GM Rival Signature Cricket Bat 2026 – Short Handle

Built for winners, not participants.

The GM Rival Signature Cricket Bat 2026 is designed for players who thrive under pressure, play with intent and want a bat capable of matching an aggressive approach at the crease.

Featuring the Rival's distinctive chequered-flag inspired 2026 livery, a powerful low-to-mid hitting zone, traditional L555 blade length and substantial toe, the Rival Signature combines modern attacking characteristics with the craftsmanship expected from Gunn & Moore.

Made in England from seasoned, unbleached Grade 2 English Willow, the Signature specification provides an outstanding combination of willow quality, performance and value for serious club and competitive cricketers.

No hesitation. No looking back. The Rival is built to win.

Signature Grade English Willow

The GM Rival Signature is manufactured from carefully selected, seasoned and unbleached Grade 2 English Willow.

As a natural material, bats within the Signature grade may display minor cosmetic blemishes or some colouration on one edge. These natural characteristics are part of the willow grading process and allow players to access an excellent quality English Willow blade at an attractive performance level.

For cricketers looking for a high-performance GM bat without stepping into the premium Grade 1 specifications, the Rival Signature represents an excellent balance between quality, performance and value.

The Rival Profile – Built to Win

The Rival isn't designed to disappear into the background.

Its aggressive profile places plenty of willow through the primary hitting area, creating a substantial blade designed for confident boundary hitting.

The lower positioning of the swell makes the Rival particularly appealing to players who like to get onto the front foot, drive through the line and attack straight.

Despite its imposing shape, careful contouring and weight distribution help provide an impressive pickup, giving players the bat speed required for modern attacking cricket.

Traditional L555 Blade Length

The Rival uses GM's traditional L555 blade length, combined with a 295mm handle.

This configuration provides a substantial hitting area while maintaining the familiar proportions and control expected from a Short Handle cricket bat.

The L555 blade works particularly well with the Rival profile, allowing plenty of willow to remain through the lower power zone while retaining excellent overall balance.

Huge Toe Depth

One of the standout characteristics of the Rival is its huge toe depth.

The substantial lower blade provides additional confidence when striking the ball through the lower portion of the bat and contributes to the Rival's powerful, imposing appearance.

For players who enjoy attacking full deliveries, driving hard down the ground and taking the aerial route, the substantial toe profile provides plenty of willow where modern aggressive batters want it.

F2 Face Profile

The Rival features GM's F2 face profile, complementing its substantial overall shape.

The slightly rounded face works alongside the powerful swell, sweeping contours and Powerarc bow to create a generous hitting area with excellent feel through impact.

Powerarc Bow Face Profile

The Powerarc bow face profile is carefully engineered to complement the Rival's attacking characteristics.

The bow contributes to the bat's balance and pickup while helping create a smooth swing through the ball.

Whether you're looking to time the ball into gaps or accelerate the bat through an attacking stroke, the Powerarc profile helps provide the fluidity required for confident shot-making.

Sweeping Contours

The Rival features distinctive sweeping contours through the back of the blade.

These contours allow GM to carefully manage the distribution of willow, creating an imposing profile while maintaining the balance required for quick hands.

Rather than simply focusing on maximum dimensions, the Rival is engineered to provide a combination of power, pickup and manoeuvrability.

Premium Treble-Spring Cane Handle

The GM Rival Signature is fitted with a high-quality treble-spring cane handle.

The multi-spring construction is designed to provide an excellent combination of flex, feel and control while helping absorb unwanted vibration through impact.

This provides a responsive connection between the player's hands and the blade, allowing you to feel confident whether defending against high-quality bowling or attacking for the boundary.

New GM Apex Grip

The 2026 Rival is completed with the new GM Apex Grip, designed to provide outstanding traction and control.

A secure grip is particularly important for aggressive players generating high bat speed, and the Apex Grip helps maintain a confident connection between the hands and handle throughout the shot.

It also complements the bold Rival graphics, completing the distinctive appearance of the 2026 range.

GM NOW! Preparation

The Rival Signature comes with GM NOW! preparation as standard, reducing the amount of additional preparation required before use.

This factory preparation allows players to get their new English Willow bat ready for cricket sooner than an untreated blade.

As with any English Willow cricket bat, appropriate care and gradual preparation before facing full-intensity bowling are still recommended.

ToeTek™ Protection

ToeTek™ protection is also fitted as standard.

The toe is one of the most vulnerable areas of a cricket bat, regularly exposed to moisture, ground contact and impact from full deliveries.

ToeTek™ provides an additional layer of protection to this area, helping improve the durability and longevity of your bat.

Made in England

The GM Rival Signature 2026 is proudly manufactured by Gunn & Moore in England.

GM combines generations of English bat-making experience with modern precision manufacturing techniques to produce consistent, carefully balanced cricket bats.

From willow selection and shaping through to handle fitting and finishing, every Rival Signature benefits from GM's extensive cricket bat manufacturing expertise.

Key Features

• GM Rival Signature – 2026 Edition

• Seasoned, unbleached Grade 2 English Willow

• Bold chequered-flag inspired Rival graphics

• Designed for powerful, aggressive stroke play

• Traditional L555 blade length

• 295mm handle length

• Powerful low-to-mid hitting zone

• Huge toe depth

• F2 face profile

• Powerarc bow face profile

• Sweeping contours for excellent balance

• Imposing blade profile

• Excellent combination of power and pickup

• High-quality treble-spring cane handle

• New GM Apex Grip

• GM NOW! factory preparation fitted as standard

• ToeTek™ protection fitted as standard

• Short Handle (SH)

• Made in England

• Ideal for serious club and competitive cricketers

Specifications

Brand: Gunn & Moore (GM)
Model: Rival Signature
Season: 2026
Size: Short Handle (SH)
Willow Grade: Grade 2 English Willow
Willow: Seasoned & Unbleached
Blade Length: L555
Handle Length: 295mm
Face Profile: F2
Swell Position: Low-to-Mid
Toe: Extra Deep / Huge Toe
Back Profile: Sweeping Contours
Bow: Powerarc
Handle: High-Quality Treble-Spring Cane
Grip: GM Apex Grip
Preparation: GM NOW!
Toe Protection: ToeTek™
Country of Manufacture: England

Natural Willow Characteristics

Because the Rival Signature is made from natural Grade 2 English Willow, individual bats will vary in grain structure and appearance.

Signature-grade blades may feature minor cosmetic blemishes or some natural colouration on one edge. These characteristics are normal for this willow grade and make every bat visually unique.

Who Is the GM Rival Signature For?

The GM Rival Signature 2026 is designed for the confident, attacking cricketer who wants a powerful English Willow bat with an imposing profile and excellent pickup.

Its lower power zone and substantial toe make it particularly appealing to front-foot players who enjoy driving through the line and attacking full deliveries, while the carefully engineered contours provide the balance required for all-round stroke play.

The Grade 2 English Willow specification also makes it an attractive option for serious players looking for an excellent combination of performance, willow quality and value.

If your game is built around positive intent, quick hands and finding the boundary, the Rival Signature has been shaped to match.

No hesitation. No looking back. The Rival is Built to Win.

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 fitting an Extratec protective sheet and/or toe guard will slightly increase the finished playing weight of the bat.