I've found that Ebay is one of the best places for buying a cricket bat. Like most things in life and on Ebay the more you pay the higher quality the bat is. There are a number of Rules I recommend you take when choosing a bat. These are:

1. Make sure it is the right bat for you. Go to a cricket store (e.g Kingsgrove or Greg Chappell cricket shops) and get a feel for the bats. Decide what size and weight is best for you before buying your bat. Also if you have some friends with bats, see if you can use them in a nets session to see which style of bat you play best with.
 
    Here is a cricket bat sizing chart:

                                                               Bat size                                                Batsman's height
                                    
                                                                 1                                                           Up to 4 ft 3in                       
                                                                 2                                                           4ft 3in to 4ft 6in  
                                                                 3                                                           4ft 6in to 4ft 9in
                                                                 4                                                           4ft 9in to 5ft
                                                                 5                                                           5ft to 5ft 3in
                                                                 6                                                           5ft 3in to 5ft 6in
                                                                 Harrow                                                 5ft 6in to 5ft 8in
                                                                 Small Mens (SM)                                  5ft 8in to 6ft
                                                                 Full Size                                                6ft + 


The ideal weight of a Bat really varies from batsman to batsman depending on their style of play. Big strong batsman that strives on scoring from boundaries tend to use heavier bats (take Andrew Symonds and his Gray-Nicolls Monster Predator as an example). These bats usually have thick edges and a big middle. Batsmen that score their runs by working the ball into gaps tend to have lighter bats. The weight of your bat is really up to you. here is my own chart of how I would catogorize the weight of a Small Mens Bat(the most commonly used size.)

                                                              Bats weight                                                  catogory

                                                             Up to 2lb 3oz                                               Very Light
                                                             2lb 3oz to 2lb 6oz                                         Light
                                                             2lb 6oz to 2lb 10oz                                      Medium            
                                                             2lb 10oz to 2lb 12oz                                    Medium-Heavy
                                                             2lb 13oz to 2lb 15oz                                    Heavy
                                                             3lb +                                                           Very Heavy

2.  If you are buying a used cricket bat make sure it hasn't been used for over a season. Cricket bats don't last forever and although there is no exact time a bat lasts, the average amount of use you should get out of a bat before it begins to deteriorate is approximately 3 seasons. Often people buy a bat, knock it in, use it in the nets and then decide it isn't the bat for them. These are the best bats to buy because they are practically new, but they're a lot cheaper because they've been used. The life of a bat really depends on how much time is spent in knocking a bat in. You should never hesitate to e-mail the seller of the bat and ask them questions such as; 'how much use has the bat had' and 'Was it knocked in properly'

3. NEVER BUY FROM INDIA. There are some true bargain cricket bats from India, however there are an awful lot of fakes. Trust me. I have been to india and seen cricket bats myself with Kookaburra and Gray-Nicholls stickers on them, claiming to be 1st Grade English Willow, selling for $40. Willow is expensive. The wood used to make a 1st Grade English Willow bat is worth more than that. It simply doesn't add up. As well as that there can be a number of hidden costs. Your cricket bat will be Taxed 5% Import Duty  and a further 10% GST. Plus there can be fumigation fee's in excess of $100 if you are unlucky. If you are thinking of taking the risk, look out for hidden costs. Often bats from India appearing on Ebay have high postage and some who offer free or cheap postage have very high compulsory Insurance.

4. When it comes to buying a cricket bat one of the important decisions that must be made is whether to go with Kashmir or English willow. Kashmir is considered an inferior wood compared to English and for that reason all the Pro's use English willow bats. Kashmir, however does have its advantages. It is a lot cheaper in comparison to English willow so I would recommend it to juniors or people who don't take their cricket too seriously. The disadvantages of Kashmir willow are that it is Usually heavier and does not last as long as Bats made from English willow.

 I think that it  is Important to point out that not all English Willow bats are better than Kashmir. All willows are graded  (Grade 1 being the best wood) and I believe that 1st Grade Kashmir Willow plays a lot better than 3rd Grade English willow. So i would recommend you choose Grade 1 Kasmhmir Willow over 3rd Grade English, not only because it is superior in play but also slightly cheaper and will most likely have a longer life.

5. Another thing you should do before buying a second hand cricket bat is to set yourself a limit. Don't buy a cheap bat because it is cheap, because it won't be worth it. I suggest that if you take your cricket reasonably seriously you should set a limit between $150 and $350 depending on what bat your after.
I believe the best bats Ebay usually has on offer is Kookaburra, Gray-nicolls and Sommers.

6.  it is a wise idea to start looking a few months before the season begins so you don't fnd yourself bidding on a bat that doesn't suit you because your running out of time and the season is starting soon. Make sure that the bat is right for you. Bats will never run out so don't be in any hurry.

If this guide has helped you in anyway, please click the 'yes' to 'was this guide helpful' and if it wasn't either click 'yes' or don't do any thing : )

Thanks for looking.