A cricket bat has two main parts. Blade and Handle. Blade is made of
special type of willow, specially cricket-bat Willow (Salix, alba var,
caerulea), while the handle is mainly made of cane. Willow wood has been
the traditional material for making blades of cricket bats. This wood is
very stiff, shock resistant, and light weight. Cane is very springy and
light. Cricket bat willows are prepared for harvesting after 12 to 15 years of its plantation. When they are around 1.2 m in circumference at 150 cm above the surface and the height stand at 12 m.
Width and length
- Width: The blade of the bat shall not exceed 4 1/4 inches (10.8cm) at the widest part.
- Length: The overall length of the bat shall not be more than 38 inches/96.5cm in length.
- Width of Protection layer of the blade: Some type of materials are used for covering the blade of the bat to provide strength, protection, or repair. The thickness of these materials shall not exceed 1/16 inches (1.56mm).
Shape
of a Bat
- The main portions of a bat is the blade and the handle. The
handle is cylindrical in shape and blade is flat.
- The handle widens into the blade, a broad wooden block flat on
one side and V-shaped on other side.
- The flat side part used to hit the ball.
- The joint where the handle widens into blade is called the blade
of the bat.
- The bottom part of the blade is known as toe.
English Willow or Kashmir Willow-- Willows can be of so many types and varieties, but English willow and Kashmir willow are two most in use.
- English Willow: It is soft and fibrous wood. It offers magnificent rebound performance when the ball strikes the middle of the bat. Top order batsmen and beginners are advised to use English willow bats
- Kashmir Willow: Though it has similar characteristics to English Willow, but it is harder, denser, more brittle, and therefore less responsive, when the ball strikes the middle of the bat. Kashmir Willow bats are excellent for lower order batsmen and they offer excellent value for money
The English willow used is of different grades for players of different levels.
- Test Grade willow: It is the best
of English Willow, and is usually reserved for manufacturers own
pro-players. Generally used by Professional Cricketers. This grade
is used for manufacturing special edition bats found in exclusive
specialist cricket stores.
- Grade I willow: It is considered
the best willow for producing "high end" retail cricket
bats, used by Professional and First Team Club Cricketers.
- Grade II willow: It is also a high
quality willow, used by First and Second Team Club Cricketers.
- Grade III willow: It is used for
manufacturing most non-covered retail cricket bats . Less responsive
than the higher grade willow bats. Mostly used by club cricketers.
- Grade IV willow: It is normally used for manufacturing budget cricket bats having many imperfections. They are less responsive and generally used by beginners.
- After buying your bat, hit the bat firmly around 45 minutes to
an hour with a mallet.
- Oiling a bat is essential but over oiling will badly affect the
performance of the bat. Never oil the splice of the bat as it may
soften the glue around that.
- After having finished the knocking session, start a net session
using an old soft ball. At first you should bat defensively
attempting to hit the ball in the middle of your bat.
- Surface cracking or "crazy cracking" is normal and
will not affect the performance of your bat, however the application
of anti-scuff sheet will help minimize any surface damage
- During off season, store your bat in a cool dry atmosphere, flat and facing up. Be sure that it is well away from any heat or dampness.
