All eyes on the Batsman
Cricket is the second most-watched sport in the world with an audience of 2.5 billion. A game of two halves, one half involves using a bat. In some cases the whole team end up batting for hours and hours. A high score is always the plan. A high score could make a better chance of winning the game, so hitting it hard over the boundary is what the audience expects, with every ball. The bat is the only thing that can make that happen.
Each batsman has his own style and brand and the manufacturers boast about their celebrity customers. Chris gayle is a big hitter and his bat gets a good knock. He has his own brand called Spartan, his bat has larger bow depth and longer handle for grip.
Where is the cricket bat made?
The source of the bat comes from the woodlands of England. English willow and Kashmiri willow from Pakistan has been used to make cricket bats for centuries. The wood is shipped to India and Pakistan to be made in many different brands.
A sign of quality is the grain on the bat. It is usually a mix of hardwood and sapwood which is softer. This alternate surface ensures that it packs a punch. Some bats have more grain than others, the more grains the more expensive it is likely to be. Click here to see a good quality English willow cricket bat
What is the secret to a strong bat?
Even with the quality craftsmanship and best-sourced wood. Batsmen are still signaling after overs, for a replacement bat. Scratches, chips, and cracks can appear and can affect their performance.
So care and attention is needed to make sure the bat is strong enough to last longer. What is the secret?…..
Bat oil.
Many years ago cricketers would soak the bat in oil for a long while to smoothen out any cracks to make supple and last longer, but this is not the right way.
The trick is to use Raw Linseed Oil- just two tablespoons on the face of the bat. Using the fingers instead of cloth to lather the bat. This is enough to keep the bat strong. A cloth would soak more of oil than the bat- making it pointless.
The hardwood needs the oil to prevent and chips and cracks. A second light coat is applied after 24 hours. Followed by a light dab of the cloth to take off the excess.
Kashmir willow is darker as it consists of hardwood whilst the English Willow is very light in colour and thicker in depth. Both need the oil treatment- more so the Kashmir willow because of the hardwood.
Over 50% of bats are returned to manufacturers for repair because the bat has not been sufficiently oiled. Other oils can be used but Linseed oil has been advised because it oxidises and hardens and seals the outer surface of the bat.
Make sure you oil your bat regularly it could save you hundreds. You can buy the oil here….The best oil for your cricket bat
