Cricket Bat Care
Cricket Bat Care
Oiling Your Cricket Bat
Oiling your cricket bat is an integral part of its care. Because numerous manufacturers’ opinion on this aspect sums up the point that on getting bats for repairing, their keen observation regarding the condition of those bats concluded that, round about 50 % of them were not oiled properly and the other ones were excessively oiled up. You ought to look into these steps by following which you can attain the perfect balance in oiling your bat. Use a tiny piece of cloth comprising very soft fabric, apply a thin coat of oil on it and start rubbing it to the face, edges, toe, and back of the bat.After getting done with the oil application you ought to leave your bat in a horizontal direction and let it dry up for 12 hours’ maximum. And after that second coat can be applied. Where you can leave bat for other 12 hours after application. And later your bat is all set to be knocked in. You are supposed to oil your bat properly and on regular intervals because that’s how the wooden fibers can be guarded and your bat tends to get cracks less likely. Also, the bat with an anti-scruff cover doesn’t need oiling on its face but its back does need it.
Knocking your cricket bat:
Knocking-in your cricket bat is one of the important parts of its preparation. Because all of the bats tend to perform way much better in case of being knocked in. The edges, toe, and blade all ought to be well knocked in order to tackle the cricket ball and that’s how it is defended from breakage and damage. This knocking process is supposed to be carried out gradually and carefully in order to ensure the compactness of the wood of the bat and so that fibers can be compressed and knitted together.
Using bat mallet:
Always prefer hardwood bat mallet, gently strike the face and edges of the bat to harden and round these areas. Be careful with not hitting edges, toes, or back of the back so that it can be protected from unnecessary damage. Repeat this process and you will see a gradual increase in the power of your blows. After doing this knocking session for a minimum of 2-3 hours you can test your bat by hitting some short catches from any old cricket ball. And if you get to see marks or smudges on the face of your bat, it is an indicator of needing another knocking process of 4 hours. And after some more practice, your bat is supposed to be ready for performing in a competitive scenario of the game.
Further protection:
Application of fiber tape on the edges of your bat and anti-scuff sheet can be of great help. Also, the wrapping up of your bat from a protective cover positioned at a distance of 3-5mm from its toe can be done and the cover running up the face of the cricket bat along with its finishing just below the branding of a company’s logo.
"Inspect your bat regularly for early signs of damage or dryness."
Pre-knocking in bats:
Although a bat is already ‘knocked in’ but it still requires care and a proper checking before it can be a part of your match and pitch. But this checking procedure isn’t lengthy. Don’t use bat mallet and move straight onto net practice using an old cricket ball to knock it on the face in order to improve the performance of a bat.
Final Tips
- Observe your bat keenly to identify early signs of damage and dryness due to lack of oiling. This can defend your bat from any premature breaking.
- Use a cricket ball of good quality while practicing.
- Be careful with the toe of a bat from getting wet
- During a series of cricket matches and the blade and edges of your bat thoroughly that apply a light coating of oil still if a crack appears on the face and edges sand them out and apply oil.
- If you lack to take care of your bat then damage can happen to it also other conditions that contribute to its destruction can be mistimed strokes, misuse, incorrect storage, lack of care and maintenance, using it against substandard cricket balls, and using it in wet weather conditions along with making it wet. So under all these situations if any damage happens to encountered by your bat, you ought to seek its immediate repair.