The key to feeling secure at the wicket and at ease facing whatever a bowling attack has to offer is having the correct style of cricket bat to fit your game and your game’s abilities. While teammates may come and go in the crease, your bat will always be by your side and truly grow to be your pride and delight. For this reason, it’s crucial to conduct some research before buying a new cricket bat so that you are aware of exactly what you’re getting and how it might improve your performance. Learn as much as you can about the bat and its specifications before making an investment because it can pay off right away. For this reason, it’s crucial to conduct some research before buying a new cricket bat so that you are aware of exactly what you’re getting and how it might improve your performance. Learn as much as you can about the bat and its specifications before making an investment because it can pay off right away.
Construction of a Cricket Bat
Cricket bats are either handmade or machine made. A cricket bat blade is a wooden block with a ridge on the reverse (back) that concentrates wood in the middle where the ball is typically hit. The bat is traditionally made of willow wood, specifically a variety of white willow known as cricket bat willow, which has been treated with raw (unboiled) linseed oil, which serves as a protective coating. This willow variety is used because it is very tough and shock-resistant, not denting or splintering on the impact of a high-speed cricket ball, and it is also light in weight. The user frequently covers the face of the bat with a protective film.
A splice joins the blade to a long cylindrical cane handle that resembles a tennis racquet from the middle of the 20th century. The handle typically has a rubber grip covering it. A wooden spring is used in bats where the handle meets the blade. Charles Richardson, a student of Brunel and the first Chief Engineer of the Severn Railway Tunnel, created the modern design of the cane handle attached to a willow blade through a tapered splice in the 1880s. Before this, spliced handles were utilized, but they frequently broke at the corner of the join. This issue is solved by the taper, which offers a more gradual transfer of weight from the bat’s blade to the handle. The bottom of the blade, also known as the toe of the bat, and the edges of the blade closest to the handle are referred to as the shoulders and to of the bat, respectively.
Bats did not always have this form. Prior to the 18th century, bats frequently resembled modern hockey sticks in shape. This might have been a holdover from the game’s purported roots. Although the origins of cricket are unknown, it’s possible that shepherd’s crooks were formerly used to play the game. The bat on exhibit in the Sandham Room at The Oval in London, which is usually considered to be the oldest bat still in existence, is dated 1729.
All You Need to Know About Cricket Bats
Having trouble making your cricket bat selection? If so, this is the page for you to go through and become knowledgeable about choosing a cricket bat. Finding the ideal cricket bat might be difficult, particularly if you don’t know exactly what you want. This cricket reference page aids the user in understanding the various cricket bat types, materials, brands, performance, and other factors.
Cricket Bat Size
When you first start out, cricket bat sizes can be bewildering, but for experienced players, most bats are about the same size. Finding the ideal bat for a junior will be more difficult. The same way that your children are always outgrowing their shoes, so too will they be with their cricket bats. Let’s hope they land a significant IPL deal someday to make up for all the junior bats you gave them. The “SH” variant makes up the bulk of bats that are sold. They are known to be full size, ideal for adult batters up to about 6’3″ or even 6’4″, but having a short handle. For those who require a little extra length, “LH” bats are a nice option. They have an additional inch or so inside the handle, which can improve both grip and bat reach. An LH bat may be suited for larger cricketers, but they are not required.
Observing bats up close might be confusing. The fact that the majority of adult bats only have the designations SH or LH may be one of the things you find challenging to comprehend when searching. Both of these are “adult” sizes. For their bats, certain manufacturers have slightly varying standards and suggestions. For everyone over 6′ tall, Gray Nicholls really suggests using an LH bat. It’s a good idea to try out a few bats and perhaps borrow your friends’ bats for a brief knock to determine which one suits you the best.
Cricket Bat Weight
The bat is undoubtedly the most crucial piece of cricket equipment for a batsman. The weight of the cricket bats used by professional players ranges from 2.7 to 3.2 pounds on average (1.3kg to 1.45 kg). A cricket bat’s weight varies based on its size and composition. The performance of the bat is not always determined by its weight. The ICC has established a number of regulations for the cricket bat. For instance, the Marylebone Cricket Club’s laws 5.1 through 5.8 outline requirements for the cricket bat’s material, handle size, thickness, width, and depth, as well as what kind of material should be used to repair the bat. Yet, the ICC makes no weight restrictions for a cricket bat. This implies that a bat can be as heavy or light as a cricketer desires. There isn’t much room to change the weight of the bat because of the restrictions placed on the bat’s size and substance. As a result, the majority of cricket bats weigh between 1.3 and 1.45 kg. A cricket bat may end up being somewhat lighter or slightly heavier than the previously indicated range even though this is a general range.
The experts typically agree that a cricket bat should weigh between 2.8 and 3.2 pounds (1.3 to 1.45 kg). Players can choose a bat from this selection that is easy for them to grasp and control and that has the sweet spot in a natural hitting position. It’s crucial to remember that the appropriate weight range can change according on preferences and playing style. Because a lighter bat enables better control and a quicker swing, some players might prefer it. These athletes may decide to use a bat that weights no more than 2.8 pounds (1.3 kg). Nonetheless, other players could favour a heavier bat, which increases the force of the hit but slows down the swing of the player. Some guys might select a bat that is closer to 3.2 pounds in weight (1.45 kg).
Cricket Bat Materials
Willow wood has traditionally been used to make cricket bats. This wood is the best because of its fibres and general strength, and its durability is a key consideration. Which willow is the best is a topic of discussion: Kashmir willow is also available, but English willow is more frequently utilised in manufacturing. You can choose between an English willow cricket bat and a Kashmir willow cricket bat depending on the cost and usage of cricket players.
Cricket bats made of English willow are softer than those made of Kashmir willow. Compared to Kashmir willow cricket bats, English willow cricket bats have a sweet spot (punch) that is more dynamic. England is where the English willow cricket bat is made. The English Willow bat has a reduced moisture content. are hence more expensive than Kashmir willow bat. Cricket bats made of English willow are frequently used by club and international players worldwide. English willow cricket bats are the best option if you’re serious about your game of cricket and want to improve your performance. All international cricket players, including Steve Smith, MS Dhoni, Alastair Cook, and Virat Kohli, use English willow bats.
The Kashmir Willow cricket bat is made in India, which has more drier soil. Cricket bats made of Kashmir willow have a lot heavier raw material than those made of English willow. The Kashmir willow cricket bat has more deeply embedded grains. Compared to English willow bats, these bats have a less dynamic sweet spot. Comparatively speaking, Kashmir willow bats are less expensive than English willow bats. Thus, junior level and rookie level cricket players use these bats.
Cricket Bat Brands
Let’s look into some of the popular cricket bat brands which have made their identity in the cricket world.
Gunn & Moore Diamond – Best Signature Bat
Many of the best bats on the market are produced by some of the smaller manufacturers, but occasionally the giant names release a true treasure. This Diamond bat is precisely that. For the casual cricket player, it is a little on the pricey side, but if you want a gorgeous pickup and a well-made bat, this is right up there with the finest. The willow used in all GM LE bats is outstanding Grade 1, and it is difficult to discover any noticeable flaws in the bat. The bat also seems a touch less dense than some of the other options available on the market. The bat’s 555mm length, which is around 10mm longer than most other bats, is a result of Stokes’ desire for a longer blade. Additionally, it has a high spine that was created by GM using their “GMX” manufacturing process in an effort to aid players in producing even greater power. At about 2lbs 11oz, the bat is on the heavier end of the spectrum.
Millichamp & Hall F100 SE
The F100 bat is an exquisite piece of art. It is incredibly well-made and serves as more evidence that the M&H brand is one of the greatest small producers of cricket bats. Cricket players from England, like Jack Leach, wear the brand. The F100 is referred to by the brand as the “peak of M&H’s craftsmanship.” Along with having excellent pickup, it also has wide edges to assist the ball fly even when you don’t exactly centre it and a tapered toe to aid in power generation. It works well for hitting the ball to all regions of the ground. This bat also has a noticeable bow, which can help you understand the power a little more.
Viking Cricket Jorvik
For club cricketers (and village cricketers who don’t mind spending a little more), Viking Cricket is a relatively small(ish) brand that produces some excellent bats. They have received much praise, including inclusion in The Telegraph magazine’s list of the “top 7 best bats of 2017.” The Yorkshire-based company named its bats after the area’s Viking heritage. They grow the English willow they use in Suffolk (a lot of English Willow is). The Jorvik is a pretty impressive bat from an independent company that obviously takes a lot of time and care to give their customers high-quality, hand-made bats. It has a low centre and is another bat that works well in English circumstances. It feels fantastic in the hand.
Prophecy Vision
For those looking for an English Willow cricket bat that won’t break the bank, the Prophecy Vision is a fantastic choice. These bats play nicely and have a really clever, user-friendly design. There may be the occasional flaw in the Grade 1 English Willow wood, but it is almost always of a very high calibre. That bat is designed to allow you to play big shots comfortably. It includes a mid-blade swell that is made to make it easier for you to perform a variety of shots.
Cricket Bat Maintenance
Given that collision speeds can exceed 100 mph, it is only natural for all cricket bats to experience wear and tear during use. Surface cracking on the face and edges of the blade as well as discoloration are signs of normal wear and tear, and in these situations the performance of the bat is unaffected. On the other side, damage can be brought on by abuse, poorly timed strokes, improper storage, poor maintenance, usage with inferior cricket balls, and use in rainy weather.
It is crucial that your new cricket bat be properly prepped (knocked in) and maintained if you want to get the most out of it. You must do the following steps to maintain your bat once it has been knocked in:
- Store at a temperature that is generally steady.
- Avoid being in rainy circumstances.
- Avoid using them against inexpensive, inferior balls.
- Avoid driving Yorkers crazy.
- Avoid over-oiling the bat.
- Avoid taking too many improperly timed photos.
Conclusion
While it’s fascinating to examine the different parts of a cricket bat, I also believe it’s critical that we comprehend them and their purposes. As batsmen, it is our responsibility to maintain our tools, thus it helps to understand why we need to oil and knock in the cricket bat when we are aware of its functional components.
Hopefully, now that everything has been explained, you can begin to understand how your most vital piece of equipment works and how it functions.
