CRICKET BAT CARE
A FEW THINGS YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHEN PURCHASING A CRICKET BAT:
- Bats are made of a natural material & have an incredibly hard task of hitting a solid Cricket Ball repeatedly.
- A cricket bat is not going to look new forever & cracks will appear.
- Cracks can occur during the knocking-In process & do not necessarily resemble a fault/defect
- Cracking may be an indication of insufficient knocking-In, improper preparation/use, soft willow etc
- A small amount of cracking is normal & has no impact on the performance of the bat. These can usually be sanded down
- The lifespan of a bat depends on the amount of use & care taken.
- Added protection such as Protective/Anti-Scuff & Toe Protection is highly recommended for enhanced longevity
- Some bats may require more/less preparation than initially advised.
- Knocking-In time is a general guide & does not mean that once you have completed the hours that your bat is ready, for example, if your knocking-In has not been performed up to standards you could spend 20+ hours on your bat and it may still not be ready.
- The price of a bat does not reflect the potential longevity of the willow. In fact, the more expensive bats are made of softer willow & though they will outperform cheaper bats, they may not last as long.
CRICKET BAT CARE
- Ensure that your bat is properly knocked in and prepared before use.
- Store your bat in a bat sleeve when not in use.
- Service your bat at least once every four months or at the start of a new season.
- Make sure your bat is clean before use by wiping it with a damp cloth to remove loose dirt.
- Use only refined RAW Linseed oil to “oil” your bat. Do not over oil – once in four months should be fine.
- Ensure the toe guard is in good condition to avoid moisture ingress.
- Fit your bat with good quality scuff cover and fiberglass mesh edge tape.
- Inspect your bat regularly for hairline and edge cracks.
- Ensure the grip is in good condition to protect handle bindings. Repair handle bindings immediately when loose.
- Place the bat in a humid environment like a bathroom for 24 hours at least once per month to ensure wood moisture content remains above 12%.