Cricket bat Manufacturing, Making of a cricket bat and ICC cricket bat standards

English Willow tree

We all know that cricket bats are made up of willow wood. Willow trees generally grow in cold climate and hence willow tree will be found in only few parts of the world. United Kingdom, India and Australia continue to be leading bat manufacturers. Different kinds of willow species are found throughout the world and hence the quality of wood varies with species, obviously quality of bat varies with the willow being used.

Kashmiri willows

World famous cricket bat brands are Gunn & Moore (GM), Kookaburra, Gray Nicolls, Slazengar, Salix etc. World famous cricket players have endorsement with these brands. On the whole, England dominates the bat market with majority of cricketers using these British made bats.  Many districts in Kashmir valley of India make their living on bat making however these Kashmiri willows are fighting hard to survive in the international market, As English willows are preferred more than Kashmiri willows.

A crafts man making bats in England

There is misconception in people throughout the world that the brand sticker which they view on the bat is the manufacturer of the bat. But the thing is famous brands purchase bats and markets it.  For example, for years together Sachin Tendulkar was using the bat stickered MRF logo, but the actual manufacturer of the bat is different.

The making of a cricket bat starts with pressing the well cut willow wooden bars by applying heavy pressure so that the playing end form a smooth blade good enough to hit the cricket ball. Once this is done a V-cut is made in one end of the bat so as to make room for the handle to be inserted. Later, handles are inserted in the V-cut and well-fixed with the help of glue. Later using the usual carpentry tools the edges and handle is processed to bring a standard shape. Once everything is finished the handle is gripped and sent for pasting stickers.

Handle

V- Cut Made to insert handle

Attached handled

The cost of the bat is decided on the type of the willow used and how much work went in to it.  Costly willows will generally well undergo neat process to make bats of world standards. Bat manufacturers need to be always conscious about the ever revised ICC rules to be fit in the Industry. 

Well finished bat

Cheapest cricket bats can be found in India, because people in India play cricket everywhere like schools, streets, beaches and so on. Since no standard bats are needed for this purpose, Bat manufacturers in India make bats of various standards to fit the people need.

There are no restrictions or rules for weight of a cricket bat. But the height and width of a cricket bat is restricted by the ICC and blade of the bat should be of only wood ( Aluminium blades are banned by ICC). The height of the bat should not go beyond 38 inches and width should not go beyond 4.25 Inches.

Stickered finished bat