EM Cricket Brand Guide 2026: Every Bat, Glove & Pad Compared
When we first wrote about EM in mid-2026, the fair summary was "a dependable budget brand for beginners and club players." That summary is now out of date. In August 2026, EM landed two signature English willow ranges on our shelves — the 360 series built around AB de Villiers and the B.Sai Sudharshan editions — and the brand's ceiling jumped from entry-level willow to a $799.99 players-grade bat. At the same time, EM still makes some of the cheapest useful training gear in the store, starting with $7.99 windballs.
So we have rewritten this guide from scratch. Everything below is drawn from what is physically on our racks at 37 Meridian Rd in Edison, NJ, with live prices as of September 11, 2026. One thing to know before you scroll: most premium EM bats are single pieces. When a table below says one in stock, that is literal — and the photos on our product pages are actual images of the bat you receive, not factory renders.
The EM range in 2026, briefly
EM's catalog now splits into four tiers. At the top sit the signature English willow bats: the 360 range endorsed by AB de Villiers and the B.Sai Sudharshan editions, running from $219.99 to $799.99. Below that is a core English willow line — Nova and the GT Limited Editions — in the $224.99–$299.99 band. The value tier covers the GT Elite selected-willow bat at $144.99 and the Maxxum Kashmir willow bats from $99.99. And running alongside all of it is the gear that made EM a club-cricket staple in the first place: wicket-keeping gloves (including the MSD Dhoni line), Maxxum batting pads, batting gloves, guards, and a wall of training balls.
EM 360: the AB de Villiers signature bats
The 360 range is EM's tribute to AB de Villiers' all-angles batting, and each model uses what EM describes as the profile de Villiers always wanted: a semi-oval handle, big edges, and a balanced pickup built for scoring through 360 degrees. What separates the models is willow grade and finish, which makes the range a clean ladder.
The flagship is the 360 No. 17 at $749.99 — hand-selected Grade 1+++ English willow with a mid-to-low sweet spot and a feather-light pickup for its size. We have exactly one, a short handle in medium weight (2 lb 9 oz – 2 lb 10 oz). A step down, the 360 Aura ($579.99, one SH medium left) keeps the signature profile in a slightly plainer press.
The mid-rungs are the two we hand to most club players who ask about this range. The 360 Bull Ring ($499.99) is a Grade 1 English willow tribute to the Wanderers in Johannesburg — the ground nicknamed the Bullring, where de Villiers hit the fastest hundred in ODI history, off 31 balls in January 2015. It is the only premium 360 we currently hold in two weights, one light (2 lb 7 oz – 2 lb 8 oz) and one medium. The 360 Player Series "Playburst" (also $499.99, one SH light) is the same Grade 1 willow under a deliberately loud multicolor sticker set — it photographs badly and looks terrific in person.
The entry points into the signature range are the 360 Bold ($299.99, one SH medium) and the 360 Legacy ($219.99, one SH medium). Same profile family, more affordable willow. For a first English willow bat with a signature shape, the Legacy is the quiet bargain of the whole range.
B.Sai Sudharshan editions: the numbered ladder
EM's second signature line carries the name of the young Indian left-hander (EM spells it Sudharshan on the bats), and the model numbers make the hierarchy obvious: 90, 110, 130, 150, and the Reserve Edition on top.
The Reserve Edition ($799.99) is currently the most expensive EM product we sell — top-grade English willow, expanded sweet spot, optimized spine, one short handle medium in stock. Below it, the 130 ($529.99), the 110 ($379.99), and the 90 ($264.99) each hold one short handle medium. The 150 ($634.99) sold through and is awaiting restock — if that is the rung you wanted, the 130 is the closest in-stock profile. In the hand, the 90 and 110 pick up noticeably easier than their edge size suggests, which is why we point developing club batters there rather than at the heavier-duty 130.
The MSD Legend 2.0 ($349.99), EM's Dhoni-inspired finisher's bat with a mid-to-low sweet spot, is also sold out in both weights at the moment.
Core and value bats: Nova, GT, Maxxum
Outside the signature lines, the bat we recommend most often is the Nova Force ($224.99, one SH medium) — a Grade 3 English willow T20 bat with 4–7 straight grains, a full profile with no concavity, and genuinely thick edges. For weekend T20 leagues on Northeast matting, it is a lot of hitting area for the money.
The GT Limited Editions are the old guard of EM's English willow line: the GT 2.0 LE ($299.99, Grade 2, one SH light) and the GT 3.0 LE 2.0 ($274.99, Grade 3, one SH medium), both on nine-piece cane handles with EM's wave-tech grip. The GT Elite ($144.99) is the interesting oddball: a selected willow positioned between Kashmir and English, rated for leather ball once knocked in, and equally happy against hard tennis balls. It sells out and reappears constantly — check the page for live availability.
At the bottom of the bat range, the Maxxum 3.0 Kashmir Willow ($99.99, one SH light) is the classic first hard-ball bat, and the Maxxum 4.0 ($89.99) is sold out at the time of writing.
Adult bat comparison table
| Model | Willow | In stock now | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Sai Sudharshan Reserve Edition | Top-grade English | SH medium ×1 | $799.99 | Elite club / tournament batters |
| 360 No. 17 (AB de Villiers) | Grade 1+++ English | SH medium ×1 | $749.99 | Flagship all-format weapon |
| B.Sai Sudharshan 150 | Premium English | Sold out | $634.99 | Power hitters (awaiting restock) |
| 360 Aura (AB de Villiers) | Premium English | SH medium ×1 | $579.99 | Aspiring pros |
| B.Sai Sudharshan 130 | Premium English | SH medium ×1 | $529.99 | All-format stroke play |
| 360 Bull Ring (AB de Villiers) | Grade 1 English | SH light ×1, medium ×1 | $499.99 | Serious club batters; only model in two weights |
| 360 Player Series Playburst | Grade 1 English | SH light ×1 | $499.99 | Same willow, boldest looks |
| B.Sai Sudharshan 110 | Quality English | SH medium ×1 | $379.99 | Developing club batters |
| MSD Legend 2.0 | Premium English | Sold out | $349.99 | Bottom-hand finishers |
| 360 Bold (AB de Villiers) | Fine English | SH medium ×1 | $299.99 | First signature-range bat |
| GT 2.0 Limited Edition | Grade 2 English | SH light ×1 | $299.99 | Classic profile, lighter pickup |
| GT 3.0 LE 2.0 | Grade 3 English | SH medium ×1 | $274.99 | Value English willow |
| B.Sai Sudharshan 90 | Selected English | SH medium ×1 | $264.99 | First signature EW on a budget |
| Nova Force | Grade 3 English, 4–7 grains | SH medium ×1 | $224.99 | T20 hitting, thick edges |
| 360 Legacy (AB de Villiers) | Fine English | SH medium ×1 | $219.99 | Cheapest route into the 360 range |
| GT Elite Selected Willow | Between Kashmir & English | Sells fast — check page | $144.99 | Leather + hard tennis dual use |
| Maxxum 3.0 | Grade 3 Kashmir | SH light ×1 | $99.99 | First hard-ball bat |
Junior and youth English willow
This is where the new EM range genuinely fills a gap: signature-profile English willow scaled properly for juniors, not just cut down. In stock right now:
| Model | Sizes in stock | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 360 No. 17 Junior — Grade 1 EW | Size 4 ×1, Size 5 ×1 | $274.99 / $299.99 |
| 360 Play Burst Junior — Grade 1 EW | Size 5 super light ×2, Size 6 very light ×1 | $249.99 / $274.99 |
| 360 Bold Junior | Size 5 super light ×1 | $229.99 |
| 360 Legacy Harrow | Harrow very light ×1 | $229.99 |
| Nova Blast Junior — Grade 3 EW | Size 6 super light ×1 | $179.99 |
Super light on a junior bat means 2 lb – 2 lb 3 oz; very light means 2 lb 4 oz – 2 lb 6 oz. If you are unsure which size fits your child, our bat sizing guide covers it, or bring them into the Edison store and we will put two or three in their hands.
Wicket-keeping: where EM quietly leads
Ask our staff what EM does best per dollar and most of us will say keeping gloves. The headline act is the MSD Dhoni Player ($99.99, two pairs in stock, plus one pair of the Black/Deep Green colorway): a grade 1 glove in aniline sheep leather from palm to finger backs, a K-Flex support patch on the back, and a reinforced web strap that EM builds to comply with Law 40.2 — the MCC law governing how much webbing a keeping glove may carry. EM states it is the same pattern MS Dhoni wore in IPL 2023. At $99.99 it undercuts most grade 1 keeping gloves in the store by a wide margin.
Below it: the Maxxum 2.0 ($79.99, one pair), the Flexi Pro ($59.99, one pair), and the Club Special ($44.99), which sells out as fast as we restock it — check the page. For young keepers, the Classic Match junior/youth ($49.99, junior ×2, youth ×1) and the GT 4.0 junior ($54.99, one pair) cover school and academy play.
Don't skip inners. The Chomise padded chamois inners ($14.99, twenty in stock adult, nineteen youth) are the deepest-stocked EM item in the building, and the $7.99–$9.99 GT batting and keeping inners for juniors solve sweaty-hands season for the cost of a ball.
Pads, batting gloves and body protection
The one EM product we can put on every teammate in a squad today is the Maxxum 4.0 adult batting pad ($69.99) — layered dual-density sponge foam, high-density bolsters, PVC facing, and an ambidextrous fit, in white (×5), blue (×2) and black (×3). The colored options matter more than they used to: half the weekend leagues we outfit now play in colored clothing. The junior/youth version ($64.99) is in stock in small junior blue and junior white/black.
Batting gloves are thinner on the shelf right now: in adult, one right-hand pair each of the Maxxum 2.0 ($49.99) and two of the Quantum 2.0 ($49.99), both with sheep leather palms and fiber-protected fingers. Youth batters have more choice — Quantum 5.0 ($34.99, ×2), Quantum 7.0 ($29.99, ×2), GT 5.0 ($29.99, ×1) and one junior GT 4.0 pair ($39.99). Left-handers: call before driving; most current EM glove stock is right-hand.
Body protection is end-of-season sparse and priced accordingly: an adult GT 1.0 thigh guard at $44.99 (left-hand only — right-handers see the Flex Pro youth at $49.99), one adult GT 1.0 chest guard ($24.99), and one adult GT 1.0 elbow guard ($11.99). Junior thigh guards are down to a single left-hand GT 1.0 ($39.99). These restock with the spring container; if you need a full protection set today, ask us to mix brands.
Training balls: the $7.99 department
EM's training wall is where the brand's budget DNA survives untouched. The Wobble ball ($11.99, nineteen in stock) teaches batters and bowlers what a wobbling seam actually does. The windballs — Lite at 90 grams (yellow, ×25) and Heavy at 120 grams (orange, ×15) — are $7.99 each and the default choice for indoor winter nets across NJ school gyms. Add the Swing dual-sided tennis/synthetic ball ($9.99), the twelve-sided Multi Reflex reaction ball ($7.99), and the flat-seam trainer ($14.99), and a coach can build a full drills bag for under $60. Bulk pricing on windballs is a phone call: 1-732-250-3598.
Who should buy EM in 2026 — and who shouldn't
Buy EM if you want signature-bat performance without signature-bat pricing — the 360 Legacy at $219.99 and B.Sai Sudharshan 90 at $264.99 are the cheapest routes to a genuine players-profile English willow we currently stock — or if you keep wicket, or if you are equipping a squad with pads and training balls. Look elsewhere if you need deep size runs and multiple weight options per model: EM stock is one-piece-deep at the premium end, and if your exact weight is gone, it is gone until the next drop. And as always, if your league mandates a specific willow grade, confirm it on the product page before ordering.
FAQ
Is EM a good cricket bat brand?
Yes — and in 2026 the honest answer changed. EM used to be a budget-first brand; the current range runs from a $99.99 Kashmir willow starter to Grade 1+++ English willow signature bats at $749.99–$799.99. Build quality on the signature range compares well against similarly priced SS and SG bats on our racks.
How much do EM cricket bats cost in the US?
In our store: $99.99 for the Maxxum 3.0 Kashmir willow, $144.99–$299.99 for core English and selected willow, $219.99–$799.99 for the AB de Villiers 360 and B.Sai Sudharshan signature English willow ranges, and $179.99–$299.99 for junior English willow.
What is the EM 360 AB de Villiers bat?
A six-model signature range (No. 17, Aura, Bull Ring, Player Series, Bold, Legacy) built on the profile AB de Villiers favored: semi-oval handle, large edges, balanced pickup for 360-degree stroke play. The No. 17 is the Grade 1+++ flagship; the Bull Ring commemorates his 31-ball ODI hundred at the Wanderers in 2015.
Are EM wicket-keeping gloves any good?
The MSD Dhoni Player at $99.99 is one of the best value grade 1 keeping gloves we sell — aniline sheep leather throughout and a Law 40.2-compliant web strap. The Maxxum 2.0 ($79.99) and Flexi Pro ($59.99) cover club keepers, and junior models start at $49.99.
Where can I buy EM cricket gear in the USA?
TopCricketStore stocks the full EM range online with free US shipping on orders over $100, and in person at 37 Meridian Rd, Edison, NJ — open Mon–Sat 11 AM–9 PM and Sun 11 AM–8 PM. Premium bats are single pieces, so if a table above says one in stock, calling ahead (1-732-250-3598) is worth it.
Come see the actual bat you're buying
Every premium EM bat photo on our site is the real cleft in our Edison stockroom, and nothing replaces picking one up. Visit us at 37 Meridian Rd, Edison, NJ, and we'll put the 360 and Sudharshan bats side by side in your hands — and knock in whichever one leaves with you, right at the counter. Ordering online? Free US shipping over $100, 7-day returns, and live chat or WhatsApp at 1-732-250-3598 if you want stock confirmed before checkout. Browse the full cricket bats collection, our adult English willow range, batting pads and batting gloves.