Preparing Your Cricket Bat For The Season Ahead
Article Date: 29th February 2004
This advert is part of CSCC Shop 'n Raise
Oiling
For Natural finish (untreated) bats:-
Before use, apply a light coat of raw linseed oil (bat oil) to the face, back edges and toe with the fingers and palm of the hand. Avoid oiling the splice area.
3 or 4 further light coats should be applied to the face, edges and toe at about weekly intervals. Try to clean the bat using fine sand paper before each application. Repeat occasionally if the bat is very dry. After oiling lay the bat flat for a few hours.
For bats with a cover on the face:-
Apply oil as described above, but only to the back, uncovered edges and toe.
For polycoated bats:-
No oiling is required, however, during play the polycoating will wear from the toe area and the exposed willow should be lightly oiled as described above.
- WARNING - DO NOT OVER OIL
- DO NOT STAND THE BAT IN OIL
- DO NOT LEAVE THE BAT IN A VERTICAL POSITION AFTER OILING
- BATS WITH FULL PROTECTIVE COATINGS SHOULD NOT HAVE OIL APPLIED, BUT THEY MUST BE CONDITIONED AS DETAILED BELOW
ALTERNATIVELY - It is possible to fit a clear Anti-scuff or similar cover. This does not negate the requirement to "knock-in" the bat. The cover may assist the durability of the bat, but under no circumstances will it totally prevent surface damage.
KNOCKING-IN
All bats are pressed, however, "knocking-in" is VITAL. This is the process by which the fibres of the willow in the face and edges are compressed together to form a barrier that protects the bat against the impact of the ball. Effective "knocking-in" will significantly improve the performance and increase the lifespan of the bat.
STAGE ONE
The "knocking-in" process should be undertaken carefully using a special bat mallet or an old quality cricket ball. The bat should be repeatedly struck (with gradually increasing force) in all areas where one would normally expect to hit the ball. This conditioning must be performed with patience.
Particular attention should be given to the edges, although the edges or toe should not be struck directly at right angles to the blade. This would be likely to cause damage.
This stage should take in the region of six hours, although it may vary, as every bat is different.
STAGE TWO
The next step is to graduate to the use of the bat to hit short catches with an old quality cricket ball. However, if the seam marks the blade it is necessary to return to "stage one" for further conditioning. This stage should be performed for at least another hour.
Once these steps have been taken, the bat should be ready for use in matches. It is advisable to initially avoid use against the "new ball".
In addition to these steps it is recommended that the purchaser follows closely the "bat care" instructions issued by the manufacturer.
WARNING
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD A BAT BE USED IN MATCH CONDITIONS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE DATE OF PURCHASE.
MAINTENANCE
To maintain your bat in peak condition we recommend you to follow this simple advice.
Don'ts
- Don't expose to extremes of temperature
- Don't leave in Car Boots/Trunks/Interiors for prolonged spells
- Don't over-oil. It is more dangerous to over-oil than to under-oil. Over-oiling adds weight, spoils driving power and may cause rot.
- Don't ever, ever stand the bat in oil.
- Don't allow the bat to become damp.
- Don't misuse or treat carelessly off the pitch, for example at nets, or in changing rooms.
- Don't use cheap hard balls. These will damage the bat.
- Don't continue to play with a damaged bat; this will aggravate the damage to a point where the bat may be beyond repair.
Do's
- Do prepare the bat carefully
- Do store the bat in off-season in a cool dry atmosphere away from excessive heat or damp.
- Do re-oil the bat after any prolonged period of non-use: it's particularly important to remember to do this prior to using in pre-season indoor nets.
- Do inspect the bat regularly for damage in play and repair promptly.
REPAIRS & SERVICE:
In normal use, superficial face and edge marks along with slight surface cracking will occur. This is to be expected; it does not detract from the performance of the bat and may be ignored.
Other damage, such as splitting of the toe as a result of hitting a yorker, or damage caused by a mis-timed shot (which happens to even the best player!) can more often than not be repaired and the repaired bat will continue to give excellent service.
And if you follow all this advice then your bat should hit many a ton for Chipping Sodbury Cricket Club...probably.
