Cricket Bat Basics

With a wide variety of Cricket bat makers and cricket bats on the market it is always good to get back to basics and understand what the key characteristics of the humble cricket bat are and what can really make a difference to your performance when choosing a bat.

Dimensions

The size and shape of bats have evolved over the era’s and so too has the wants and needs of the batter. One of the most notable differences between the bats of past era’s and the current, is the thickness of the edge and the spine and the desire for thicker and bigger bats. In October 2017, the MCC recognised that the balance between bat and ball hand been swayed heavily towards the bat and as such acted by introducing Law 5.7, further controlling the dimensions of the cricket bat which can be assessed using a bat gauge. The Dimensions are as follows:

Maximum blade length: 38inches or 96.52cm
Maximum blade width: 4.25 inches or 10.8cm
Maximum depth (or spine height): 2.64 or 6.7cm
Maximum edge thickness: 1.56 inches or 4.0 cm

When talking about the dimensions of the bat we must also consider the dimensions of the batter as an incorrectly sized bat will have a detrimental effect on the batter’s technique or technical development for young players. On the physical side a bat that is too small can cause injuries to a batter’s back, knees, and ankles. A bat that is too big or too heavy, in the case of young players especially, it can cause injury to wrists, elbows and shoulders. To get a good idea of size the table below gives a basic guide to what size player should use what size bat.

Weight

The most common weight of bat used today is between 2lb7oz & 2lb9oz which cover the light and medium categories. However, bats that weigh less than 2lb7oz in the ultra-light category, which were more common in past era’s, are becoming ever rarer due to the introduction of anti-scuff sheets, toe guards and of course the need for bigger and thicker bats. The next range up would be the heavy range coming in at 2lb10oz to 2lb12oz, again equally as rare as the ultra-light as bat making technology has improved to an extent that bat makers can provide bigger and thicker bats that weigh less. Lastly the extra heavy bat, affectionately known as the “monster” is a bat weighing 3lb and above. These bats are super rare because many manufacturers will only make them to order.

A Cricket bats dead weight is effectively how heavy a bat is on the scales and obviously the heavier a bat is the stronger a batter will have to be, to swing the bat, time and strike the ball consistently. It is one of the core characteristics players from all eras will want to know when selecting a bat however, batters will always take in to account feel and balance but more on that later. The weight of bat will have some impact on a player’s technique or vice-versa. For players who play off the front foot a lot and on slow low wickets a heavier bat, or bat with a lower balance, may be more suitable to help players hit through the ball and over top without having to swing harder and risk losing their shape. Batters who play on faster bouncier wickets who play more cross batted shots, rely on hand speed to play the ball as late as possible and stay on top of the bounce may favour a lighter bat or a bat with a higher balance. You may also want to consider your play style are you a Chris Gayle who sets out to hit every ball as far as you can, then something with a bit more mass is for you. Are you a Ricky Ponting who has all the shots and wants to be able to manoeuvre the ball and play d

Sweet Spot

The sweet spot, also termed the middle, is the area of the bat which gives the best ping, or rebound, when a ball hits it. Over the years as bat making has shifted into the modern era of sales with the purpose of catching the customers eye, and not just function, the concept of the sweet spot being directly linked to the profile is a misconceived one. Throughout the years if you look at any bat the sweet spot will be between a couple of inches up from the toe and an inch below the sticker line, anything inside the white border as you look at the image on the right. If you look at your current bat and your team mates you will see ball marks, hopefully inside the white border, but they will most likely be all in a similar place despite where you perceive to be the sweet spot, which most players believe is the highest point of the spine. Still not sure? Compare the bats Brian Lara used when he claimed theindividual highest Test score world record, 10 years apart.

Profile Shape & Balance

Having dispelled the myth of a direct link between the sweet-spot and the profile it is time to answer the question, what is the point of different profiles, balances and how can they relate back to the player?The profile of a bat refers to a few characteristics. These are the position of the spine’s highest point and the edges (we’ll look at this last), the amount of wood on the back of the bat between the edge and the spine on either side&how far the spine runs on the back of the bat and where the highest point of.

We have spoken about the fashion of bats in the modern era for big edge and big spines while keeping the weight of a bat between 2lb7oz and 2lb9oz. Bat makers achieve this using a few techniques. First technique is called concaving, depicted on the left. As you can see the edge and spine height have been preserved but between them there is a clear “U” shape where wood has been removed to help reduce the weight. Many players believe that spine height and bat power are again linked but consider Sachin Tendulkar’s bats and how big the spine is on them. The second technique is called duck-billing and is used on the toe area of the bat where the spine is carved away between the toe and the rise of the swell as depicted Right. This allows the bat maker to move the balance of the bat towards the hands of the batter by removing weight furthest away from the hands. The last trick in a bat makers amroury is the bow of the blade. The the larger the bow the more weight is transferred infront of the hands of the batter and alters the balance to give a lighter pickup.

So this leaves the the position of the highest point of the spine and edges, also know as the swell. As discussed above many people believe that sweet-spot performance and swell are linked however this is not the case. The swell on the bat is actually for balance. If you look at the swell it will have the most wood in it per square inch and therfore the most weight compared to any other part of the bat. Put simply the further away from the hands of the batter this area is, the lower the balance will be and the closer to the hands the higher the balance will be. The balance is very important to batters, it refers to the pickup of the bat and how it feels when the bat swings during a shot. A bat is like a pendulum and the batters hands the fulcrum. The lower balancedbats allow the bat to swing down from the back-lift, and as it does gathers pace, meaning the batter does not necessarily need extra force generated by the hands at point of impact to generate pace on the ball, and risk a loss of body shape. Then to the fastest and boucniest pitches in the world in Australia, where batters need to be able to stay on top of the bounce, play cross batted shots like the cut and pull. Having the balance closer to the hands helps batters to do this as there is a shorter distance between the sweetspot and the batters hands allowing for punchy shots withou losing control of the bat.

The Handle

The handle on a cricket bat comes in 3 distinct lengths and shapes, playing a big part in how a bat feels to the player and the balance. Starting with length, as measured from the top of the shoulders to the end of the handle, the standard length on adult bats is a short-handle (SH) and is generally 28.5cms or 11 inches this is ideal for batters between 5’7” and 6’0”. For those players over 6’ you have the option of a long-handle(LH) which is 2.2cm’s or 7/8” longer than a short handle allowing for a more natural stance. In the current era the super-short handle (SSH) has started to come in to favour and these are 2.2cm’s or 7/8” shorter than a short handle and allow adult batters who are on or just above or below the border between academy and full-size SH and still want a full adult weight b at or batters who prefer less room on the handle for their hands to move around.

The handle can also play a part in balance as there is always a small portion of the bat handle above the hands (the fulcrum) of the batter and this acts as a counterbalance. Some players have even started using extra layers of grip or weighted tape just on the end of the bat handle to act as a counterbalance and some bat makers now make bats with bigger pommels as pictured on the left. This counterbalancing allows players to use bigger heavier bats while maintaining the pickup and balance of a lighter weight. Have a look at Joe Root’s bat for a great example!

In summary a lot goes in to making and choosing a bat and as players gain experience in the game, generate a better understanding of their own needs, and wants players will make more effective choices. There are 2 more key factors to consider when picking any bat.

1) Willow and cane are naturally grown materials and no two bats will ever feel, perform or be the same, even if the blades have been made from the same tree factors such as moisture content and pressing will be individual to each bat and impossible to discern when picking a finished bat. 2) Buy from a reputable bat maker. It sounds obvious but quality cricket bats are made using high-quality cane handles and English willow. Which are crafted by highly experienced and skilled bat makers so please make sure that you buy from reputable retailers or distributors or if you choose an independent company that you research them and if possible, visit them before you buy.