About the GM Rival Limited Edition Cricket Bat
The GM Rival Limited Edition Cricket Bat is the top willow tier of the 2026 Rival range, made in England from the very best unbleached seasoned Grade 1 English willow. It is a boundary hitter's shape: traditional L555 blade length, a low swell and a clean, powerful profile.
It runs an F2 face with GM's Powerarc bow, sweeping contours through the back and a huge toe depth for attacking confidence. Finished with the new Apex grip, and individually photographed here so you choose the exact bat.
GM Rival Limited Edition specifications
| Brand | Gunn & Moore (GM) |
|---|---|
| Model | Rival Limited Edition |
| Willow | The very best unbleached seasoned Grade 1 English willow |
| Made in | England |
| Blade length | Traditional L555 |
| Handle length | 295mm |
| Face profile | F2 with Powerarc bow |
| Swell | Mid to low, for the all-round shot maker |
| Toe | Huge toe depth |
| Handle | Treble spring multi-piece cane |
| Grip | Apex grip |
| Finish | GM Now! pre-preparation, ToeTek fitted as standard |
What Limited Edition means on a GM bat
GM build the same shape across several willow tiers. Limited Edition is the top: the very best unbleached seasoned Grade 1 clefts, selected for grain structure, limited by what willow is available, each individually tested to 5 star performance. Below it sit Original, 909, 808 and 707, which carry progressively more colour and cosmetic blemishes.
English willow and individual bat selection
Willow is natural, so grain count, colour, markings and edge depth vary bat to bat — the table above is the build GM work to. Crystal Sports photographs every available GM Rival Limited Edition, so what you see in the selector is the bat that gets dispatched.
Profile, bow and toe depth
The F2 face and Powerarc bow give the Rival a cleaner, faster feel than a full-profile bat, while the mid to low swell keeps the middle where boundary hitters want it. The huge toe depth puts wood exactly where late, hard hands tend to find the ball, and sweeping contours keep the blade imposing without going blunt.
Handle and grip
A treble spring multi-piece cane handle at the standard 295mm length gives the feel, flex and control GM are known for, finished with the new Apex grip. Want a thicker handle or a different grip? Add an extra grip above and we will fit it before dispatch.
GM Now!, ToeTek and knocking in
The Rival LE arrives with GM Now! pre-preparation: knocked in by the batmaker in-house, oiled with raw linseed, sealed with a clear anti-scuff cover and fitted with a ToeTek toe guard. GM and Crystal Sports both recommend further knocking around the edges and toe before hard-ball use — our Bat Preparation service does that for you.
Who is the GM Rival Limited Edition for?
- Club and league cricketers wanting top-grade English willow
- Boundary hitters who want a low swell and a fast-feeling blade
- Batters upgrading from a 909 or 808 grade to GM's best willow
- Anyone who wants to choose the exact bat before it ships
Buy the GM Rival Limited Edition in the UK
Crystal Sports is an independent cricket shop in Luton, Bedfordshire, stocking the Rival alongside the wider GM cricket bat range. Order online with tracked UK delivery, or visit Unit 2, 200 Dunstable Road, Luton LU4 8JL to compare them in person.
Unit 2, 200 Dunstable Road, Luton LU4 8JL. Feel the bat before you buy — open 7 days, no appointment needed.
GM Rival Limited Edition Cricket Bat
GM Rival Limited Edition — made in England from the very best unbleached seasoned Grade 1 English willow. Traditional L555 blade, F2 face with Powerarc bow, low swell and huge toe depth. Every bat individually photographed in our Luton shop.
⚠ This GM Rival is out of stock.
Each GM Rival is individually photographed — grain, colour and natural marking variation is normal in English willow.
- Oiled with linseed
- 24 hr drying time
- 12,000 machine knocks
- Scuff sheet applied
- Edge tape fitted
- Prepared before dispatch
Fast UK delivery · Ships in 1–2 working days
Why buy your GM Rival from Crystal Sports
A real shop you can visit
Come to our Luton store, pick up the GM Rival and feel the balance before you buy. Open 7 days, no appointment needed.
Expert knocking & fitting
Grips, toe guards and full machine knocking are completed in-house when selected.
What you see is what you get
We photograph the actual bat, so the one in the selector is the bat that arrives.
GM Rival FAQs
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