Your Buying Guide to the Kookaburra 2026/27 Cricket Range
Six bat ranges, thirteen willow grades and a full line of gloves, pads and keeping gear. Here is how the new Kookaburra season range fits together, and how to pick the right gear for your game.
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Size 6
For players 157 to 163cm
See the full size chart for gloves, pads and helmets.
The 2026/27 Kookaburra range has landed at Highmark Cricket, and it is one of the most complete line-ups Kookaburra has released. Whether you already know your Kahuna from your Diablo or you are choosing your first serious bat, this guide walks through every range in the new season drop, explains Kookaburra's willow grading in plain language, and helps you land on the right bat, gloves and protection for the season ahead.
Every Kookaburra bat is 100% handmade. The willow is sourced in the UK from the world's leading growers, and each cleft is individually shaped and pressed so that pickup and performance are maximised for that particular piece of willow. What separates one bat from another comes down to two things: the range (the shape and character of the bat) and the grade (the quality of the willow). Get those two decisions right and everything else follows.
Key takeaways
- Choose the range first (shape, profile, balance), then the willow grade (quality and budget), then the size.
- The 2026/27 ranges are Ghost, Kahuna, Diablo, Shadow, Prism and Monarch. Each has a distinct profile suited to a different style of play.
- Kookaburra grades English Willow from Players Replica and Pro Players down to Pro 7.1, and Kashmir Willow from Pro 8.0 to Pro 9.0. Grading is largely cosmetic, so mid grades often deliver outstanding performance for the money.
- KPP (Kookaburra Pre-Prepared) bats arrive with most or all of the preparation work done for you.
- Junior bats are handcrafted to the same standard as senior bats, in every major range.
- Gloves, pads and keeping gear follow the same range families, so you can match your full kit to your bat.
The six ranges at a glance
| Range | Profile | Character | Used by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost | Mid (180mm apex) | Classic styling, perfectly balanced. The purist's bat | Marnus Labuschagne, Phoebe Litchfield |
| Kahuna | Mid-high (210mm apex) | The famous all-rounder. Superb pickup and bat speed | Alyssa Healy, Sam Konstas, Josh Inglis |
| Diablo | Low (150mm apex) | Aggressive, imposing shape for front-foot power | Alex Carey |
| Shadow | Mid (180mm apex) | The dark horse. An all-round performer | Peter Handscomb |
| Prism | Mid-high (210mm apex) | Built for short formats and maximum bat speed | Jake Fraser-McGurk |
| Monarch | Low (150mm apex) | Short blade, big stroke play, ideal in subcontinental conditions | Alana King |
The apex is the point on the back of the bat where the spine peaks. A lower apex concentrates wood lower in the blade, rewarding front-foot drivers and players on slower or lower pitches. A higher apex lifts the sweet spot and lightens the pickup, helping bat speed and back-foot play. A mid apex is the balanced middle ground.
Range by range
For the cricketing purist
- Profile Mid (180mm apex)
- Toe Standard
- Handle Oval
- Grip White 4 Square
- Weight 2lb 7oz to 2lb 10oz
Traditional styling with a modern edge. The Ghost's perfectly balanced mid profile suits players who build an innings with proper cricket shots, and it has quickly become a staple for players like Marnus Labuschagne and Phoebe Litchfield. Available from Players Replica and Pro Players through to Pro 7.1, in senior and junior English Willow.
The modern classic
- Profile Mid-high (210mm apex)
- Toe Standard
- Handle Oval
- Grip White Flip
- Weight 2lb 7oz to 2lb 10oz
A true classic in the Kookaburra stable. The 2026/27 Kahuna keeps the famous mid-high profile for superb pickup and bat speed, with the spine subtly adjusted towards the toe to hold a fuller shape. Used by Alyssa Healy, Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis. The range runs from Players Replica through to Pro 7.0, plus the Big Kahuna and a Supalite option, with junior English Willow and a Pro 9.0 Kashmir Willow entry point.
For players who attack
- Profile Low (150mm apex)
- Toe Standard
- Handle Oval
- Grip Black Band Chevron
- Weight 2lb 7oz to 2lb 10oz
Kookaburra's most imposing shape. The Diablo's aggressive low profile packs wood behind the drive zone, built for explosive hitting and taking on the boundary from the front foot, the way Alex Carey does. Senior grades run Players Replica to Pro 7.0 including a Supalite, with junior English Willow and a Pro 8.1 Kashmir Willow option.
Built for the short formats
- Profile Mid-high (210mm apex)
- Toe Standard
- Handle Oval
- Grip Black Flip
- Weight 2lb 7oz to 2lb 10oz
A head-turner designed for T20 and one-day cricket. The mid-high profile delivers amazing pickup and maximum bat speed, in the hands of players like Jake Fraser-McGurk. One of the deepest ranges in the 2026/27 drop: Players Replica to Pro 7.0 in senior sizes, a strong junior English Willow line-up including a junior Players Replica, and a Pro 8.0 Kashmir Willow option.
The all-round performer
- Profile Mid (180mm apex)
- Toe Standard
- Handle Oval
- Grip Black 4 Square
- Weight 2lb 7oz to 2lb 10oz
The dark horse of the range, used by true performers like Peter Handscomb. The Shadow's mid profile and 4 Square grip deliver a look and feel built for peak performance anywhere in the order. Senior grades from Pro Players to Pro 5.0 including a Supalite, plus a junior Pro 5.0.
Stroke play royalty
- Profile Low (150mm apex)
- Toe Standard, durable
- Handle Round
- Grip White Band Chevron
- Weight 2lb 7oz to 2lb 10oz
A short blade bat with a regal colour palette and the swagger to match, used by Alana King. The low profile suits destroying bowling attacks and playing in subcontinental conditions, and the round handle gives superb control through the shot. Senior grades from Pro Players to Pro 5.0 including a Supalite, plus junior English Willow options.
Want to see everything new this season in one place?
Shop all 2026/27 cricket batsKookaburra willow grading, explained
Kookaburra grades every cleft on five characteristics: performance (the ping or rebound of the willow), the number and straightness of grains, imperfections, colour (the balance of sapwood and heartwood) and density. The important thing to understand is that grading is heavily cosmetic. Players Replica clefts are chosen for performance first, and a Pro 3.0 or Pro 4.0 bat will often play far above its price point. Buy the cleanest willow your budget allows, but never assume a lower grade means a slow bat.
English Willow grades
| Grade | What you get |
|---|---|
| Players Replica | The same specially selected, low-density clefts used for Kookaburra's sponsored athletes, chosen first and foremost for ping. Minimum 6 grains, may show minor imperfections or redwood |
| Pro Players | Cosmetically the best of the best. Minimum 6 straight, evenly spaced grains with only very minor imperfections |
| Pro 1.0 | Minimum 6 grains, evenly spaced, minor imperfections. Just below Pro Players standard |
| Pro 2.0 | Minimum 5 grains, possible imperfections in the playing area that do not affect performance |
| Pro 3.0 | Minimum 5 grains with visible blemishes and more heartwood, but often still great performance |
| Pro 4.0 | Minimum 4 grains with some imperfections. A great value for money option |
| Pro 5.0 (KPP) | The lowest natural-finish English Willow grade, factory fitted with a clear protective facing |
| Pro 6.0 (KPP) | Hybrid willow technology with Armour Tec facing. A value option for entry level players |
| Pro 7.0 (KPP) | English Willow with a Pro Shield protective face and natural-finish back. English Willow performance on a budget |
| Pro 7.1 (KPP) | Fully covered with Pro Shield face and painted back. Same production process as every grade above, excellent value |
Kashmir Willow grades
| Grade | What you get |
|---|---|
| Pro 8.0 | The best-looking Kashmir Willow available, clean with only minor imperfections |
| Pro 8.1 | Natural finish Kashmir Willow with more heartwood and blemishes in the playing area |
| Pro 9.0 (KPP) | Entry level Kashmir Willow finished with a Pro Shield face and painted back. No oiling or knocking in needed |
What KPP (Kookaburra Pre-Prepared) means for you
Traditionally a new bat needs oiling and hours of knocking in before it is match ready. Kookaburra Pre-Prepared closes that gap. If your bat carries the KPP logo, the blade has already been pressed and the edges boned, and a protective facing fitted where the grade calls for it. What is left depends on the model:
- Pro 5.0: apply 1 to 2 coats of raw linseed oil to the exposed willow (never the splice or shoulders). Start with older balls and gentle throw downs.
- Pro 6.0 and Pro 7.0: a few light coats of oil on the natural back only.
- Pro 7.1 and Pro 9.0: nothing. No oiling, no knocking in. Pick it up and play, starting against older balls.
Whatever the grade, remember that willow is a natural material. Surface cracks and general wear are a normal part of a bat's life, even after perfect preparation.
Match your kit to your bat
The 2026/27 range carries the same range families through gloves, pads and keeping gear, so your kit can match your bat from the sticker down.
Batting gloves
Three glove families, each with its own character: Ghost leads on protection and comfort with traditional sausage styling, Kahuna uses a modern combination of bevelled and round foam, and Diablo is built light for unrestricted hand speed in the short formats. Grades run from the Pro Players Plus with moulded armour inserts down to entry level, in sizes from extra small junior to oversize adult, including slim fit options. Shop Kookaburra batting gloves.
Batting pads
Every level from Elite to Entry comes in three fits: Classic (traditional cane construction), Lightweight (HDF styling) and Slim Fit, plus a Supalite moulded-foam option. That fit system means players of any shape and stature can find pads that sit properly and stay comfortable through a long innings. Coloured pads are available for club formats in eight colours. Shop Kookaburra batting pads.
Wicket keeping
Keeping gloves from the premium leather Players Replica with Kookaburra's catching cup engineering and K-Flex backhand, through to durable junior options, in Ghost, Kahuna and Diablo colourways. Matching keeping pads run from Pro Players to Pro 3.0, along with a lightweight WK Field Combo designed to be worn under pants. Shop new season keeping gear.
Helmets
The Pro 1500, Pro 1200 and Pro 600 all feature a lightweight ABS shell, a pre-fitted neck guard, the Kooka Control System dial for a secure fit, and certification against BS7928:2013 with full compliance to Australian Protective Standards. The differences are in the faceguard material: titanium on the 1500, lightweight steel on the 1200. Shop Kookaburra helmets.
Bags
From the premium Pro Players wheelie and duffle line to the Pro Range wheelies, holdalls and duffles for every age and kit size. Shop Kookaburra kit bags.
From range to size to ordered: three steps
Buying the right bat online comes down to a simple sequence. Get the range right, get the size right, then order with confidence.
Find your range
Use the range finder at the top of this page, or read the range-by-range breakdown above. The range decides the shape, balance and character of your bat.
Get your size
Bat sizing runs on height, not age. Junior sizes 1 to 6, then Harrow and Small Adult, through to senior Short Handle and Long Blade. The Highmark size guide matches your height to the exact size in about a minute.
Order your bat
Head to your range's collection, filter to your size, and pick the willow grade your budget allows. Every 26/27 bat ships fast from our Melbourne store, Australia wide.
One more decision inside step 3: willow and grade. English Willow for performance, Kashmir Willow for value and juniors, and within English Willow buy the cleanest grade your budget allows, remembering that mid grades punch well above their looks. And if you want to play straight away, look for the KPP logo.
Still torn between two bats? That is what we are here for. The Highmark team handles this exact conversation every day of the season, and we would rather you ask twice than buy the wrong bat once.
Found your range? Lock in your size before you order.
Open the size guideThe full Kookaburra 2026/27 range is in stock now in Melbourne, ready for fast dispatch Australia wide.
Shop the new season rangeFrequently asked questions
Which Kookaburra range should I choose for 2026/27?
Match the range to your style. The Ghost and Shadow suit balanced players across formats, the Kahuna offers fast pickup for all-rounders, the Diablo and Monarch favour aggressive stroke play, and the Prism is built for short-format bat speed.
What do Kookaburra bat grades like Pro Players and Pro 4.0 mean?
Kookaburra grades its English Willow from Players Replica and Pro Players down to Pro 7.1, based on grain count, straightness, imperfections, colour and density. Lower numbers indicate cleaner willow. Pro 8.0 to Pro 9.0 are Kashmir Willow grades.
Is a higher grade Kookaburra bat always better?
No. Grading is heavily cosmetic. Kookaburra selects Players Replica clefts for performance first, and mid grades such as Pro 3.0 and Pro 4.0 often perform strongly. Choose the grade that suits your level and budget, then judge pickup and balance.
What does KPP or Kookaburra Pre-Prepared mean?
KPP bats arrive with most preparation done. Pro 5.0 to Pro 9.0 grades are pressed, edge-boned and fitted with protective facings. Depending on the model you may only need a light oil on exposed willow, and some grades need no oiling or knocking in at all.
What is the difference between English Willow and Kashmir Willow?
English Willow is sourced from UK growers and offers the best performance and rebound. Kashmir Willow is denser and more affordable, making it a practical choice for juniors and casual players. Kookaburra grades Kashmir Willow as Pro 8.0, 8.1 and 9.0.
Are Kookaburra Players Replica bats the same as the pros use?
Players Replica bats are built to the exact specifications of Kookaburra's elite ambassadors, using clefts selected first for performance. The 2026/27 line includes replicas for Marnus Labuschagne, Alyssa Healy, Alex Carey, Sam Konstas, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Phoebe Litchfield.
What size cricket bat do I need?
Bat size depends on the player's height. Junior sizes run from 1 through 6, then Harrow and Small Adult, with senior bats in Short Blade, Short Handle, Long Blade and Long Handle. Use the Highmark Cricket size guide to match height to size before choosing a model.
Do junior Kookaburra bats use the same willow as senior bats?
Yes. Kookaburra junior bats are handcrafted with the same attention as senior bats, shaped in a lighter mid profile with generous edges and a thinner four-piece cane handle for smaller hands. They are available across the same ranges as the senior line-up.
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