Gray Nicolls F18 900 Cricket Bat Long Blade

The Gray Nicolls F18 series was listed as a new bat for 2015 but had
been around for a few months especially in Australia. It is designated
as the shot makers bat and is perhaps a bat for the back foot player
on fast hard pitches. But the makers claim that due to its large sweet
spot and great pickup it is suitable for front foot players as well.

The F18 does not have the concave or scooped back which is
characteristic of many of their bats but boasts a mid to high sweet
spot and contoured shoulders and toe. There is not a lot of willow
towards the toe and it  does seem to be quite thin as bats go, about
15 mm. The edges are big with lots of wood around the sweet spot.

Because of the contouring the bat picks up well and is in fact light
for its apparent size. This is probably due to the shoulders and toe
profile.