Prime Willow. Serious Intent.

The GM Rival Original Cricket Bat 2026 brings together premium Grade 1 English Willow, a powerful modern profile and the outstanding craftsmanship Gunn & Moore is renowned for. Finished in the striking 2026 Rival graphics, this is a serious performance bat designed for players who want exceptional willow, balance and power at the crease.

The Rival range is associated with Team GM players Wihan Lubbe and James Coles, bringing player-level inspiration to one of GM's standout profiles for the 2026 season.

The Rival Profile – Built for the All-Round Shot-Maker

The Rival is designed for batters who want the freedom to score all around the ground.

Built around GM's traditional L555 blade length, the Rival features a mid-to-low swell position with sweeping contours and an impressively deep toe. This puts plenty of willow through the lower hitting area, making it particularly effective for players who like to drive powerfully, attack straight and take the aerial option when required.

Despite its substantial lower profile, careful shaping and weight distribution help maintain an excellent pickup, making the Rival equally comfortable when batting for extended periods or accelerating the scoring rate.

Powerarc Bow Face

The Rival features GM's Powerarc bow face, helping create the distinctive shape and feel of the bat.

Combined with the mid-to-low swell and generous toe depth, the profile delivers an imposing hitting area with plenty of wood positioned where modern batters want it.

The result is a versatile cricket bat capable of complementing both traditional stroke play and aggressive modern batting.

Prime Grade 1 English Willow

The Rival Original is manufactured from carefully selected Prime, unbleached Grade 1 English Willow.

The willow is selected to provide the quality, performance and appearance expected from one of GM's premium specifications. For serious club, representative, Premier and First Grade cricketers, the Original provides an excellent balance between premium willow quality and high-performance construction.

Premium Treble-Spring Cane Handle

A premium blade deserves an equally impressive handle.

The Rival Original is fitted with a top-quality treble-spring multi-piece cane handle, engineered to provide an excellent combination of feel, flex and control.

The construction helps manage vibration through impact while maintaining the responsiveness serious batters want when timing the ball.

GM NOW! – Prepared for Play

The Rival Original features GM NOW! preparation, reducing the amount of preparation required before taking your new bat into the nets or onto the field.

While appropriate care should always be taken with a premium English Willow cricket bat, GM NOW! means significantly less traditional knocking-in is required compared with an untreated blade, helping you get your new bat match-ready sooner.

DXM Toughsheet & ToeTek Protection

For additional protection and durability, the 2026 Rival Original comes fitted with DXM Toughsheet facing and a ToeTek toe guard as standard.

The Toughsheet provides additional protection to the face of the blade, while ToeTek helps protect the vulnerable toe area against moisture and everyday wear.

Together, they provide valuable protection for a premium English Willow cricket bat throughout a demanding cricket season.

Handmade in Nottingham, England

The GM Rival Original 2026 is proudly manufactured by Gunn & Moore in Nottingham, England, combining advanced bat-making technology with generations of English cricket bat manufacturing expertise.

From willow selection and precision shaping through to finishing and preparation, the Rival Original represents the quality and attention to detail expected from a premium GM cricket bat.

Key Features

• 2026 GM Rival Original Cricket Bat
• Premium Prime Grade 1 English Willow
• Unbleached English Willow construction
• Traditional L555 blade profile
• Powerful mid-to-low swell
• Sweeping profile contours
• Impressive toe depth
• Powerarc bow face
• Designed for the all-round shot-maker
• Excellent combination of power and pickup
• Premium treble-spring multi-piece cane handle
• GM NOW! prepared for reduced knocking-in requirements
• DXM Toughsheet facing fitted as standard
• ToeTek toe guard fitted as standard
• Short Handle (SH)
• Handmade by Gunn & Moore in Nottingham, England
• Designed for serious club, representative, Premier and First Grade cricketers

Specifications

Brand: Gunn & Moore (GM)
Model: Rival Original
Season: 2026
Willow Grade: Prime Grade 1 English Willow
Willow Finish: Unbleached
Size: Short Handle (SH)
Blade: L555
Swell: Mid-to-Low
Toe: Extra Deep Profile
Face: Powerarc Bow
Handle: Premium Treble-Spring Multi-Piece Cane
Facing: DXM Toughsheet
Toe Protection: ToeTek
Preparation: GM NOW!
Made In: Nottingham, England

Where Does the Original Sit in the GM Rival Range?

The Original sits towards the very top of GM's 2026 grading structure, offering Prime Grade English Willow for players looking for a premium-quality blade.

Within the Rival range, the Original sits above the 909, 808, Signature, 606 and 404 specifications, with only the prestigious Limited Edition positioned above it.

This makes the Rival Original an excellent option for serious players who want premium willow and high-level performance without stepping all the way up to GM's Limited Edition specification.

Who Is It For?

The GM Rival Original 2026 is particularly suited to serious batters who want a versatile profile capable of covering virtually every scoring option.

Its mid-to-low sweet spot and substantial toe provide plenty of power through the lower portion of the blade, while the balanced construction keeps the bat responsive enough for quick hands and controlled stroke play.

Whether you're looking to build a long innings, dominate through the covers or clear the boundary when the field goes back, the Rival Original provides the profile and premium willow quality to play with confidence.

Important Weight Information

Any bat weight displayed in this listing is measured WITHOUT an Extratec protective sheet and WITHOUT a toe guard fitted.

Please note that adding an Extratec sheet and/or toe guard will slightly increase the finished weight of the cricket bat.