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RSSHow to choose a bat
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For a cricket fan the most important part of wood on the earth would be his ‘willow’. He can go to severe lengths to keep his bats in major condition and guard it against any possible damage. That is why selecting a first-class bat that you will have pleasure playing with is very essential
The Willow-For producing an actually good bat an English willow, called Salix Alba Cearulea, is used. There should be around 12- 14% moisture in the best type of willow. Any less makes the wood too fragile and crack due to the strain caused by the solid ball. The fiber stretches and does not crack with the help of moisture.
To make sure whether your bat is perfectly pressed it’s desirable to do some striking with an old soft ball a few times. After checking it the thing to look for would be the seam marks on the face of the bat. ‘Bravo’, you got yourself a keeper, as far as willow goes, if the marks are slightly visible. If they are too deep and appear like cracking the wood, then it’s a sign of the bat being too soft and the face is engrossing too much shock. If on the other hand excessive vibration is felt in the hands while playing a shot and there are no marks on the face of the bat then it might be a bit too hard. Use some linseed oil on to the face of the bat and give a few days to absorb it, to cure the hardening of the bat.
The Grain width-The next manufacturing feature to be kept in mind is the quantity of grains the bat has. The perfect number of grains in a bat can be somewhere from 6 to 12 across the face of the bat. At times, it is said that a bat with narrow grain is a fine bat but that is not completely factual. This kind of bat will play good in the beginning, but don’t expect it to last long. These kinds of bats might get you a century or double century in an innings but be prepared to play the next inning with a different bat. They split very early. If you want a long term relationship with your bat, a grain width of 6 to 12 grains is perfect in a bat once you start to run it in.
Balance & Feel-Even though importance is given to the excellence of manufacturing in a cricket bat, the eventual necessity in a good bat is the feel it has in your hand. What matters the least is if the bat is made with the best piece of willow by the best craftsman unless it gives a good feeling to your hands. The first thing that a cricketer should look for in a bat is certainly the balance and its pickup. The center of gravity of the bat is described by the pickup of the bat.
