THE RANGE 2019 THE RANGE 2019 01 02 04 08 The Brand Story Legend Powerspot 10 14 18 Classic Family Powerbow6X Family Shockwave Family 22 26 30 Supernova InfraRed Family Clothing Helmets & Body Armour 32 34 36 Shoes Wicket-keeping Luggage 38 40 Balls Glossary - Bats 44 46 49 Glossary - Bat Care Glossary - Gloves Glossary - Leg Guards 52 64 65 Glossary - Clothing Glossary - Helmets Glossary - Body Armour 67 69 72 CONTENTS Glossary - Shoes Glossary - Wicket-keeping Glossary - Luggage 80 83 89 Glossary - Balls Glossary - Training Equipment Glossary - Stumps 91 94 96 Glossary - Kwik Cricket Glossary - The ICC World Cup 2019 Glossary - By Price Point www.gray-nicolls.co.uk 02 THE RANGE 2019 Gray-Nicolls was formed in the 1940s with the merging of H.J.Gray and Sons, a racket and bat maker who famously supplied King Edward VII and the independent cricket bat manufacturer L.J. Nicolls. Later acquiring other famous brands including Wainwrights and Shaw & Shrewsbury, Gray-Nicolls became the much larger company which we know today. During the 1950s and 60s the brand went from strength to strength, and at one stage each of the captains from the five test playing countries; Ted Dexter, Richie Benaud, Frank Worrell, John Reid, Trevor Goddard were using a Gray-Nicolls bat. The 1970s saw Gray-Nicolls become the first bat manufacturer to introduce coloured labels as well as their iconic, trend-setting red flash. In 1974 the company broke new ground with the introduction of the revolutionary Scoop bat. With the company growing exponentially and attracting global appeal, Gray-Nicolls also opened a new factory in Melbourne. Capable of producing some of sport's leading innovations, Gray-Nicolls is responsible for the revolutionary "Steel Spring" and the first shoulderless "Superlite" bat. It has also produced well-known and much loved bats including the Dynadrive, Sabre and Millennium. Over the years many famous names including David Gower, Robin Smith, David Boon, Javed Miandad, Sunil Gavaskar and Jeff Dujon have chosen Gray-Nicolls. In 1994, Brian Lara used a Gray-Nicolls Scoop 2000 when he scored the highest ever first class score of 501 not out, and his then test record score of 375. As we entered the new millennium, more runs were scored by cricketers using a Gray-Nicolls bat than any other brand during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, including the Australian legends Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds. From 2006, the most iconic player on the THE BRAND STORY international stage to use the brand has been former England captain Alastair Cook. Cook went from scoring a century on debut for England in Nagpur to becoming England’s record Test run scorer, amassing over 12,000 in his career to date. Still owned and controlled by the Gray family, the cricket bat factory is still based in Robertsbridge today where all makers are trained to maintain Gray-Nicolls’ exacting standards. THE RANGE 2019 03 www.gray-nicolls.co.uk 04 THE RANGE 2019 Over the years, Gray-Nicolls has been fortunate to work with legends of the game. Three of those legends – David Gower, Michael Atherton and Shivnarine Chanderpaul – span three generations of cricket – from the 70s, 90s and today. During that time, many things have changed in cricket. But one thing has stayed the same – the craft that goes in to a Gray-Nicolls cricket bat. “I think one of the more interesting things to start with is the first time that you go down to the factory” recalls Gower. “You see this cottage industry, which smells of all the right things and feels right. You see people putting all the right effort in to making the bat and you see the skilled craftsmanship. ” Atherton is full of admiration for the bat makers. “After having been down to Robertsbridge and seen the bat makers at work I always appreciate people who show real craftsmanship at what they do, whether it be as a player, a bat maker, musician, writer, whatever.” And while the level of skill going in to bat making hasn’t changed, some of the output has. Bats have changed in size and performance, something not lost on Chanderpaul. “Well, seeing it back then and seeing it now” said the West Indian, LEGEND “innovative would be the word I'd use. Gray-Nicolls has always been doing things to make the equipment better, which is where we are today.” Innovation is great, but for Gower, it’s all about the middle of the bat. “If you happen to get a bat, if it happens to ping off the front of it, that’s absolutely perfect” said the former England captain. “Whether or not you put grooves in - one groove, four grooves or just add a bit on. Whatever it is that makes it work.” For Atherton, the Gray-Nicolls and player relationship comes down to one thing and one thing only. “Good bats” he explains. “That’s what you’re there to do: score runs, so a good bat is the key to it all really.” The key is in your hands. THE RANGE 2019 05 David Gower – Gray-Nicolls Ambassador www.gray-nicolls.co.uk 06 THE RANGE 2019 THE RANGE 2019 07 The Legend. A title with a lot to live up to, but one that truly befits this bat’s prodigious reputation at the pinnacle of the game. Reimagined for the 2019 range, this latest iteration of our most historic mark has been designed with two simple tenants in mind: the bringing together of aesthetic beauty and uncompromised performance. The application of precision branding which is laser-etched on to the bat encapsulates the high quality and provenance of the Legend mark while the handcrafted blade, with it’s concaved profile and mid-swell, makes for a remarkably well-balanced bat with the lightest of pick-ups. This is a truly stunning marriage of form and function, to compliment the stroke play of the games most stylish hitters. Unassuming class and technological excellence place the Legend range at the zenith of the Gray-Nicolls collection, with kit that will be sure to place your game on centre stage. It’s time to make your own legend, with Gray-Nicolls’ premium collection. Main image: From left to right Legend Bat (see page 40) Legend Batting Gloves (see page 46) Crown Legend Ball (see page 80) Legend Leg Guard (see page 49) www.gray-nicolls.co.uk 08 THE RANGE 2019 Michael Atherton – Gray-Nicolls Ambassador THE RANGE 2019 09 After the tremendous success of the new Scoop XVII last year, Gray-Nicolls welcomes back another legendary bat to the range for 2019. By popular demand, the Powerspot returns. The bat, made famous by the likes of David Gower, Michael Atherton and a square-cutting Robin Smith, features the iconic blue Powerspot, designed to give the ultimate impact when the ball is struck in the middle of the bat. The former England captain, Michael Atherton, used a Powerspot for most of his Gray-Nicolls career. “I can’t really remember using anything other than a Powerspot” said Atherton. “Maybe right at the end of my career, but it was Powerspot from the word go and then pretty much throughout.” And his inspiration for choosing to use the Powerspot? David Gower. “I chose Gray-Nicolls because Gower used them. Although he played a bit before me, we overlapped a little and he used the Powerspot, so that’s why I chose to use it too.” Atherton played perhaps the most iconic England innings of the 1990s with the Powerspot. We will never forget his battle with legendary South African fast bowler Allan Donald at Johannesburg in 1995. Batting to save the Test match, with Donald bowling at full tilt, Atherton faced 492 balls over 643 minutes to earn his side a draw, making 185 not out in the process. POWERSPOT The bat promises a fantastic pick-up, with rounded edges and even weight distribution. Hit the ball out of the Powerspot and you can be sure to leave bowlers feeling the heat and fielders chasing dust. Another Gray-Nicolls icon returns to the world stage. With such a storied past, the new Powerspot is sure to be a hit with generations old and new. Time to make some new history. www.gray-nicolls.co.uk 10 THE RANGE 2019 Alastair Cook and Max Holden – Gray-Nicolls Ambassadors THE RANGE 2019 11 A classic never goes out of style. In many ways, Alastair Cook embodies classic Gray-Nicolls. Identified at a young age as a future England captain, Cook has been a lifelong ambassador with the brand. Now, as he moves into the latter part of his career, the Classic tag must be passed down the Gray-Nicolls family. So who's up next? Step forward Max Holden. The Middlesex youngster, who like Cook is a left handed batsman, has been earmarked for greatness from an early age. Already a Gray-Nicolls veteran after having signed at the age of 15, Holden captained England Under 19s, with Angus Fraser declaring him “one of the most exciting young players in the country.” Holden has long since tried to emulate Cook, going back to his bat of choice as a child. “I think my first Gray-Nicolls was the Powerbow with the yellow stickers. Probably close to Alastair’s debut when I was about 12.” The parallels with Cook don’t end with their brand of choice. As alluded to, Cook was also picked up early by Gray-Nicolls. “I think Gray-Nicolls chose me” said Cook. “I was Under 14 South of England best batsman apparently, and I ordered two free bats and two free gloves - I thought all my Christmas' had come at once and yeah, that was it.