that I provided.

Can they pull it off?

Over the next few weeks, we will find out how Robinson Sports approached the challenge, shaped the willow and brought that idea to life.

This is where bat making becomes more than production.

It becomes understanding the player.

#englishwillow #cricket #cricketbats #cricketlovers #cricketreels taken in Jalandhar,Punjab by @thebatcurator
30
a month ago
Download
A great bat is not just made in the blade 🏏

In this part of the Paul Aldred Γ— The Bat Curator series, Paul explains one of the most overlooked parts of cricket bat making β€” balance, and the role the handle plays in how a bat actually feels.

Most players look at the face, the grains, the edges and the scale weight.

But the moment you pick up a bat, what you really feel is the relationship between the blade, the handle, the weight distribution and the pickup.

That is where true craftsmanship comes in.

Paul breaks down why two bats with the same weight can feel completely different in the hands, and why a well-designed handle can transform the way a bat picks up, responds and gives confidence to the player.

A good handle is not just there to hold the bat.

It connects the player to the willow.

It controls feel.
It influences pickup.
It shapes balance.
It gives the bat personality.

This is why some bats feel right before you even hit a ball.

Paul Aldred Γ— The Bat Curator
Balance, Handle & Feel

#englishwillow #cricket #cricketlovers #cricketbats #cricketreels taken in Derbyshire, United Kingdom by @thebatcurator
7
a month ago
Download
πŸ”₯ COMING SOON β€” THE REAL CUSTOM BAT-MAKING EXPERIENCE! 🏏

Ever wondered what truly custom-made actually means when it comes to a cricket bat?

Stay tuned as @thebatcurator takes you through an end-to-end bat-making journey at @kingsburycricket β€” from discussing exactly what I wanted, to watching that vision turn into a finished bat.

This wasn't about picking a bat off a shelf.
Rhid worked closely with me to understand my requirements β€” the profile, weight, balance, pickup, handle, feel and what I wanted from the bat.

Then it was over to Toby and his craftsmanship.
And what he created was an absolute gem. πŸ’ŽπŸ

You'll see the process through the lens of @thebatcurator β€” the conversations, the decisions, the craftsmanship and the little details that separate a genuinely custom-made bat from simply choosing a specification.

If you've ever wanted to understand what a REAL custom bat-making experience looks like, this is one  you don't want to miss.

Craftsmanship. Passion. Attention to detail.
This is @kingsburycricket.

πŸŽ₯ Coming soon on @thebatcurator.

#englishwillow #cricket #cricketbats #cricketlovers #cricketreels taken in Perth, Western Australia by @thebatcurator
2
2 months ago
Download
Scale Weight: Are We Asking the Wrong Question? 🏏
In cricket bat buying, one number often dominates the conversation:

How much does it weigh?

But in this episode of the Paul Aldred Γ— The Bat Curator series, Paul explains why scale weight alone can be misleading β€” and why the real question should be:
How does the bat feel in your hands?

With years of experience as a player and bat maker, Paul breaks down why pickup, balance, handle, profile, pressing and weight distribution matter far more than simply chasing the lowest number on a scale.

A bat can weigh more and still feel better.
A lighter bat can feel poorly balanced.

And sometimes, the obsession with low scale weight can lead to compromises that do not always benefit the player.
Paul also shares his thoughts on how some bats in the market can be engineered to appear lighter β€” through aggressive shaping, reduced wood in key areas, thinner construction or other weight-saving choices. 

These techniques are not always wrong when done honestly and with skill, but they can become a concern when the final bat sacrifices feel, durability or true performance.

That is where Paul’s wisdom stands out.
A great bat is not just about being light.
It is about feeling right.
Picking up beautifully.
Having the right wood in the right areas.
And giving the player confidence when the ball meets the middle.

So maybe the better question is not:
β€œHow light is the bat?”
Maybe it is:
β€œDoes this bat feel right for me?”

Paul Aldred Γ— The Bat Curator
Scale Weight a misnomer?

#cricket #cricketlovers #cricketreels #englishwillow #thebatcurator taken in Derbyshire, United Kingdom by @thebatcurator
18
2 months ago
Download

Download All

Save the photos and videos currently loaded on this page.

0Photos
0Videos
Ready to download 0 / 0

Keep this tab open until your download is ready.

back to up