What is Cricket For All, what does it offer, and how do you get started?

Cricket For All is an Adelaide cricket centre and online cricket store at Unit 1-2, 621-623 North East Road, Gilles Plains, South Australia. It runs indoor nets and bowling machines, one-on-one coaching and junior academy programs with nationally accredited coaches, junior tournaments and overseas tours, an in-house bat repair workshop, and a retail range of around 1,475 products. To start, call (08) 7095 5777, email enquiries@cricketforall.com.au, or visit the centre.

The rest of this page covers the parts that are hardest to work out on your own: which program suits which age, what the nets actually cost at different times of day, how to choose a bat without overpaying, and what happens after you book.

Which service fits what you need

Most people arrive wanting one of six things. Getting the right one first saves time and money.

If you are not sure, say so when you call. Intake staff sort this out constantly, and the wrong program is an expensive mistake to discover three weeks in.

Coaching and the academy programs

All CFA coaches are nationally accredited. The panel covers different specialities, which matters when the problem is specific.

Coaching is built around scoring runs and taking wickets, taught by replicating game situations rather than drilling technique in isolation. Sessions use video analysis alongside the indoor lanes and bowling machines.

Winter Academy, ages 5 to 12

A term pass includes a free 40-minute one-on-one coaching voucher, which makes it cheaper per session and adds individual attention. The Under 8 program introduces fundamentals through drills and modified games. Under 10 develops skills across all facets. Under 12 adds a weekly theory session before players apply the concepts in competitive scenarios.

High Performance Academy, ages 12 to 17

For players pushing for Premier Cricket, school first XI, representative or state selection. $999.99 per player, covering 7 two-hour group sessions and 5 forty-minute online coaching mentor sessions. Players work with CFA coaches alongside South Australian elite pathway coaches. Entry is by application. Several past participants have gone on to represent South Australia.

The distinction worth understanding: the Winter Academy develops skills in a supportive group setting; the High Performance Academy is a selection-focused environment with individual mentoring attached. Age alone should not decide it.

Using the nets and bowling machines

Rates depend entirely on when you come, and the gap is large.

Bowling machine hire is charged at the same rates. A weekday afternoon session costs half what the same hour costs after 5pm or on a weekend, so if your schedule is flexible, book during the day.

The facility has lanes up to 36m long by 3m wide, is fully air-conditioned and heated, and uses Bola bowling machines delivering up to 145km/h with a swing function. The machines are self-feeding, so solo practice works without a partner.

Bookings are essential and lanes are subject to availability. Maximum six people per net without a bowling machine. No split payments.

Buying equipment

The store carries roughly 1,475 products across brands including Gray-Nicolls, Kookaburra, Gunn & Moore, DSC, SS, SG, TON, New Balance, Masuri, Adidas, Shrey, Aero and Magnium. Flat-rate shipping across South Australia, free shipping on orders over $500.

Choosing willow

The single most common question is English willow versus Kashmir willow.

• English willow is lighter for its size, has better rebound, and is what almost all senior and competitive players use. It needs knocking in before match use.
• Kashmir willow is denser and harder, more durable against poor-quality balls, and considerably cheaper. It suits beginners, juniors growing quickly out of sizes, and social players.

Within English willow, grades run from Grade 1 down. Grade is mostly cosmetic. A Grade 2 blade has more grain irregularity or minor blemishes than a Grade 1, but playing performance comes from grain structure and pressing rather than appearance. A well-pressed Grade 2 bat performs comparably to a higher grade of the same profile, at a lower price. Paying up for cosmetic grade is optional; paying up for the right profile and weight is not.

Bat profile matters more than most buyers realise. A mid-to-low sweet spot suits front-foot players on surfaces with reliable bounce; a higher spot suits bouncier wickets and back-foot play. If you are unsure, this is worth asking a coach rather than guessing from a product page.

Junior sizing

Junior bats are sized by height, not age, and the common error is buying one size up "to grow into". An oversized bat teaches a child to drag the blade through the line rather than swing it, and the habit outlasts the bat.

Bat services

The in-house workshop handles preparation and repair on site. Preparation pricing depends on where the bat was bought.

Bat Match Ready covers oiling, knocking-in, rolling the edges, face protection, edge protection and toe protection.

Repairs range from $50 for a re-sleeve to $165 for a full repair (re-handle, major toe and face repair, shoulder repair, re-sleeve, face clean and new protection). Weight reduction is $100 back-only or $135 front and back. Workshop hours are Monday 6-10pm, Wednesday 5-9pm and Friday 5-9pm.

Every new English willow bat needs knocking in before match use. Skipping it is the most common cause of early cracking, and it is free on bats bought here.

Tournaments and tours

CFA has run junior tournaments in South Australia for over seven years.

• Under 12 Winter Tri-Series - Saturdays 9:00am-12:00pm at Thomas Turner Reserve, $150. Includes 4 matches, coaching, live scoring, contingency training, playing shirt and cap, and a 50% off coaching voucher.
• CFA Super League - Adelaide's biggest pre-season junior tournament, in its 7th year. 6-9 October 2026, ages U10, U12 and U14, T20 matches plus a Skills Masterclass, with CA accredited coaches and umpiring.
• SAMCI Cup - the South Australian Metropolitan and Country Invitational, run with the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association and North Eastern Junior Cricket Association. Returning January 2027 for its 3rd year.
• Darwin 2027 tour - 17 and under, June/July 2027, T20 and One-Day formats in the NT Cricket Junior Strike League. $4,500 per player early bird. Followed by state talent identification managers.

Where to find us and when we are open

Unit 1-2, 621-623 North East Road, Gilles Plains, South Australia 5086.

Phone (08) 7095 5777. General enquiries enquiries@cricketforall.com.au, retail retail@cricketforall.com.au, coaching coaching@cricketforall.com.au.

Some third-party directory listings show different hours. The hours above are the ones published by Cricket For All. Because the centre hosts tournaments and coaching bookings that affect availability, call ahead if you are travelling specifically.

Booking, membership and cancellations

Membership gives unlimited off-peak lane hire and discounted peak-time access, with no lock-in. Given the $25 versus $50 gap between day and evening rates, membership is worth costing out if you train regularly during the day.

Cancellation terms differ between facility hire and coaching:

Common questions about Cricket For All

Do I need to be a member to hire a net?

No. Lane and bowling machine hire is open to anyone at the standard rates. Membership reduces the cost if you train often.

What is the cheapest time to use the nets?

Weekdays between 10:00am and 5:00pm, at $25 per hour. Evenings and weekends are $50.

Can I practise on my own?

Yes. The Bola bowling machines are self-feeding, so a solo session works without a partner or a bowler.

Which academy should my child join?

By age: Under 8 for ages 5-8, Under 10 for 8-10, Under 12 for 10-12, and the High Performance Academy for 12-17. If your child is aiming at representative selection rather than general development, the High Performance Academy is the different thing, not just the older one.

Is English willow worth it over Kashmir?

For competitive senior cricket, generally yes. For a beginner, a young junior still growing, or a social player, Kashmir willow is more durable and much cheaper. Grade within English willow is largely cosmetic.

Do I have to knock in a new bat?

Yes, for any English willow bat. It is free on bats bought from Cricket For All and $50 otherwise.

Do you ship outside South Australia?

Yes. Flat-rate shipping applies across South Australia and free shipping on orders over $500.

Can you repair a bat bought elsewhere?

Yes. The workshop services any bat, though preparation pricing is lower for bats bought at CFA.

How do I enter a tournament?

Registration details and dates are published per tournament. Call (08) 7095 5777 or email enquiries@cricketforall.com.au to be told when registrations open.

Pricing, program dates and trading hours on this page reflect information published by Cricket For All. Programs and prices change between seasons, so confirm anything that affects a booking decision on (08) 7095 5777.