Why Knock-In a Cricket Bat and How is it Done
If you’ve spent any time around cricket, you’ve probably heard the phrase “knocking-in.” You must knock in your cricket bat before using it for the first time.
We are aware that once you buy a new bat, it becomes your most valued item. Some rubbed it. Others keep it with them while they sleep. That much is certain. You want to make sure that a piece of wood is handled properly. The best approach to giving it the best start in life is to knock it in.
As your first step, purchase a bat mallet made exclusively for knocking in cricket bats (hit the link at the bottom of this post). An old cricket ball in a sock will work if you don’t have access to one, but it won’t be as reliable or simple to use.
Start by lightly striking the bat’s face (the flat portion at the front), and gradually increase your force as you go. The mallet shouldn’t be leaving traces on your bat once the face is finished.
The edges of the bat can be worked on once the face is finished.
Please refrain from striking the bat’s toe or edges directly. Replicating the glancing blows the bat would encounter during an inning is the best approach to knock in the edges. Flick the edges of the bat with the mallet at a 45-degree angle.
Another word of caution: avoid striking the bat’s back or the area directly above the splice (roughly the sticker area on the front). Keep it where you would strike the ball during a game.4
