Some cricket fans would argue that the cricket bat is the most important piece of cricket equipment there is. Without it, runs could not be scored, and the intricate battle between bowler and batter would be non-existent. Because of its major influence on the sport over the years, we thought it proper to take a look at how the cricket bat has evolved.
Modern day cricket fans will likely recall the first mention of a cricket bat in 1624, which back then more resembled a hockey stick. The story details the unlucky fate of a fielder who was fatally struck in the head as a result of a batsman’s attempt to prevent him from catching a ball he’d obviously popped into the air.
Sadly, in the nearly four hundred years since that first fatality, other incidents involving bats have contributed to a healthy share of injuries, and in December 2007, at least one other fatality.
These were primitive times for the sport, when bowlers threw underhand and there were no standards and regulations to define what materials could be used and what the size and dimensions of a cricket bat should be. Today, those dimensions are strictly regulated, with a bat’s blade having to be no more than 108 mm wide and a total length of 970 mm or less.
There is no standard as to how much a bat should weigh, though typically they average between 1.4 and 1.4 kg. Strangers to the sport might think the bats look more like paddles or short oars, but the amount of science, engineering, and craftsmanship involved in modern bat design is extensive.
The establishment of willow as the wood of choice used to make cricket bats began in the early 1800’s, when round-arm bowling became the rule rather than the exception. This is the same wood whose bark powder has been touted throughout history as a remedy for fever. Today, a special hybrid of “cricket-bat willow” is cultivated specifically for producing bats.
Willow is well-known as a strong, lightweight wood that doesn’t rot or splinter easily, outstanding qualities for an instrument used to whack a hard leather ball traveling at more than 90 miles per hour for about 100 meters. Bat design continues to evolve, and recently manufacturers have created carbon
A new bat is a piece of cricket equipment that requires a little preparation to prepare it for daily use. Professionals usually treat a bat once a season with linseed oil and “knock-in” the lower six inches of brand new bats with a soft mallet at a 45-degree angle to compress the fibers and strengthen the wood gradually before facing bowlers with it.
Caring for cricket bats is relatively simple, the most important point being that bats cannot be stored in areas where they would dry out, as in car boots or next to a heat source. The best place to store bats is in a cool, dry environment that allows them to “breathe” in a small amount of natural moisture.
