In a game of Cricket, whether your main job on the side is to bat, bowl, or keep wickets you’re going to need a Cricket Bat. Cricket Bat The bat consists of two parts, a handle, and a blade. The bat overall shall not be more than 38 inches/96.5cm in length. The blade of the bat shall be made solely of wood and shall not exceed 41⁄4 in/10.8cm at the widest part.
One end of the handle is inserted into a recess in the blade as a means of joining the handle and the blade. The part of the handle that is then wholly outside the blade is defined to be the upper portion of the handle. It is a straight shaft for holding the bat. The remainder of the handle is its lower portion used purely for joining the blade and the handle together. The handle is to be made principally of cane and/or wood, glued where necessary and bound with twine along the upper portion. The upper portion may be covered with materials solely to provide a surface suitable for gripping. Such covering is an addition and is not part of the bat.
Kashmir willow cricket bats are made from Willow. This wood has the characteristics of being hard wearing, relatively light, and easy to sand and carve into shape. The willow used in Cricket bat manufacture hails from two main areas i.e., England and Kashmir. The former is the traditional home of bat manufacture and the willow from England is often given a high star rating. Bats from Kashmir are also very robust to use and they are generally cheaper.
No two bats will feel exactly the same in your hands, even if they are of the same weight and handle length. Each piece of wood used in bat manufacture is unique. The lighter the bat, the quicker you should be able to maneuver it in the air. On the other hand, the heavier a bat, the more impact it may have on the Cricket ball. Most hard-hitting, powerful batsmen tend to use heavy bats.
You need to consider three important points when making your Kashmir Willow bat selection:
1. The weight of the bat - The weight can vary from just over 1000 grams to 1400 grams. It may not sound like much of a difference.
2. Length of the bat handle - Bat manufacturers offer 2 types of handle sizes i.e., Short and Long. Which type you go for depends upon your grip on the bat and the size of your hands. If you have great big hands and space them out on the handle when gripping it, you need a long handle. If you have dainty little paws and have relatively little room on the handle, a short handle may be for you. Have a look both sizes & you’ll soon feel which one is right for you.
3. Size of the Bat – Cricket Bats comes in various sizes ranging from 1 to Full Size. Full-sized Cricket bats are too big for junior and for short players. You can select your bat size based on your height and age. For younger children, bats sizes start from Size 1 and go up to Size 6. Special size for youth also exists and referred as “Harrow Size” which is just a touch smaller than full size.
The vast majority of Cricketers buy their bats off the shelf. They hunt around the shops for one that feels just about right. Some Cricketers, though, go the extra mile and pay for a manufacturer to make a bat to their own specifications. A specially made bat is normally as good as it gets, but buying off the shelf can be no bad thing. The standard of bat manufacture is high and you should be able to find a bat that is just right for you. If you’re relatively new to the game, getting a bat specially made is pointless. Only with experience of playing matches will you become aware of what weight and handle size suits you. Often when buying the first bat, as an adult, it’s best to go for Kashmir Willow Cricket bat and one around a medium weight. Even if, your main job in the team is bowling or wicket keeping the Captain still expects you to be able to bat. In fact, one great way to get in the Captain’s good books is by being a bowler who is a bit of a dab hand at batting. After all, the more runs your team scores the better the chances are of it winning Cricket matches.
