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The cricket equipment silly season is in full flow. September has always traditionally been the launch date for cricket equipment to retailers, however over the past few years they’ve got progressively earlier – with Slazenger in 2012 launching their 2013 range before T20 finals day and halfway through the main summer Test series.

The Slazenger launch was held at ‘The Cricket Asylum’ a fantastic facility set up at the top of an old mill in the middle of the countryside. Where people and machinery once  worked tirelessly making woolen garments ,  lies a 4 lane cricket net, complete with PitchVision technology, screens and cameras so you can play back every single shot, ball and wicket. It’s a world class cricket haven, where you’d least expect it.

Slazenger showcased their range in the shop area of the Asylum and their a few crazy innovations, could be tried out in the net area.

The most notable addition to the Slazenger range is the retro range, or as Slazenger have dubbed it ‘the Pro tour’. The Pro Tour is a hark back to the great British bat making era, where the likes of Boycott used their ‘Eric Loxton Yorkshire made  Slazenger bats on the international stage. The V12, which some of you may remember being used for defensive shots by Boycott is back. And although it’s a modern take on the classic, with a more modern profile it retains most of it’s glamour with Retro stickers and a laser cut detail, proudly displaying the ‘Made in England’ tag which has been missing from Slazenger bats for the past 15 years. This range is strictly limited to 200 pieces, and comes complete with an Alec Stewart signed Certificate of Authenticity.

The green labelled V6 is another take on their classic V range, and will be pitched in at a more affordable price point (under £200) for those wanting the look but without paying the high premium price. To reach this price point, it’s unfortunately lost the Made in England tag – but is finished and shaped to a impeccable standard by Slazenger’s manufacturers in Jalandhar.

Our highlight of the whole range was in the Pro Tour line and wasn’t a bat, which is surprising for a site run by cricket bat geeks. Their Retro kitbags are stunning, affordable and fantastically made. Available in 2 sizes, we can see some of them doubling up as weekend bags and with styling usually only seen on exclusive Mulberry bags, these are sure a favourite of flannel wearing toffs.

The pads and gloves are solid in design, and are manufactured from full leather meaning they feel like kittens on your hands and legs. But the show was completely stolen by the V12 and their luggage selection.