The Wonderous Willow Tree

Salix Alba Cerulea

For centuries, the iconic Cricket bat has been made from one very specific material – Salix Alba Cerulea or more commonly known as English Willow. But why when woods such as pine, oak birch are so widely used in manufacturing across the globe does English Willow have the monopoly when making cricket bats.That said there is a high market for Kashmir willow trees in the subcontinent but more on that later.

The science behind the tree

English Willow itself is considered to be a hard wood, much like other widely used manufacturing woods, but it has 3 unique properties.

1) It has an uncanny ability to hold a higher moisture content than other woods. During early season growth it can make it’s cells enlarge allowing it to transport vast amounts of water nutrients from the roots to the leaves.This gives you the light part of the grain in between the thin dark lines, caused by late season growth where the tree reduces the cell size drastically make this part of willow denser to reduce water loss, which give a bat face its characteristic look is termed a growing season. As the bat goes through the drying process the moisture is removed leaving air in the cells so that they can bend flex, while making the bat lighter.

2) The Criss-Cross fibres which a present in willow give it exceptional strength to with stand, for a time at least, the impact from a cricket ball.

3) Finally, as part of the fibres the Willow tree has the perfect content of a substance called lignin which gives the fibres some flexibility pliability allowing a tree to bend flexin the wind or a bat to absorb force then reflect it back into the ball with a ping.

So how do you grow Willow?

When considering an area in which to make a plantation of willow trees there is one main consideration that is ensuring there is plenty of water. Just make sure you allow a minimum of 10 metres radius when plating.

Planting is done in January to February high-quality timber will take roughly 12-15 years to grow but thanks to the ever-growing market this is not always possible. With a massive multi-million-dollar retail market across the globe,many trees do not get to the 15-year mark as such top-quality willow has become rarer more expensive.

The other mass-producedtype of willow is Kashmir. Grown in India since the 1920’s, Kashmir Willow is grown from the same seed as and English Willow but to due to the unfavourable growing conditions in these regions, mainly due to a lack of moisture the Kashmir willow is denser, heavier does not have the same performance as English willow. As such Kashmir willow is a lot cheaper, mainly used in low grade junior senior batson the UK market.

What you may find

So, what does all this mean for our cricket bat? As we said when the tree goes the difference in growing seasons create physical aesthetic qualities. Although the grain is the most talked about, you will find that other cosmetic blemishes. On cricket bats you will find blemishes such as butterfly marks, pin nots wavy grains which may affect the aesthetic qualities but not performance are all common place with Cricket bats.

I hope that you have enjoyed our guide if you need anymore advice, please do email us or get in contact with a member of staff over the phone.