Gray Nicolls is an English sports equipment and apparel company which specializes in manufacturing goods for cricket. The company traces its roots to racket-making company G.J. Gray and Sons, a company founded in 1855 by World Racquets champion G.J. Gray, and G.J. “Gary” Nicolls who created bats beginning 1876. It was in the 1940s that the two companies merged to form Gray Nicolls.
A merger of two well-regarded bat manufacturers, it is but natural that the company became known for its high standards and quality cricket bats. It was so popular in the 1950s and 1960s that captains of 5 of the world’s Test playing countries used Gray Nicolls bats.
It was in the 1970s that Gray Nicolls began using colored bat labels. Because of its popularity, other manufacturers followed suit. The company continued to create many innovations, including the revolutionary scoop bat it released in 1974.
Because of the high demand for its products, Gray Nicolls have to expand and create new factories, the first of those was in Melbourne. To meet the demands of its ever growing clientele, the company moved to Robersbridge in the 1990s, an address that it continues to have to this day.
International players who endorse Gray Nicolls include Andrew MacDonald (Australia), Alastair Cook (England), Jean Paul Duminy (South Africa), and Jesse Ryder (New Zealand).