GM Rival 808 Cricket Bat 2026 – Short Handle

Speed. Precision. Ruthlessness. The GM Rival 808 Cricket Bat 2026 is built for cricketers who play with positive intent and demand a bat capable of matching their aggressive approach at the crease. Featuring the Rival's bold chequered-flag inspired 2026 livery, a powerful mid-to-low swell, huge toe depth and GM's traditional L555 blade length, the Rival 808 combines serious hitting potential with an impressively balanced pickup. Made in England from carefully selected English Willow, the 808 specification offers an excellent step up for serious club and competitive cricketers looking for quality willow, powerful shaping and trusted Gunn & Moore craftsmanship. No hesitation. No looking back. The Rival is Built To Win. The Rival Profile – Made for Competitors The Rival has been designed around modern, attacking cricket. Its powerful profile places plenty of willow through the middle and lower sections of the blade, creating an imposing hitting zone for players who like to dominate from the front foot. The substantial lower blade is complemented by carefully engineered sweeping contours, allowing GM to maintain an excellent balance between power, pickup and manoeuvrability. Whether you're driving through the line, attacking straight or looking to clear the boundary, the Rival is designed to provide confidence when it's time to take the game forward. Quality English Willow – 808 Specification The GM Rival 808 is manufactured from carefully selected English Willow, with the 808 specification providing an excellent combination of willow quality, appearance and performance. Positioned above GM's more accessible specifications, the 808 is an attractive choice for serious players looking to invest in a higher-quality English Willow cricket bat without moving all the way into the premium 909 or Original grades. Every blade benefits from GM's extensive willow selection and manufacturing expertise to deliver dependable performance throughout the season. Traditional L555 Blade Length The 2026 Rival features GM's traditional L555 blade length, paired with a 295mm handle. This proven configuration provides a generous hitting surface while maintaining the familiar proportions expected from a Short Handle cricket bat. The L555 blade works particularly well with the Rival's mid-to-low swell, allowing plenty of willow to remain through the primary power zone while retaining excellent overall balance. Mid-to-Low Swell – Built for Attacking Cricket At the heart of the Rival is its powerful mid-to-low swell position. This places the primary hitting zone slightly lower down the blade, making the Rival particularly effective for players who enjoy getting onto the front foot and striking through the line. It provides excellent power for drives, aggressive straight hitting and aerial stroke play against fuller deliveries. However, the profile remains balanced enough for the all-round shot-maker, providing versatility for players who like to score in every area of the ground. Huge Toe Depth One of the most distinctive characteristics of the Rival is its huge toe depth. The substantial lower blade creates an imposing appearance while placing additional willow in an important modern hitting area. For aggressive players who regularly attack full deliveries, yorkers or look to hit straight down the ground, the additional toe depth provides extra confidence through the lower portion of the blade. Combined with the mid-to-low swell, it gives the Rival its powerful, boundary-focused personality. Sweeping Contours The Rival features beautifully engineered sweeping contours through the back of the blade. These contours allow GM to carefully manage the distribution of willow throughout the profile, helping create an imposing shape without making the bat unnecessarily cumbersome. The result is an excellent combination of substantial hitting power and responsive pickup. This carefully distributed weight allows players to generate bat speed while retaining plenty of wood behind the ball. F2 Face Profile The F2 face profile complements the Rival's powerful construction. Its slightly rounded characteristics provide excellent feel through impact while working alongside the mid-to-low swell and substantial toe to create a generous hitting area. The F2 face gives the Rival a traditional feel while retaining the performance characteristics required for modern aggressive cricket. Powerarc Bow Face Profile The Powerarc bow face profile further enhances the Rival's shape and playing characteristics. The carefully engineered bow works alongside the substantial lower blade to help create a smooth swing and excellent pickup. This contributes to the Rival's ability to provide substantial power while remaining manageable enough for quick, controlled stroke play. Explosive Pickup Despite the Rival's substantial toe and powerful hitting zone, careful weight distribution provides an impressively responsive pickup. This allows players to accelerate the bat quickly through the ball, making the Rival particularly suitable for aggressive stroke-makers who rely on bat speed and quick hands. The balance also helps when making late adjustments against faster bowling, giving the Rival the versatility required across different formats of the game. New GM Apex Grip The 2026 Rival comes fitted with the new GM Apex Grip. Designed to deliver excellent traction and grip security, the Apex Grip provides a confident connection between the player's hands and the bat. This is particularly important for players generating high bat speeds, helping maintain control throughout the swing. The grip also complements the striking Rival graphics, completing the aggressive appearance of the 2026 model. Bold Chequered-Flag 2026 Livery The Rival doesn't try to blend in. Its distinctive chequered-flag inspired graphics reflect the personality of the bat itself — fast, competitive and aggressive. The design makes a statement from the moment you walk to the crease and perfectly complements a profile engineered for players who approach their cricket with positive intent. Made in England The GM Rival 808 2026 is proudly manufactured by Gunn & Moore in England. GM combines generations of English bat-making expertise with advanced precision manufacturing to create carefully balanced and consistently shaped cricket bats. From willow selection and machining through to handle fitting and finishing, the Rival 808 benefits from the craftsmanship and attention to detail expected from Gunn & Moore. Key Features GM Rival 808 – 2026 Edition High-quality English Willow Premium 808 specification Bold chequered-flag inspired Rival graphics Traditional L555 blade length 295mm handle length F2 face profile Powerful mid-to-low swell Designed for the all-round shot-maker Particularly suited to aggressive front-foot cricket Huge toe depth for attacking confidence Sweeping contours for an imposing profile Powerarc bow face profile Excellent combination of power and pickup Designed to generate impressive bat speed New GM Apex Grip Short Handle (SH) Made in England Ideal for serious club and competitive cricketers Specifications Brand: Gunn & Moore (GM) Model: Rival 808 Season: 2026 Size: Short Handle (SH) Willow: English Willow Specification: 808 Blade Length: L555 Handle Length: 295mm Face Profile: F2 Swell Position: Mid-to-Low Toe Profile: Huge / Extra Deep Back Profile: Sweeping Contours Bow: Powerarc Grip: GM Apex Grip Country of Manufacture: England Who Is the GM Rival 808 For? The GM Rival 808 2026 is an excellent choice for serious club and competitive cricketers who want a higher-quality English Willow bat with a profile built around positive stroke play. Its mid-to-low swell and huge toe make it particularly attractive to front-foot players, powerful drivers and boundary-hunters, putting plenty of willow behind the ball when attacking fuller deliveries. At the same time, the sweeping contours and carefully managed weight distribution provide the pickup and responsiveness needed for quick hands and all-round stroke play. For players seeking an excellent combination of quality English Willow, aggressive shaping, explosive pickup and premium GM craftsmanship, the Rival 808 is a standout option in the 2026 range. Speed. Precision. Ruthlessness. 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.