A cricket set is a bundled bat-and-ball kit built for casual, backyard-style cricket, not the club game – typically a plastic or wood bat, a set of stumps and bails, one or more balls, and a carry bag, scaled to an age group from toddlers through to adults. The best cricket set in Australia for a family with a six-year-old is rarely the same one a group of teenagers wants for a Boxing Day backyard match, because bat size, ball hardness and stump durability all shift with the age and surface the set is actually built for.
Sets sold locally split into a few real categories: toy-grade plastic sets (light, cheap, built for ages under 8), wooden or composite sets (heavier, more durable, suited to tweenagers and adults), foam sets (softest option, built specifically for indoor or very young play), and premium kits with protective gear (helmets and pads, aimed at a junior moving into structured club cricket). Age bracket matters more here than almost any other spec on the box.
The number that actually separates these eight is age suitability, not price: a set built for a 4-year-old and a set built for a 12-year-old can cost the same amount and be completely wrong for each other’s household. The detail worth checking alongside age range is ball type – a hard cricket ball, a soft windball and a foam ball behave completely differently, and the wrong one on a hard driveway is how a lounge room window actually breaks. Cricket Australia’s own junior participation pages are worth a look if backyard games are the start of something more structured, since the sport’s actual pathway into club cricket starts exactly where these sets leave off.
This list runs from a foam set safe enough for a lounge room to a premium junior kit with a proper helmet, covering toddlers, tweenagers, adults and beach days. Every pick here comes from the same marketplace, and the reason why is covered in How We Picked below.
Best Cricket Set in Australia Compared
| Product | Link | Type | Best For | Key Spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinson Junior Cricket Kit Set (Tweenager Edition) | Check price | Amazon | Tweenagers (8-12 Years) | Plastic cricket kit |
| Nerf Foam Cricket Set | Check price | Amazon | Foam Set for Indoors | Foam cricket set |
| Bluey Wooden Cricket 10-Piece Activity Playset | Check price | Amazon | Toddlers | 10-piece wooden cricket playset |
| Gunn and Moore GM Kids Cricket Set (Ben Stokes Edition) | Check price | Amazon | Young Beginners | Kids cricket set |
| DSC Phoenix Cricket Set | Check price | Amazon | Structured Training | Plastic cricket set |
| Summit Senior Cricket Set | Check price | Amazon | Senior Backyard Set | Wooden cricket set |
| MRF Prodigy Junior Cricket Kit Set with Helmet | Check price | Amazon | Premium Pick with Protective Gear | Junior cricket kit with helmet |
| Cooee Double Beach Cricket Set | Check price | Amazon | Beach Days and Multiple Players | Double beach cricket set |
How We Picked
We checked the Australian retailers that stock outdoor and backyard games for a real in-stock cricket set range first, since that is exactly the kind of product a dedicated outdoor games retailer should carry. Every cricket set we found through that channel was out of stock at the time of the sweep, so this list draws entirely from one marketplace with confirmed Australian stock and in-stock status checked at the time of writing.
From there we weighed age suitability, ball type and included accessories against Australian review volume, instead of ranking on star rating alone – several strong-looking sets here have very few local reviews yet, and that is flagged plainly in each entry instead of glossed over.
1. Vinson Junior Cricket Kit Set (Tweenager Edition) – Best for Tweenagers (8-12 Years)
Vinson has carved out a real niche in the awkward gap between toddler toy sets and full adult gear: this kit is built specifically for the 8 to 12 age bracket, with a 450 gram double-blade bat that is light enough to swing properly but sized for a growing kid, not a scaled-down adult bat with the handle trimmed.
155 Australian ratings at 4.3 stars and an Amazon’s Choice tag make this the most-proven pick on this entire list, and the stumps set doubles as a single bowling wicket usable from both ends, which matters more than it sounds – most budget sets only give you a wicket at one end and expect awkward workarounds at the other.
Delivery on this one runs a bit slower than the domestic-fastest picks here (a week to ten days instead of next-day), so it is worth ordering ahead of a birthday or the school holidays and not the day before.
Pros
- Purpose-built for the 8-12 age bracket, not a shrunk-down adult set or an oversized toddler one
- Most-reviewed pick on this list at 155 Australian ratings and 4.3 stars
- Bowling wicket works from both ends, unlike many budget sets that only cover one
Cons
- Delivery runs a week to ten days, slower than the fastest domestic picks on this list
- 450 gram bat will feel light in an adult’s hands, sized specifically for the target age group
- Plastic construction will not survive being used as a real batting-practice bat against a hard ball
Key specs: Plastic cricket kit, 450g double-blade bat, stumps with single bowling wicket, PVC windball, carry bag.
CHECK ON AMAZON2. Nerf Foam Cricket Set – Best Foam Set for Indoors
The Nerf name does the actual selling here: 92 Australian reviews at 4.2 stars for a set built entirely from foam, which is the one actual answer to the question every parent eventually asks after a lounge room lamp gets knocked over – can we play this indoors without anyone getting hurt or anything getting broken.
A 30-inch foam bat and two foam balls will not travel anywhere near as far or fast as a proper cricket ball off a real bat, which is the trade a foam set always makes. Plastic wickets are light enough to knock over with a gentle tap, which keeps the game moving for younger players who would otherwise struggle to actually get someone out.
This is the pick for a rainy day, a small apartment courtyard, or a household with a toddler and a nervous parent watching the good furniture – not for anyone hoping to practise an actual cricket swing.
Pros
- Properly safe for indoor play, the foam bat and balls will not damage furniture or people
- Light plastic wickets fall easily, keeping the game moving for younger or less coordinated players
- Nerf brand recognition most Australian parents already trust for kids’ gear
Cons
- Foam construction means it will not travel far or fast, unsuitable for anyone practising a real swing
- Not built to survive rough outdoor play the way a plastic or wood set will
- Only 4 units left in stock at the time of writing on this specific listing
Key specs: Foam cricket set, 30-inch foam bat, 2 foam balls, 3 plastic wickets.
CHECK ON AMAZON3. Bluey Wooden Cricket 10-Piece Activity Playset – Best for Toddlers
Bluey is the one licence in this list that actually means something to Australian parents specifically, given the show is made here and most kids under six recognise the characters before they recognise the rules of cricket itself. That recognition alone gets a three-year-old interested in a bat and ball set that would otherwise sit in the cupboard.
Wooden construction sits between the Nerf foam set above and the harder plastic sets further down this list – sturdier than foam, gentler than a full-size plastic bat swung by an uncoordinated toddler. 52 Australian ratings at 4.3 stars and an Amazon’s Choice tag back it up, and it packs into a mesh bag with a rope handle a small kid can actually carry themselves.
Pros
- Bluey licence properly engages younger kids who recognise the characters before the game
- Wooden construction sits between foam softness and hard plastic durability
- Mesh carry bag with a rope handle is sized for a toddler to carry themselves
Cons
- Suited to ages 3 and up specifically, not a set that grows with an older child
- Wooden pieces still hurt more than foam if a young sibling gets hit
- Play value is built around the licence as much as the cricket itself
Key specs: 10-piece wooden cricket playset, mesh carry bag with rope handle, ages 3+.
CHECK ON AMAZON4. Gunn and Moore GM Kids Cricket Set (Ben Stokes Edition) – Best for Young Beginners
GM is a true cricket equipment manufacturer, not a toy company that slapped a cricket theme on a generic set, and it shows in details like an all-weather rubber ball that plays consistently on grass, concrete or a driveway, instead of behaving differently on each surface.
The Ben Stokes branding is the interesting one for an Australian household – Stokes is England’s captain and a proper Ashes rival, which makes this set an odd but real crossover pick for a family that follows the international game, not just backyard rules. 18 Australian ratings at 4.5 stars is a small but strong sample.
Aimed at ages 4 to 8, the moulded stumps and base work on any surface without needing to be pushed into soil, which matters on a paved driveway or a balcony as much as it does on grass.
Pros
- Made by an established cricket equipment brand, not a generic toy manufacturer
- All-weather rubber ball plays consistently across grass, concrete and pavement
- Moulded stumps and base need no soil, work on a driveway or balcony
Cons
- Aimed squarely at ages 4-8, not a set that suits an older or more serious junior player
- Ben Stokes England branding will be an odd fit for households that only follow the Australian team
- Small review sample of 18 ratings, a promising pick, not yet a deeply proven one
Key specs: Kids cricket set, moulded plastic bat and stumps, all-weather rubber ball, ages 4-8.
CHECK ON AMAZON5. DSC Phoenix Cricket Set – Best for Structured Training
DSC is a long-established cricket equipment name, and the Phoenix set reads more like a real training kit than a toy: a short-handle bat sized for proper technique practice, four wickets and two bases instead of the usual three-stump single set, and a kit bag built to carry it all and not a flimsy drawstring sack.
9 Australian ratings at 4.0 stars is a thin sample so far, and this is a newer listing without the track record of the Vinson or Nerf sets above – the appeal here is the training-focused build, not proof from a large review base.
Pros
- Short-handle bat sized for proper batting technique practice, not just casual hitting
- Four wickets and two bases cover both ends properly, unlike single-wicket budget sets
- Sturdy kit bag built to carry the full set, not a flimsy drawstring bag
Cons
- Only 9 Australian ratings so far, a newer and less proven listing than others here
- Delivery on this listing runs slower than the fastest domestic picks on this list
- Training-focused build has less novelty appeal for a young child than a licensed character set
Key specs: Plastic cricket set, short-handle bat, 4 wickets, 2 bases, 2 bails, kit bag.
CHECK ON AMAZON6. Summit Senior Cricket Set – Best Senior Backyard Set
Every other pick on this list skews toward kids. This one is sized for teens and adults, with a senior bat and full-height stumps built for an actual backyard game between grown-ups, not a set an adult has to crouch down to use properly.
3 Australian ratings at 4.0 stars is the thinnest sample on this list, and only 3 units were left in stock at the time of writing – worth checking availability before building a Boxing Day backyard match around it. The wood construction and carry bag are standard for the category; the age-appropriate sizing is the actual reason to pick this over the junior sets above.
Pros
- Senior-sized bat and full-height stumps, built for adults and teens, not kids
- Wood construction handles a true backyard game better than a toy-grade plastic set
- Includes a carry bag for storage and transport between matches
Cons
- Thinnest review sample on this entire list at only 3 Australian ratings
- Stock has run low on this listing before, worth checking availability first
- No junior-sized components, so it does not suit a mixed-age family game on its own
Key specs: Wooden cricket set, senior bat, full-height stumps and bails, one-dayer ball, carry bag.
CHECK ON AMAZON7. MRF Prodigy Junior Cricket Kit Set with Helmet – Best Premium Pick with Protective Gear
This is the one set on this list built specifically around protective gear, not just a bat and ball – MRF is the brand that has sponsored some of the biggest names in world cricket, and a proper junior helmet included in the kit is the actual reason to spend several times what the toy-grade sets above cost.
Sold through an established Australian sports retailer on Amazon instead of a generic marketplace listing, this suits a junior player moving from backyard games into structured club cricket, where a helmet stops being optional. There is no Australian review history yet on this specific listing, so weigh the brand reputation and the retailer behind it against that lack of local proof.
Pros
- Includes a proper junior helmet, the one real safety upgrade over every toy-grade set on this list
- MRF is a recognised name in cricket equipment, not a generic toy brand
- Sold through an established Australian sports retailer and not an unknown marketplace seller
Cons
- No Australian review history yet on this specific listing
- Priced well above every other set on this list, overkill for casual backyard play
- Overkill for a child not yet playing structured club cricket
Key specs: Junior cricket kit with helmet, size 5, right-handed, includes bat and protective gear.
CHECK ON AMAZON8. Cooee Double Beach Cricket Set – Best for Beach Days and Multiple Players
Cooee doubles up where every other set on this list gives you one bat: two full sets in the one box, built specifically for a proper family game on the sand, not one kid batting while three others wait around for a turn.
There is no Australian review history yet on this listing, so this pick rests on the doubled-up format solving a real problem – summer beach cricket with more than two players – over a proven track record. Stumps built for sand need a different approach to grass, so expect to push them in at more of an angle to stop them toppling in soft sand or a stiff onshore breeze.
Pros
- Two full bat-and-ball sets in one box, built for more than two players at once
- Solves the real backyard and beach problem of kids waiting around between turns
- Distinctly Australian-sounding branding for an equally Australian summer tradition
Cons
- No Australian review history yet on this specific listing
- Stumps need a different setup technique in soft sand than they do on grass
- Delivery on this listing runs closer to two weeks than the fastest picks here
Key specs: Double beach cricket set, 2 bats, 2 balls, stumps, carry case.
CHECK ON AMAZONHow to Choose a Cricket Set in Australia
Match the set to the actual age of the kids using it, not the oldest one in the family. A set built for tweenagers, like the Vinson pick above, will feel too heavy and fast for a toddler, and a toddler-oriented set like the Bluey playset will feel flimsy and slow to a ten-year-old. Buy for the youngest regular player and let older kids play down a size and not the other way around.
Think about where the game will actually happen. A hard driveway or a paved courtyard wants a softer ball – foam or windball, not an actual cricket-hard ball – or expect a broken window sooner rather than later. Grass gives you more room to use a firmer ball safely, and sand needs stumps rated for it, which is the entire point of a dedicated beach set like the Cooee pick above.
Decide how many players actually need to swing a bat at once. A single-bat set works fine for two kids taking turns, but three or four kids standing around waiting gets old fast. A double set, like the Cooee pick, solves this directly over relying on everyone being patient.
Consider whether this is the start of something more structured. If a backyard set is truly the first step toward club cricket, not just Christmas holiday fun, look at a kit with real protective gear, like the MRF pick above, and have a look at Cricket Australia’s junior club pages for how the pathway from backyard to club actually works in most states.
Check what is loose in the box before young children are anywhere near it. Bails, small stumps caps and hard balls are all true choking or impact risks for a toddler or a crawling baby, and they scatter easily on grass where they are hard to spot. The ACCC’s free Choke Check tool is worth five minutes if you are buying a set for a household with very young children in it.
Factor in what else the day actually needs. A backyard or beach cricket session rarely happens in isolation – it is a whole afternoon, which means shade, drinks staying cold and somewhere comfortable to sit between overs. Our guide to the best esky in Australia covers the other half of a proper beach or backyard day out.
You’ll Also Want
A cricket set rarely stays the only piece of gear in the bag for long.
A cricket and multi-sport rebounder net gives a solo kid somewhere to bowl at and field the return without needing a second player standing around, actually useful for practising between backyard matches.
A spare soft practice ball is worth keeping in the bag once the one that ships with a set inevitably ends up lost in the garden or over the fence – most sets on this list only include one or two.
If cricket is one part of a bigger backyard setup, our guide to the best trampolines in Australia covers the other major piece of outdoor kit most families end up buying around the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cricket set in Australia for a backyard game with young kids?
For ages under 8, prioritise a lighter bat and a soft ball over a full-size, hard-ball set – both the Bluey wooden playset and the Gunn and Moore kids set in this guide are built specifically for that younger bracket. A softer foam set, like the Nerf pick, suits an even younger or more cautious player, especially if the game is happening close to a house instead of out in open space.
Do I need a hard ball or a soft windball for backyard cricket?
A soft windball or foam ball is the safer default for any game near a house, a car, or young children, since it will not break glass or cause real injury on a mishit. A proper hard cricket ball belongs on open grass with older, more experienced players, and most of the sets in this guide deliberately ship with a windball and not a hard ball for exactly this reason.
What age is a junior cricket set actually suitable for?
Most junior sets fall into rough age bands: toddler sets like the Bluey playset suit ages 3 to 6, mid-range kids sets like the Gunn and Moore pick suit ages 4 to 8, and tweenager-specific sets like the Vinson pick are built for ages 8 to 12. Check the specific age range on the listing, not assuming any junior set fits any child, since bat weight and length both scale with the target age.
Is it worth buying a cricket set with a helmet included?
Only if a child is moving from casual backyard games into more structured or competitive play, where a hard ball and real bowling speed make head protection properly necessary. For casual backyard cricket with a soft ball, a helmet is unnecessary overhead cost – the MRF pick in this guide is built for the structured-play case specifically, not for a Boxing Day backyard match.
How do I stop cricket stumps falling over on grass or sand?
On grass, push stumps in at a slight angle instead of perfectly vertical, which gives them more resistance against a direct hit. On sand, push them in deeper than feels necessary and angle them slightly against the prevailing wind direction, since loose sand gives far less grip than compacted soil and a stiff beach breeze will topple an upright stump on its own.
Can adults use a junior cricket set, or do they need a separate senior set?
A junior set will generally survive an adult using it occasionally, but the bat will feel short and light, and stumps sized for kids can look almost comically small next to an adult batter. For a real adult or mixed-age backyard game, a senior set like the Summit pick above is built with a full-length bat and full-height stumps specifically for that purpose.
Verdict
Across eight cricket sets sourced through one Australian retailer, age and surface decide more than brand or price: the Bluey and Gunn and Moore picks suit younger kids on grass, the Vinson set is the strongest all-rounder for tweenagers, and the Cooee double set solves the very real problem of more than two kids wanting to bat at once on a beach day. Buy for the softest ball and youngest player in the group, not the biggest name on the box, and the actual game will go better than the packaging promises.
