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MRF Bat Care

ALWAYS OIL AND KNOCK IN YOUR BAT BEFORE USE
If you want your new MRF bat to perform to its full potential please follow the instructions below, if not you must expect a certain amount of damage which is NOT covered by any guarantee or warranty. During the lifetime of a bat some damage will occur and therefore it is impossible to prevent all damage. Each strike of a cricket ball will cause some, often unoticeable damage to the bat. ALL OUR NEW MRF BATS COME WITH A TOE GUARD READY FITTED TO HELP AVOID DAMAGE TO THE EXPOSED TOE OF YOUR BAT.

Oiling Your Bat

The purpose of oiling your bat is to help to soften and bind the surface fibres of the willow during the knocking in process and also prevent the wood from drying out and becoming brittle. By oiling the toe you help to prevent water soaking in which could lead to the toe cracking.

MRF cricket bats require oiling with raw linseed oil or special cricket bat oil. A minimum of two coats (preferably three) should be applied to the bat leaving 24 hours between coats for the oil to dry and soak in. During the drying time the bat should be laid horizontally, out of direct sunlight. A coat of oil is about one teaspoon full, but be especially generous with the oil around the toe area of your bat. However avoid oiling the splice area and the stickers as the oil could loosen the glue. Also NEVER stand the bat in oil or apply too much oil as this will deaden the wood resulting in very poor performance.

Knocking In

Is the process by which the willow fibres on the face and edges are compressed together to form a barrier that protects the bat against the impact of the ball. By properly knocking in your bat you will significantly improve the performance and increase the life of your bat.

STAGE ONE:

(Stage One should take in the region of six hours, although it may vary, as every bat is different.)
Using either a Bat Mallet or an old cricket ball the face and edges of the bat should be repeatedly struck gradually increasing the force. This conditioning must be performed with patience. Do not however strike the edges directly at right angles to the blade, this would more than likely cause damage.

STAGE TWO:

(Stage Two should take at least another hour.)
Now test out the bat by hitting short catches with an old cricket ball. However, if the seam marks the blade it is necessary to return to "stage one". Once these steps have been taken, the bat should be ready for use in matches. It is advisable to initially avoid use against the "new ball".
WARNING UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD A BAT BE USED IN MATCH CONDITIONS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE DATE OF PURCHASE.

NETS - It is advisable not to use a new bat during indoor net sessions or on concrete practice pitches, the ground is often very hard and will increase the risk of damage to the toe of your bat, especialy if you try to 'dig out yorkers' or catch the bat on the floor as you attempt a shot. Damage caused under these conditions is not covered by any bat warranty.

End of Season

At the start and end of each season lightly sand the blade and apply another light coat of oil. Never put your bat away wet as this encourages rotting. Try to store the bat in cool, moist conditions to prevent excessive drying of the willow. Do not keep your bat in your car boot for any length of time as this will dry it out and weaken the willow.

Lifespan of a Cricket Bat

A figure of 1000 to 1500 runs is often quoted but the life of a cricket bat is governed by many factors, including preparation, usage both the amount and style of play and how you care for your bat. The length of time before the player needs to replace his bat will depend upon:
a) The amount of use
b) The weight of the bat (heavier blades tend to be more durable than lighter ones)
c) The care with which the bat is treated Test match players get through 4 to 6 bats a year, an opening batsman facing a new ball every week against fast bowling at semi-professional level could expect to use a new bat each year, someone lower down the order who hits the ball hard would be in a similar situation.

In Case of Damage

Immediate action should be taken. This normally necessitates withdrawal from play whilst repairs are carried out. It is vital the repairs are carried out by professional bat makers. The manufacturers are unable to guarantee repair work carried out by non-approved repairers.