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Cricketdirect - Cricket Bats and Cricket Bat Care

Slazenger Bat CareSlazenger Bat Care
Types of Finish
Several types of finish are available on different models.

Puma Bat CarePuma Bat Care
It is vital to fully prepare your PUMA bate before use. This will protect it from high impacts during play and build in the performance required to give the ball maximum power of the blade.
Kookaburra Bat CareKookaburra Bat Care
Cricket bats are made of willow. It is to be expected that the condition of the bat will deteriorate during its usage.
Gunn & Moore Bat CareGunn & Moore Bat Care
Preparation, Care and maintenance for your Gunn & Moore Bat
Gray-Nicolls Bat CareGray-Nicolls Bat Care
Congratulations on purchasing your new Gray-Nicolls cricket bat. Many hours of work have gone into making this bat and with a few simple procedures and a little time and patience; your bat should give you optimum performance.
Woodworm Bat CareWoodworm Bat Care
All Woodworm bats should be oiled using either raw linseed oil or special bat oil before they are used.
Newbery Bat CareNewbery Bat Care
Dear Customer,
Having personally hand crafter and inspected your cricket bat, I ask you to look after it in the correct manner:
MRF Bat CareMRF Bat Care
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.
Salix Bat CareSalix Bat Care
This Salix bat has been crafted from the highest grades of English willow, by exceptionally skilled bat makers.
Fearnley Bat CareFearnley Bat Care
Duncan Fearnley has been making bats for almost 50 years and we are proud of our quality and performance. Each bat is meticulously handcrafted to help give you the performance you need.

Guidance To Cricketers

Cricket bats are made of willow. It is to be expected that the condition of the bat will deteriorate during its usage. The manufactures have put together the following notes to assist the explanation of situations which occur within the lifespan of any cricket bat.

Handle Breaks

CAUSE:- General wear and tear.
SOLUTION:- The bat itself is not replaceable, but the handle may be repaired at the MANUFACTURE'S discretion.		Handle Breaks

Breakage To The Blade

CAUSE:- Weak or excessively dry willow.
SOLUTION:- Potentially replaceable by full or partial credit, at MANUFACTURE'S direction.		Breakage To The Blade

Surface Cracking To The Face of The Blade

CAUSE:- General wear and tear.
SOLUTION:- NOT REPLACEABLE, crack will not affect the performance of the bat. Repairable at the MANUFACTURE'S discretion.		Surface Cracking To The Face of The Blade

Surface Cracking To The Edge of The Blade

CAUSE:- General wear and tear.
SOLUTION:- NOT REPLACEABLE, crack will not affect the performance of the bat. Repairable at the MANUFACTURE'S discretion.		Surface Cracking To The Edge of The Blade

Surface Cracking To The Toe of The Blade

CAUSE:- General wear and tear. This type of damage is often caused by the striking of a 'yorker' and, or excessive tapping of the crease.
SOLUTION:- NOT REPLACEABLE, crack will not affect the performance of the bat. Repairable at the MANUFACTURE'S discretion.		Surface Cracking To The Toe of The Blade

Split Through The Toe Area of The Blade

CAUSE:- This type of damage is caused by the striking of a ball at, or near the base of the blade, e.g. the driving of a 'yorker'
SOLUTION:- Repairable and/or replaceable at the MANUFACTURE'S discretion.		Split Through The Toe Area of The Blade

Cracking To The Shoulder of The Blade

CAUSE:- General wear and tear.
SOLUTION:- NOT REPLACEABLE, repairable at the MANUFACTURE'S discretion.		Cracking To The Shoulder of The Blade

Moisture Damage

CAUSE:- This type of damage occurs as a result of use in damp or wet conditions. It generally leads to swelling of the toe area of the blade, which after drying may well split.
SOLUTION:- NOT REPLACEABLE, there is no fault in the manufacturing or the materials used. The damage may be repairable at the MANUFACTURE'S discretion and the CUSTOMERS cost.		Moisture Damage

Damage Due To The Use of Poor Quality Cricket Balls

Poor quality or excessively hard cricket balls can be a cause of many types of crack damage th the blade of the bat, as previously illustrated.

All CRICKET BAT MANUFACTURES recommend that only balls of reputate manufacture are used. Use of any other style or type of ball may cause damage to bats and WILL affect any claim made.

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.CRICKET BAT WILLOW - English willow (Salix Caerulea or Alba var) is by nature a soft fibrous reed. Performance and durability are enhanced by drying and pressing. In normal usage, willow will become bruised, scarred or dented simply due to the nature of the game ( the impact the ball) . the performance of the bat will not be affected. Such marking can occur at any time during the lifespan of the bat.

2. KASHMIR WILLOW - Willow grown overseas is by its very nature much harder then English willow. Therefore bats made of this type of willow will not have a comparable level of performance with English willow bats.

3. RETURNS - All repairs of discounts given on replacement bats are the discretion of the MANUFACTURER. Bats returned under complaint MUST be accompanied by proof of purchase (including date of purchase).failure to comply may affect the customer's statutory rights.

4. LIFESPAN OF A CRICKT BAT - There can be no definitive length of time that a cricket bat will last. The condition of the bat deteriorates with use. The leant of time before the players 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.

5. AGE OF THE CRICKET BAT - Bats over TWELVE months old (from the date of purchase) will be considered entirely at the manufacture's discretion, taking into account the age and condition of the bat. It is possible for the condition of the bat to deteriorate even without use (simply due to the natural drying out process).

6. IN CASE OF DAMAGE - Immediate action should be taken. This normally necessitates withdrawal from play whilst repairs are carried out. It is vital that the repairs are carried out by professional bat makers. The manufactures are unable to guarantee repair work carried out by non-approved repairs.

7. STORAGE - To ensure that a bat remains in good condition, it is essential that the bat not be stored in excessively warm conditions (e.g. near to central heating). This will cause the bat to dry out and precipitate future problems. The bat should ideally be stored in a position that will allow a little of the moisture from the atmosphere to be absorbed.


Oiling Care

Far too many bats coming back for repair have been over-oiled. There is a danger that you can damage the wood fibres by over oiling. It is better not to oil than over-oil.

Polyarmour bats or bats with face tape do not need oiling other than perhaps a very light coat to the toe to avoid water getting in and causing the wood to swell.

To Oil Your Bat Properly
1.Using a soft rag, apply a light coat of oil to the front, edges, toe and back of the bat blade. DO NOT OIL THE SPLICE AREA.

2.Keep bat in a horizontal position.

3.After 2 weeks, lightly sand with very fine sandpaper and apply another light coat of linseed oil to the face, edges and toe (not the back).

4.Repeat after 2 more weeks ensuring the bat is kept horizontal between oilings.

5.Only use raw linseed oil.

Pre Knocking In

All bats within the Slazenger range have been expertly pre knocked in. This takes out the arduous job of knocking a bat in using a bat mallet for the individual. We do advise that use with an old ball first will be beneficial in developing the bats performance and durability.

We also recommend that the bat is oiled as our oiling care instructions and the bat should have a Pro Face applied to enhance the performance and durability of the blade.

Slazenger’s brand strategy and history has always been to produce the ultimate in performance bats and although pre knocked in we will not compromise performance for durability.

Knocking In

Knocking in your new bat compresses the willow blade to help prevent impact damage to the surface, toe and edges, and should be done thoroughly for no less than 6 hours.

1.Using an old ball or a bat mallet like a hammer and deflect gently off the edges the way a ball might in a game.

2.Increase the force and work the edges until they shoe a rounded compact appearance.

3.Use the bat to hit short catches (i.e.very light work on the face) or bounce a cricket ball up and down on the face.

4.Use the bat in the nets against old softer balls.

5.Use the bat in the nets against newer balls.

Causes of Damage

Dry Bat
It is important to store your bat wisely to prevent the willow drying out and becoming brittle.

Ideally you should store your bat in a garage or shed where the wood can absorb some moisture from the atmosphere.

DO NOT leave your bat close to central heating radiator or fire.

DO NOT leave your bat in your car boot or rear window where the temperature can alter significantly.

Toe Swells Due to Damp
To avoid swelling of the toe area by dampness:

1.Apply a light coat of oil to the area by dampness.

2.Use of a sealant to prevent water penetrating.

3.Apply a toe guard before bat is used.

However if the toe of the bat is swollen there are two alternatives:

1.Place the toe of the bat in a woodworking vice, being careful to cushion both sides of the blade to prevent damage.

2.Allow damp area to dry normally then use an old ball to knock out the swollen area.

Edge and Toe Damage
The majority of bats will be damaged if the batsman edges a quick ball or digs out a fast Yorker. The bat must be put in for repair as no willow will withstand such impact. Knocking in properly, however will reduce the risk.

Surface Cracking
Surface cracks do not harm the bat’s performance but knocking in delays the appearance of these cracks. If the willow starts to lift away after a time, use any PVA water based glue and clamp back together. Sand the glued area with medium grade sandpaper. Apply a Pro face tape.