Gunn & Moore: The Brand That Built Cricket's Greatest Career
In 1885, a Nottingham woodworker named Thomas Gunn partnered with a local bat maker named William Moore and started a cricket bat workshop. They could not have known that 103 years later, a 15-year-old boy from Mumbai named Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar would walk into a cricket shop, pick up a Gunn & Moore bat, and never play with another brand for the next 24 years.
That's not marketing copy. Sachin Tendulkar used GM bats for the entirety of his international career — 664 international matches, 34,357 runs, 100 centuries. Every single one of them was scored with a Gunn & Moore blade in his hands. When the greatest run-scorer in cricket history trusts one brand for two and a half decades, the brand earns a permanent place in the game's story.
For US cricketers, GM occupies a different space than the mega-brands we typically stock. GM is primarily a bat manufacturer — and while we don't currently carry GM's full bat range, we do carry their complete grip lineup, their junior bat, and their training accessories. This guide covers everything GM we have in stock, explains why the grip range matters, and tells the story of why this small Nottingham workshop became inextricable from cricket history.
The Complete GM Bat Grip Range: 7 Patterns, Every Hand Type
GM makes the most diverse bat grip lineup of any brand we stock. Seven distinct patterns, each with a different texture, thickness, and feel. If you've only ever used whatever grip came on your bat, you're leaving performance on the table — the right grip changes how the bat sits in your hands through the entire shot cycle.
Here's every GM grip we carry, with guidance on who each one is for:
GM Hexa Cricket Bat Grip — Best All-Rounder
The Hexa pattern is a hexagonal embossed texture that provides grip without being sticky. Think of it as the Toyota Camry of cricket grips — not flashy, but works for almost everyone. Good in dry and slightly damp conditions. If you're not sure which grip to buy, start here. $7.99, one of our fastest-selling GM products.
GM Ripple Cricket Bat Grip — Best for Sweaty Hands
The Ripple pattern has a pronounced wave texture that channels moisture away from your palms. Summer league players in Texas, Florida, and Arizona — where you're batting in 95°F+ heat — this is the grip that won't slip on the 30th ball of your innings. Premium anti-slip rubber compound. If you've ever had a bat twist in your hands on a drive because of sweat, this solves it. $7.99.
GM Dynamic Cricket Bat Grip — Best for Bottom-Hand Players
The Dynamic has a two-zone construction: firmer texture in the top hand zone, softer and slightly thicker in the bottom hand zone. This matters for bottom-hand-dominant players (most subcontinental-style batters) because it gives the lead hand a stable anchor while letting the bottom hand drive through the ball with confidence. The only grip in our store built with this two-zone philosophy. $7.99.
GM Fuze Cricket Bat Grip — Best Cushioning
The Fuze is the thickest, most cushioned grip GM makes. If you play without batting inners and want the bat to sit fuller in your palms, or if you have larger hands, this is the pick. The softer compound also reduces vibration feedback on mis-hits — useful for junior players who flinch after a stinger. $7.99.
GM Terrian Cricket Bat Grip — Best for Wet Conditions
Aggressive tread pattern, almost tire-like. The Terrian is built for English conditions — light rain, damp outfields, sweaty gloves — and translates perfectly to US league cricket where morning dew on the outfield means your gloves are damp by the 10th over. Maximum grip, no compromise on feel. If you play in the Northeast or Pacific Northwest, this is your grip. $7.99.
GM Pro Lite Cricket Bat Grip — Best for Feel Players
The thinnest grip GM makes. Minimal rubber between your hands and the handle. This is for players who want maximum bat feedback — you'll feel exactly where on the face you made contact. Not recommended for beginners (stingers hurt more), but a favorite of timing-oriented top-order batters who want every ounce of handle feel. $7.99.
GM Shock Absorbing Cricket Bat Grip — Best for Fast Bowling
Extra-thick rubber compound with a vibration-dampening layer built into the construction. If you regularly face 80+ mph bowling — or if you're a junior player moving up to senior equipment for the first time — this grip takes the sting out of mis-hits and hard-handed defensive shots. Also good for players with wrist or elbow issues. $7.99.
GM Junior Bat: A Real English Willow Blade for Youth Players
The GM Diamond Bullet Junior English Willow Cricket Bat is the only GM bat we currently stock, and it's a genuine English willow blade built for serious youth players. Unlike the Kashmir willow starter bats that dominate the under-$150 junior market, the Diamond Bullet uses proper English willow — softer pressing, better ping, and a bat that improves with use as the fibers compress.
This is the right bat for a junior player who has committed to cricket — not the first bat they'll own, but the first bat that will perform like a real cricket bat. For context: most junior English willow bats from UK brands start at $180+. GM's Diamond Bullet delivers the same willow grade at a competitive price.
GM Training & Practice Gear
GM Cricket Spring Back Stumps — Auto-Reset for Net Practice ($79.99)
The single best training investment a solo cricketer can make. Spring-loaded stumps that snap back upright after being hit — no walking 22 yards to reset them between deliveries. For bowlers practicing alone, this is game-changing. Spring-back mechanism is robust enough for repeated hits from leather balls at pace. Also useful for club net sessions where you want to maximize bowling time without reset delays.
GM Bleached Polished Wood Cricket Stumps — Full Set ($59.99)
Traditional wooden stumps with a bleached finish. Six stumps plus four bails — the full match set. Polished surface reduces splintering on impact. These are the stumps you want for match day, not just practice.
GM Cricket Bail Set — Official Size Replacement ($11.99)
Replacement bails for when the inevitable happens — a Yorker that splits one in half. Official size, fits GM and standard stumps. Always carry a spare pair in your kit bag.
GM Chamois Padded Adult Wicket Keeping Inners ($14.99)
Chamois leather inners with padded palms — the old-school keeper's choice. Chamois absorbs sweat better than synthetic alternatives and provides a natural grip feel inside your keeping gloves. These will last a full season with regular use.
GM Glass Fibre Bat Tape ($9.99)
Reinforced fiberglass tape for edge and toe protection. Stronger than standard electrical or cloth tape, better adhesion. One roll covers edge + toe on 2-3 bats. Essential for English willow bats that face regular net use.
GM Junior Abdominal Guard ($7.99)
Youth-sized abdo guard in the standard cup-and-strap design. Sized for junior players. Mandatory equipment for any youth player facing hard-ball bowling — most US junior leagues require it.
GM Panama Hat — Navy Blue, White & Maroon ($19.99)
Classic cricket panama hat in GM's signature navy/white/maroon colors. Wide brim, breathable fabric, adjustable fit. Perfect for long days in the field under the American summer sun. These sell out every spring — buy early.
The Sachin-GM Story: Why It Still Matters
Sachin Tendulkar first picked up a Gunn & Moore bat as a 15-year-old schoolboy in 1988. The bat was a GM Maestro — a model the company had designed for attacking strokeplay. By 1990, after his maiden Test hundred at Old Trafford (scored with a GM), the relationship was permanent.
For the next 24 years, GM made every bat Sachin used in international cricket. The company's Nottingham workshop had a dedicated craftsman — a man named John Newsome — who hand-selected clefts for Tendulkar's bats from GM's willow stores. Each bat was pressed, shaped, and balanced to Sachin's exact specification: 2.9 lbs, a mid-to-low sweet spot positioned slightly higher than standard, and an oval handle (not round — Tendulkar preferred the orientation reference of an oval grip).
When Sachin retired in 2013, GM produced a limited-edition commemorative bat — the GM Icon — built to his exact specs. The production run sold out within hours.
This matters for US buyers for one reason: GM's grip range and accessories carry the same engineering attention that went into building bats for the greatest run-scorer ever. The Hexa, Ripple, and Dynamic grips weren't designed by a commodity factory — they were designed by the same company that spent 24 years making sure Sachin Tendulkar never had to think about his equipment.
GM vs Other Grip Brands: A Quick Comparison
If you're comparing grip options across the brands we carry:
- GM vs DSC Grips: DSC makes excellent grips (read our DSC Grips Guide), but their range is pattern-focused (Spyder, Tread, etc.). GM's range is player-condition focused — wet, dry, sweaty, fast bowling, feel-oriented. Different philosophy, both valid. If you change grips based on conditions, GM. If you pick one grip and stick with it, DSC.
- GM vs SG Grips: SG's grip range is smaller (Chevron, Chevtech, Players). GM's seven-pattern lineup is deeper and more specialized. If you're particular about grip feel, GM gives you more options.
- GM Grips vs Generic: Generic grips from your kit bag's spare pocket cost $2 and last three net sessions. GM grips cost $7.99 and last a full season. The rubber compound difference is immediately noticeable — generics harden and lose grip within weeks; GM compounds stay pliable.
How to Choose Your GM Grip: A 30-Second Decision Guide
| You Are... | Buy This |
|---|---|
| Not sure, first time picking a grip | GM Hexa |
| Playing in Texas/Florida/Arizona heat | GM Ripple |
| Bottom-hand dominant batter | GM Dynamic |
| Large hands, no inners | GM Fuze |
| Playing in Northeast/Pacific NW damp conditions | GM Terrian |
| Timing player who wants max feel | GM Pro Lite |
| Facing fast bowling, junior moving up | GM Shock Absorbing |
Building a GM Practice Kit: What to Buy
GM's strength in our store is practice and accessories, not full kits. Here's what a dedicated club player should add to their bag:
Essential GM Setup ($45–$55): Two GM grips of your choice ($15.98 for two) + GM Glass Fibre Bat Tape ($9.99) + GM Chamois Keeping Inners ($14.99) + GM Bail Set ($11.99). Total: ~$53. Grips for your current bat, tape for edge protection, inners for your keeping gloves, spare bails because everyone loses one.
Training Upgrade ($135+): GM Spring Back Stumps ($79.99) + 3 GM grips ($23.97) + GM Bat Tape ($9.99) + GM Panama Hat ($19.99). Total: ~$134. The spring-back stumps alone transform solo practice. Add the hat for long summer sessions.
What US Players Should Know About GM
1. GM is a bat-first brand, and we're working on expanding our GM bat range. The Diamond Bullet Junior is currently our only GM bat. If you're looking for adult GM bats — the Purist, the Diamond, the Neon — contact us directly and we'll check availability from GM's US distributor network.
2. GM grips are universally compatible. They fit standard cricket bat handles from any brand — SS, SG, Kookaburra, Gray-Nicolls, DSC, CEAT. You don't need a GM bat to use GM grips.
3. The spring-back stumps are the most underrated product in the store. Solo bowlers who practice 3+ times a week will get more out of these than any other $80 cricket purchase. Read our Home Practice Equipment Guide for more solo training options.
4. GM's junior gear punches above its price. The Diamond Bullet is real English willow at a price where most competitors are selling Kashmir. The junior abdo guard is properly sized, not an adult product with a "junior" label. If you're kitting out a youth player, GM should be on your shortlist.
Recommended Products
- GM GM Icon 909 English Willow Cricket Bat —
- GM GM Hexa Cricket Bat Grip — Cricket Bat Grip
- GM GM Diamond 444 Cricket Bat — Cricket Bat
- GM GM Diamond 606 English Willow Cricket Bat — Cricket Bat
- GM GM Sparq 707 English Willow Cricket Bat — Cricket Bat
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gunn & Moore still a premium brand?
Yes. GM remains one of cricket's elite bat manufacturers, headquartered in Nottingham, England. Their current international players include Ben Stokes (in his early career) and they remain a major supplier across English county and Australian state cricket. The brand's DXM technology — a polymer insert in the blade designed to increase power without adding weight — is used across their modern range.
Why doesn't TopCricketStore carry more GM bats?
We're actively working on it. GM's US distribution is more limited than the Indian brands (SG, SS, CEAT) that form our bat core. The Diamond Bullet Junior is our entry point — it's designed to be the bat that convinces us (and you) to expand the range. If you're looking for a specific GM model, reach out — we can often source it.
How do I install a GM bat grip?
Remove the old grip (peel from the top down), clean the handle of adhesive residue, and roll the new grip on from the bottom up. A grip cone tool ($4–$6) makes this dramatically easier. The GM grips are pre-shaped with a slight taper that matches standard bat handles. Full instructions are in our Bat Grips Guide.
Do GM spring-back stumps work on grass?
Yes — the base has four ground spikes that anchor into turf. Works on any grass surface firm enough to hold a stump. On very hard, dry ground, you may need to pre-spike the holes with a screwdriver. On concrete or asphalt, use the optional weighted base (sold separately).
What's the difference between GM and Gunn & Moore labeling?
Nothing — it's the same company. "GM" is the modern brand shorthand; "Gunn & Moore" is the full company name founded in 1885. Products are labeled with both depending on the category. The bat grips usually carry the "GM" logo; the stumps and hats carry the full "Gunn & Moore" name. Same quality, same Nottingham heritage.
Are GM products authentic when bought from TopCricketStore?
Yes. Every GM product we sell is sourced through GM's authorized US distribution channels. We've carried GM accessories since 2022. Each product carries GM's official packaging and holographic verification where applicable. The Saxena family has been in the cricket business since 2021 and we stand behind every brand we stock.