Choosing a Cricket Bat
For a cricket enthusiast the most valuable piece of wood in the world would be his ‘willow’. Owning a good piece of willow is just like having the best set of clubs. People go to serious lengths to keep their bats in prime condition and guard them against any possible harm. That […]
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Choosing a Cricket Bat
For a cricket enthusiast the most valuable piece of wood in the world would be his ‘willow’. Owning a good piece of willow is just like having the best set of clubs. People go to serious lengths to keep their bats in prime condition and guard them against any possible harm. That is why choosing a good bat that you will have fun playing with is very important.
The Willow
For making a really good bat an English willow, called Salix Alba Cearulea, is used. The best type of willow should have around 12- 14% moisture in it. Any less and the wood will become too brittle and crack due to the strain caused by the hard ball. The moisture helps the fibers stretch and not crack.
While transforming raw willow into bats, it is pressed mechanically to reduce it by 5-8mm in size, and get a hardened hitting surface that creates a springboard feel when the hard ball hits it. A good manufacturer should know exactly the amount of pressing the wood needs as too hard a surface dramatically reduces the springboard quality. The hard, thick layer will absorb most of the shock created by the ball and transmit it to the hand through the handle. Similarly, a lightly pressed surface will crack after being struck by the ball and all the shock will be absorbed by the soft wood itself.
To check whether your bat is just the perfectly pressed one it’s advisable to do some hitting with an old soft ball a few times. At the end of which the thing to look for would be the seam marks on the face of the bat. If the marks are slightly visible then ‘Bravo’, you got yourself a keeper, as far as willow goes. If the marks are too deep and look like cracking the wood, then it’s an indication of the bat being too soft and the face is absorbing too much shock. If on the other hand while playing the shot excessive vibration is felt in the hands and no marks are left on the face then it might be a bit too hard. Excessive vibration in the hands, though, can also be caused due to a very stiff handle also so do check for that too. A remedy for a hard bat can be the application of some linseed oil on to the face and giving the bat a few days to absorb it or you might like to get back to the manufacturer and get some professional advice.
The Grain width
The second manufacturing aspect to be kept in mind is the amount of grains the bat has. The ideal number of grains in a bat can be anywhere from 6 to 12 across the face of the bat.
It is, at times, said that a bat with narrow grain is a good bat but that is not entirely true. Such a bat will play good initially, given you are competent with it, but don’t expect it to last long. These are the kind of bats that might get you a good 100 or 200 in an innings but be ready to play the next inning with another bat. Such bats will split very early. If you are looking for a long term relationship then, as mentioned earlier, a grain width of 6 to 12 grains is ideal in a bat once you run it in.
Balance & Feel
Even though the quality of manufacturing in a cricket bat is very important, the ultimate must in a good bat is the feel it has in your hand. It would matter least if the bat is made with the best piece of willow by the best craftsman unless it fells good in your hands. The first thing that a person should look for in a bat is definitely the balance and its pickup. The pick up of the bat describes the center of gravity in the bat. A good indication of balance in a bat is that when you hold it using your normal pick up, it does not feel too heavy. Good balance will determine bat speed and your ability to play shots. So there is truly no point in fretting about the willow if you are not comfortable with the bat in the first place.
Weight & Length
The weight of the bat is important, as it will determine the bat speed. The lighter the bat the easier it will be to move and middle the ball. With a heavier bat you will require more power and it will be hard to middle the ball. However, if you do connect well, a heavy bat will get you the true worth of your shot. Normally batsmen prefer using a light bat when they are in good form and a heavier bat when they are struggling a bit. Heavier bat will reward them for the shot they do manage to play and the lighter bat, during the good days, will give them more options with shot selection.
Apart from the total weight of the bat the style in which the weight is distributed in different areas of the bat is also important. An evenly distributed bat, even if it is heavier in total weight, will have faster bat speed than a lighter bat with a lot of weight in the toe.
The length of the bat should be appropriate to the player using it. A bat that’s too long or too short for you is going to make you miserable in the centre regardless of the other great features it might have. So before buying the bat check its length by holding it while taking up your normal stance.
A longer bat will also mean that the weight will be farther from your hands and it will feel heavier. Such a bat will have a slower bat speed, will take longer to reach the point of impact with the ball and have a lower sweet spot.
The Sweet Spot
The sweet spot is the area in which most of the weight of the bat is placed. The normal sweet spot would be between 4 inches and 12 inches from the toe of the bat. This type of bat will suit a player who can play all the regular shots and doesn’t have an issue with a favorite shot.
A higher sweet spot (5�- 13� from the toe) would suit an opening batsman or one who likes to take on the short pitched stuff off the back foot. A higher sweet spot means faster bat speed, thus playing pulls, hooks and cuts is easier. Lower Sweet spot (3�-11� from the toe) will be good for a driver of the ball.
The placement of the ‘sweet spot’ also depends on the conditions you are playing in. For instance, at the international level, the pitches in Australia and South Africa are generally prepared to give bowlers bounce and pace. A higher sweet spot suits
The Top Quality Brands
Some of the best brands for cricket bats are as follows, in no particular order.
CA Cricket Bats – Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistani captain, prefers CA bats to others.
MRF Cricket Bats – endorsed by Sachin Tendulkar
Bellingham & Smith Cricket Bats - used by quite a few cricketers in South Africa, both at the first class level as well as the international level.
Bradbury Cricket Bats – these bats are hand carved to suit your specifications and they are used by many in the international arena
Laver & Wood Cricket Bats – custom bats handcrafted by James Lever himself.
BAS Cricket Bats – the blaster Vampire model is used by many international players worldwide
WoodWorm Cricket Bats – used by the likes of Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pieterson
Britannia Cricket Bats – players of the caliber of Rahul Dravid and Sehwag wield these bats
Ihsan Sports Cricket Bats – orthodox bats used by stylists like Mohammad Yousuf and bashers like Shahid Afridi.
Slazenger Bats – used by the likes of Ian Bell, Shaun Pollock and Paul Collingwood.
GUNN & MOORE – GM bats are endorsed by the likes of Michael Vaughan
Some things to remember about Bats
All new bats no matter what brand size or model need running in before they are taken out for a serious outing. This will ensure good performance and a long healthy life.
Try avoiding exposing your bat to harsh weather conditions; heat as well as rain and moisture.
While pampering your bat, do not over do it. Less is more when it comes to oiling your bat. A very light coating every few months should be enough
After you get dismissed try keeping it in perspective. It is very rare, if ever, that a bat is responsible for a dismissal. Don’t punish the bat for something it didn’t do. Hitting and throwing is never a good idea.
Lastly, if you have it, use it…and enjoy.
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