Cricket Bat

The cricket bat is the equipment used by the batsman on the field. The use of this equipment is to hit the ball. The batsman also uses the bat for making their ground to avoid a runout. Typically, the bats have a cane handle attached by the flat-fronted and a ridge revers. The bats have a length of 38 inches and a width of 4.25 inches maximum. The official bats are made from high- grade wood. Among the cricketers' most popular bat manufacturing brands are Kookaburra, Gray-Nicolls, Gm, MRF, SG, Spartan, SS, and Reebok. 

Types of Cricket Bats used in matches 

Majorly there are four types of bats used by a batsman in official matches. They have been differentiated based on their manufacturing material -

• English Willow Cricket Bats - The English willow bats have a reasonable performance rate. The bats are manufactured with soft and fibrous timber. It is regarded as the finest quality wood, which increases the ball's velocity when hit on the surface. The English willow has a softer wood surface but thicker blades. 
• Kashmiri Willow Cricket Bats - The wood used for making the Kashmir willow bats are more protracted and sturdier than the English willow bats. These bats are heavier than the English willow. Even though the Kashmiri willows' performance rate is slightly lower than the English willow bats, the bats are equally popular among professional batsmen. In 1820, the Britishers brought the willow for making the bats. They amalgamated traditional tools with modern technology and gave birth to Kashmiri willow bats. These bats have a unique property as they are shock resistant and produce high energy and velocity as the ball is stroked.
• Training Cricket Bats - The training cricket bats are manufactured and designed in a particular manner to be used by players for practising purposes. The bats aren't prepared from any specific wood type but are light and durable.
• Softball Cricket Bats - These bats are made of soft rubber as they are crafted to play with the tennis balls. Softball bats are relatively cheaper than both English and Kashmiri willow cricket bats. 

Construction of Cricket Bats 

The cricket bats are either handmade or machine-made. The blade of the cricket bat is made from wood and has a flat surface with a ridgeback. The blade is connected to the handle present on the top. The handle has a long cylindrical shape and is covered with a rubber grip to reduce friction. This designing of the bat is referred to as a 'wooden spring design.' The front of the bats is usually covered with a protective film to increase the shelf life. The willows that offer shock-resistance are more preferred for manufacturing. 

In the 1880s, Charles Richardson invented the cane handle model that was connected to the blade with the help of a tapered splice. The shoulders are the region of the bat with edges. The bottom of the module is known as the toe. The bats are usually knocked in before being used. This allows the bats to compress the surface wood fibres and ensures safe usage. 

History and Evolution of Cricket Bats 

In the year 1624, the usage of the first cricket bat is found. Before this period, hockey sticks were used to play cricket matches. In 1770, the rectangular form of the bats came into existence. In 1880, the maximum width of the bat was standardised at 4.25 inches. Till 1890, sapwood was used to manufacture bats. The sapwood was called 'white willow.' In the 1900s, Kashmiri willow garnered a lot of popularity. However, then, it was believed to be less durable. The prominent manufacturers started experimenting with the bats. They introduced 'sweet spot' bats that had dense timber towards the lower half of the bat. After fixing the sweet spot, the weight distribution was brought into consideration. The modern-day bats weigh relatively lighter than that of the 1960s. The willow in these bats is dry but has the same effectiveness in terms of power.