3 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR CRICKET BAT
We are often tempted to mimic certain aspects of our favorite players when watching them play. This includes the bat used, as well as its brand, style of play, and features.
A cricket bat, however, is a significant investment. There are several key reasons why you should maintain it:
– Don’t risk damaging your bat or being disappointed!
– Don’t spend money on repairs or replacements. You’ve spent the money, so make sure you get the most out of it.
– Strong performance is enabled.
Your cricket bat can be made to last longer in three ways:
1. Make sure your cricket bat is well oiled and knocked-in
Oil should be applied to all bats before use. By doing this, it ensures that the blade is moist enough to prevent cracking.
A well-knitted bat is also important. You should knock-in the bat’s face and edges over approximately four-six hours using a ball or wooden mallet. Spreading the process over several days is fine. After that, use an old, high-quality cricket ball in the nets to prepare your bat by playing defensively against slower bowling.
2. Use Bat Face Tape
Cracks are most likely to appear on the bat’s face. Its edges are also prone to cracks.
Taping the edges of your bat is a good idea even if the bat has been properly oiled and knocked-in. This is a risk area, especially against fast bowlers. The bat can also be taped straight away, but it is usually more common to do this after the bat has been used for a while. When small, horizontal cracks appear on the face of the bat after heavy use, that is a sign you should tape it.
Bat tape was often used on the face of the bat by Sachin Tendulkar.
3. Protect the toe
We have talked about the edges and face of the bat so far, but the toe can’t be overlooked!
A ball that strikes an unprotected toe, especially from fast bowlers, can crack. Cracks can extend quite a distance into the blade in some cases.
Toe guards are a simple, yet very effective method of protecting the toe. It is a small but important investment that contributes to the long life of your cricket bat.
With these three steps, you can create a strong cricket bat that will last for years!
