Oiling Your Bat
Maintaining your cricket bat properly includes oiling it regularly.
Manufacturers’ consensus on this matter is summarized by the fact that, when receiving bats for refurbishment, careful inspection revealed that roughly half were not oiled adequately, and the other half were excessively oiled up.
Looking into these measures to get the ideal balance when oiling your bat would be best.
Apply a thin layer of oil to a small piece of cloth made of very soft fabric, then rub it all over the bat’s face, edges, toe, and back.
After you’ve oiled your bat, set it horizontally to dry for at least 12 hours.
The second layer of paint can then be applied. After applying the bat, you can let it sit for another 12 hours.
In the future, you can anticipate having your bat smashed.
Regular and thorough bat oiling is recommended to protect the wood fibers and reduce the likelihood of cracks.
The face of the bat, protected by an anti-scuff cover, does not require oiling, but the back of the bat still must.
Knocking Your Cricket Bat
One of the most crucial steps in getting ready to play cricket is knocking on your bat.
It’s because bats generally do exceptionally well in the event of getting knocked over.
The edges, toe, and blade should be appropriately hammered to prevent the bat from breaking when tackling a cricket ball.
The bat’s wood needs to be knocked down gradually and carefully so that the fibers can be knitted together and the bat maintains its shape.
Bat Mallet in Hand
Use a hardwood mallet to gently strike the bat’s face and edges to strengthen and smooth them.
Protect it from potential harm by avoiding contact with its sharp corners, stubby toes, and the small of its back.
If you keep doing this, you’ll be able to increase the force of your strikes over time.
After two or three hours of this knocking practice, you can try out your bat by hitting short catches with any old cricket ball.
If you notice any streaks or marks on the bat’s face, it’s time for another 4-hour knocking session.
After additional training, your bat should be game-ready in a competitive setting.
Extra Safety Measures:
- Fiber tape is applied to the edges of your bat, and an anti-scuff sheet can be a huge assist.
- You can also wrap your bat in a protective cover starting 3–5 mm from the toe and continuing up the bat’s face, finishing just below the company’s branded emblem.
- Bats can dry out or crack if not checked for deterioration regularly.
- Bats that have already been “knocked in” still need to be handled with care and checked thoroughly before they can be used in a game or on a pitch. However, the time spent studying is little.
- Instead of utilizing a bat mallet, skip directly to knocking a bat’s face with an old cricket ball during net practice.
Last Words
Keep a close eye on your bat for early indicators of damage and dryness from lack of oiling. This will help prevent your bat from cracking before its time.
When practicing, reinsure and reassure you’re using a high-quality cricket ball.
If the bat becomes wet, it could hurt your toe, so be careful.
If a crack develops on the face or edges of your cricket bat after a series of games, sand it down and reapply the oil.
Mistimed strokes, improper storage, lack of care and maintenance, using it against subpar cricket balls, and using it in rainy weather conditions are all factors that can lead to the ruin of your bat. If your bat sustains any damage under any of these conditions, you should have it fixed immediately.
Comments are closed.