SERIOUS Cricket recently hosted its biggest ever ‘Try before you buy’ cricket equipment show at the Dummer Cricket Centre, near Basingstoke, where this year’s top attraction was former England batsman Mark Ramprakash.

His present role is batting coach to the England team and Ramprakash was delighted to come along to offer some coaching tips to the cricketers while they tested the latest equipment supplied by most of the major manufacturers.

With the T20 shorter playing format of cricket increasing in popularity, many of the bat makers are designing their products with big hitting in mind.

Having the chance to face the bowling machines with a chunky piece of willow in hand allowed players a better, more informed decision on the bat’s suitability.