With this season seeing more bats added to the ASA banned bats list, news online of manufacturers stopping producing ASA certified bats and several countries proposing for the adoption of the ISF permitted bat list since in every other respect we play buy ISF rules (a proposal the BSF are opposing) what would the ESL and BSF recommed when buying a bat? Having already lost a +£200 bat to the amended ASA list (a list one which could again be updated at any time) I would rather not go and waste money buying a bat only for it to be banned too! Just looking for a little direction or recommendation please.

ESF congress threw out the proposal from some countries to adopt the ISF bat list.

The BSF & others opposed this motion at Congress, since we use the ASA bat list on the grounds that ASA standards are based on safety issues while ISF standards often are as much about commercial considerations as safety.

Best bet is NOT to purchase the "latest" supercharged bats - the balls come off these at great speed as as such are dangerous.

The monthly updated list is available for download - there are hundreds more on the suitable list than the banned list - I will be sending the latest list round the Captains - all umpires will have a copy so will be checking bats out there this season.