How to choose right cricket bat for you

We will discuss about best cricket bat for leather ball and how to choose it. I will be shading lights on every aspect from price to weight so that it will be easy for you to choose the right one for you.

Cricket is the most played game in some Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka. The amusing fact about cricket is that its origin is in Europe, where it was played first. The game was played in the 16th century in England, and by the start of the 18th century, it gained so much popularity that it became England’s National game.

After the UK, Australia was the next one who adopted and loved the game. The first International test match was played between England and Australia in 1877 in Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia won the test match.

Australia continued its dominance in world cricket as Sir Donald Bradman started playing for Australia in 1928, and he retired in 1948 with a batting average of 99.9.

History of Cricket Bats

In the initial days, bats used to look more like an ice hockey sticks than a modern-day cricket bats. Cricket bats went through many transformations to look what it looks and feels today.

Laws of Cricket Bats (what is the legal size of cricket bat)

Law 5 of the Laws of Cricket state that the length of the bat may be no more than 38 in (965 mm), the width no more than 4.25 inch (108 mm), the overall depth no more than 2.64 inches (67 mm) and edge no more than 1.56 inch (40 mm). Bats typically weigh from 2 lb 7 oz to 3 lb (1.1 to 1.4 kg) though there is no standard or ICC rule for bat weight.

Here are Some Players and their Bat weight

• Virat Kohli uses a bat that typically weighs between 1150 to 1170 grams.
• Mahendra Singh Dhoni‘ bat weighs a little heavier than Virat Kohli’s and is more than 1200 grams.
• Chris Gayle uses a bat, even heavier than Mahendra Singh Dhoni, which helps him hit big shots easily. His bat weight is 1.36 kilogram.
• The Little Master Sachin Tendulkar used a super heavy bat that weighed 1.47 kg. Due to the use of a heavy bat, he faced many injury issues, but he was reluctant to give up his habit of using a heavy bat. Though toward the end of his career, he reduced some grams from his bat, but that was still heavy.
• As per records, South African all-rounder Lance Klusener used the heaviest bat (at least in the modern era) that weighed 1.53 Kg.

Who uses the lightest cricket bat in International cricket

• New Zealand’s current skipper Kane Williamson uses a bat that is among the lightest bats used by International players, if not the lightest. His bat weighs 1.19068 Kg. He uses Gray Nicolls MAAX bats.

How to choose the best cricket bat for leather ball

Kashmir Willow Vs English Willow (cricket bat is made up of which wood)

The willow that grows in England and Kashmir are different in nature due to their soil and climate condition. The tree is known as Salix Alba Caerulea. The trees need cold and wet weather to grow. So in India, Kashmir has the best weather for these trees to grow. According to historians, the plantation of these trees in India started in the 1920s.

English Willow Vs Kashmir Willow

The English Willow has more air pockets than the Kashmir willow and that is why English Willow is softer than Kashmir Willow. Having more air pockets gives the English willow more sponginess than the Kashmir Willow.

In 2015 Australian Nation University carried out tests to find out the characteristics of the wood.

The English willow has more water content and looks whitish than the Kashmir willow. The Kashmir willow contains less water content compared to the English willow due to the dry weather in Kashmir.

English willow has a better ball ping distance than the Kashmir willow. Kashmir willow is quite cheaper compared to English willow, but the professional cricketers always prefer English willow over Kashmir willow.

The grains in English willow are quite visible as compared to Kashmir willow. They are almost parallel in English willow.

Also read- When and How ICC cricket World Cup Started

The English willow is divided into 4 grades, from grade 1 to grade 4, depending on the grain structure and weight. Grade 1 being the best quality, and Grade 4 being relatively lower. Nowadays, you can even find grade 5 and even 6 English willow bats. Also, there is a Hand Made grade for English willows.

In grade 1, the grains are more visible, there are more grains, and the line is more parallel between them. The grade 1 English willow bats are whiter than grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4. It has more ping compared to other grades.

Grade 1 English willow bat range starts from around Rupees 10 thousand and can go up to Rupees 50000 thousand. At the same time, Grade 2 starts around Rupees 7 thousand and can go up to Rupees 20 thousand.

Bat Size -How can you find the correct size of cricket bat

Bat Size	Batsman Age	Bat Width	Bat Length	Batsman Height
1	4-5 years	3.5 inches	25.25 inches	4ft 3inch and lower
2	6-7 years	3.5 inches	27.75 inches	4ft 3inch to 4ft 6inch
3	8-9 years	3.75 inches	28.75 inches	4ft 6inch to 4ft 9inch
4	9-11 years	3.75 inches	29.75 inches	4ft 9inch to 4ft 11inch
5	10-12 years	4 inches	30.75 inches	5ft to 5ft 3inch
6	11-13 years	4 inches	31.75 inches	5ft 3inch to 5ft 5inch
Harrow	12-14 years	4.15 inches	32.75 inches	5ft 5inch to 5ft 7inch
Full Size( Short Handle)	15+	4.25 inches	33.5 inches	5ft 8inch to 6ft 3inch
Full Size( Long Handle)	15+	4.25 inches	34.4 inches	6ft 3inch and above

Most of the International cricketer uses Full Size (Short Handle) cricket bats.

What is a harrow cricket bat

Harrow cricket bat is especially for 12 to 14 years kids with a height between 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches. Bat length is 32.75 inches or 83.185 Centimeter with 4.15 inches width.

How to make a bat lighter

• You can peel the bat to lighten the bat but always keep in mind that you do it from a professional. It’s a specialist job, and to save some bucks, do not ask an unprofessional to do the job. Your bat will need sanding and buffing after some peeling process.
• With the help of a wooden mallet, you can knock the bat. It will increase the ping and reduce the weight from 2 to 5 percentage.
• You can remove your stickers, and it will reduce some weight, a little, though.
• You can add an extra grip, it won’t reduce the bat weight, but it will feel a little lighter to your hand. Most international cricketers use a double grip on their bat handle.

How to oil a Cricket Bat

The cricket bat is oiled to keep its moisturizing contact intact. Linseed oil is used for oiling, which you can find in any sports shop or even online. Remember, oil the bat only with the specified oil. People inadvertently or knowingly use mustard oil and coconut oil for bat oiling; this will spoil your sitting.

50 ml oil is enough for a bat, do not use more oil than that. Remove all the stickers off the bat before oiling, and rub the bat lightly with sandpaper to allow it to absorb the oil well. After oiling, keep the bat in the upright position for 2 to 3 days, and after that, let it dry in the sun for 15 minutes. Do not keep the bat in the sun for too long. Then knock the bat with the old ball, do not use a new ball because it will harm your bat.

How to do knocking

• Always use a flying master or an old leather ball for knocking the bat. Never use an iron hammer or a new leather ball. This will damage the fibre of your bat.
• Do not beat the wooden mallet too hard on the bat while knocking, this can harm your bat.
• Knocking is done only on the front part of the bat, never knocking the back and sides of the bat.
• Do not keep the mallet and bat at 90 degrees while knocking, if possible, tilt the mallet slightly.

Is it necessary to knock in a new cricket bat?

Yes, it is quite necessary to knock a new cricket bat, and if you start playing without proper knocking, then the chances are high that your bat may crack too early, and it will not have the same ping, which it could have offered with a proper knocking.

How cricket bat handles are made

Both the cricket bat and the handle are made separately, and both are added later. The main reason for this is that the cricket bat’s material and the material of the handle are different. Cricket bats are made from Kashmir willow or English willow, while the handle is made from cane. The main reasons for it are

• The cost-effective- Making handles from willow will increase the cause significantly as there will be a huge wastage of material.
• Flexibility- Making handles out of cane gives bats more flexibility. Canes are highly flexible material. That is why it absorbs the shock when the ball hits the bat, and very low vibration is transformed to your hands, making your batting more comfortable.

Bat handles are normally made of by adding 4 cane splices and the rubbers in between. They are all glued with a special gum and are left for some time to clings to each other well. When they cling to each other, they are given a rounded shape with a machine’s help.

Once the handle is made, a mail part is made on one side of it and a female part is made in the bat and both are then joined by hand and later by machine.

The bottom of the handle is cut into the V shape and a piece of V shape is removed from the upper part of the blade of the bat. The shoulder of the bat is cut after the handle is fitted to the bat.

After the handle is fitted and given the desired shape, the threading work is done. The threading gives a better strength to handle and provides adequate friction for the bat grips to remain at their place. Typically a bat grip weighs from 50 grams to 70 grams.

Most of the cane materials in India is imported from Singapore in India. If your bat blade is in good condition, but your handle is shaking or damaged, then take your bat to an export that will remove the old handle and give it a better new handle.

Best Cricket Bat Brands in India

Some famous Bat makers in India

Wrapping Up

If you are thinking of buying a cricket bat, then the first thing that you have to decide is your budget. If your budget is above 4000, I will advise you to take a Grade 2 or Grade 3 bat of English willow. On the other hand, if your budget is below 4000, I will advise you to go with Kashmir willow.

Kashmir willow also has many grades, and in 4000 Rupees, you will get the best grade of Kashmir willow. However, buying a grade 4 English willow bat is not a wise task, as it is almost the same as an all-purpose Kashmir willow. And practically, ping is also less than the high-quality Kashmir willow.

The second thing is that you should buy bat online or from the shop?

If you are very sure about a bat, you can get it online because the first rule of buying a cricket bat is that you should get the feel right factor when you grab the bat. That means its weight, its balance, its gripping should all be comfortable for you. Only then you should buy a bat for yourself.

The bat, which is good for me or someone else, may not be necessarily right for you because the dimensions of the bat also matter according to height and health.

Always carry your batting gloves when you go out to buy bats because you will be holding your bats with gloves in matches or practice sessions, not with your bare hands.

If you are not a professional cricketer and playing at the club level, you won’t be buying cricket bats regularly. So think before buying, consider all the points above, and invest smartly.

If you are buying online then make sure that the bat size and grade are perfect for you, especially the bat size. The chart above will help you to choose the right size for you.

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