Mongoose MMi3

It is very difficult to reign yourself in with a Mongoose in your hands, as skysports.com's Joe Drabble found out.

I was like a kid at Christmas when the Mongoose MMi3 arrived at skysports.com towers. Out of all the Locker Room products to arrive to-date, this was by far the most eagerly-anticipated. The curators at Mongoose really do have sensational imaginations (I'm sure in their spare time they write cartoon sketches or direct films) and they have once again come up with something a little bit special. So the MMi, what does it mean? I can tell you - 'Mass and Moment of Inertia'. Still none the wiser? Let me explain. The design of the bat, an over-sized handle sloping down to a hefty chunk of willow, allows increased leverage that makes the bat quicker and easier to manoeuvre, allowing you to select your shot later, or change it in a split second. The bat's MMi determines the amount of effort required by the batsman not only to swing it, but also to control the bat during the swing. This makes the Mongoose a lighter, harder-hitting weapon for cricketers. Despite its unique appearance, it conforms to all MCC Laws and is legal for use in all forms of the game. At face-value it looks completely different to your conventional piece of willow without a shorter handle and sizeable piece of wood, however the weight is practically the same.

Asset

When we rolled into Headingley Indoor Centre to put the bat into practice I must admit, when I was lining up at the other end to the bowling machine, I didn't know if I should have a stance for golf or cricket. I had the calming words of inventor Marcus Codrington Fernandez in my ear though. He had told me the day before just to play normally and not get carried away. Easier said than done Marcus, easier said than done! It is very difficult to reign yourself in with a Mongoose in your hands, especially when I am asking the ball-feeder to send down 45mph half-volleys! The ball absolutely sails off the bat no matter where you make contact with it and that's undoubtedly its greatest asset. There is no middle when it's all the middle! Of course the best willow in the country comes at a price - a rather hefty £225. My major concern was how I was going to keep out shorter deliveries. With less wood to use your hand-eye co-ordination has to be spot-on. Playing off the back foot is compromised by the design, but then when batting in club cricket in England it is very rare to see a delivery whizz past my nostrils at 80mph. Former Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden has shown just how destructive things can get with the Mongoose MMi3, as has Worcestershire's Gareth Andrew in the UK. Click HERE to watch them both go berserk!

Locker Room rating: 4.5/5