HiTZ x BatFast Shortlisted at Smarter Sports Awards as HiTZ Surpasses 3 Million Balls Delivered

HiTZ is proud to announce that our partnership with BatFast has been shortlisted at the Smarter Sports Awards 2026 in the Smarter Strategic Partnership category.

The recognition places HiTZ x BatFast alongside some of the most respected names in global sport, technology and media, including DAZN and Google Ad Manager, DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and AWS, NHL, NHLPA and LOW6, the Professional Squash Association and PT SportSuite, and TeamSnap and Spectrum.

This is further validation of the model we are building, a scalable, data driven cricket training ecosystem designed to make high quality practice more accessible, more flexible and more engaging for players around the world.

Recognition for a partnership built around access and scale

The HiTZ x BatFast partnership was created to solve a clear problem in cricket, access to consistent, affordable and high quality training.

Traditional cricket training often depends on available facilities, coaches, teammates, weather conditions and manual setup. Together, HiTZ and BatFast are changing that model.

BatFast provides the automated bowling technology, simulation, tracking and product innovation. HiTZ brings the customer proposition, brand, operations, commercial model and venue rollout strategy. The result is a fully connected cricket training experience, where players can book online, access venues independently, face realistic programmable deliveries, and receive data led feedback from their sessions.

Being shortlisted in the Smarter Strategic Partnership category recognises the strength of that collaboration, and the role it is playing in reshaping how cricket training can be delivered at scale.

A year of major consumer traction

Alongside this recognition, HiTZ has reached a major growth milestone.

Thanks to positive consumer traction, HiTZ has now surpassed 3 million balls delivered to a rapidly growing base of more than 20,000 active customers and 1,000 core recurring members.

The business is now operating 14 sites across the UK and Australia, having successfully navigated the complexities of a physical rollout while continuing to prove the mass market appeal of the HiTZ brand.

This traction demonstrates that demand for smarter, more flexible cricket training is not niche. Players want access on their terms. They want measurable improvement. They want training that fits around school, work, club cricket and everyday life.

HiTZ is building that infrastructure.

From UK growth to international demand

The HiTZ brand is now beginning to resonate internationally.

Following strong operational progress across the UK and Australia, global demand for the HiTZ ecosystem is accelerating. The business is advancing strategic Master Licence agreements and partnerships across key cricket markets, including North America, the UAE, India and South Africa.

This momentum reflects a wider shift in the sport. Cricket is becoming more global, more data driven and more commercially sophisticated. Participation formats are changing, training expectations are rising, and players of all levels are looking for facilities that offer flexibility, feedback and year round access.

HiTZ is well positioned to meet that demand.

2026 priorities, scaling the network

As the business moves through 2026, one of the core priorities is rapid lane expansion.

HiTZ is targeting 40 new active lanes across the UK, US, Canada and Australia, increasing its physical footprint and expanding network revenue.

This planned growth supports the wider ambition, to transition from a venue operator into a global infrastructure layer for indoor cricket training. The long term vision is to become the world’s leading technology enabled cricket training platform, connecting players, venues, coaches and performance data across a global network.

Building the future of cricket training

The Smarter Sports Awards shortlist is a proud moment for HiTZ and BatFast. It recognises the strength of a partnership built on shared ambition, complementary expertise and a belief that better access can unlock better cricket.

But the bigger story is what comes next.

With more than 3 million balls delivered, over 20,000 active customers, 1,000 recurring members and 14 sites now operating across two continents, HiTZ is moving from early market validation into scalable growth.

The opportunity ahead is clear, to make data driven, flexible and accessible cricket training available to players everywhere.

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