How to Maintain a Cricket Bat

A good cricket bat is made of willow. When you strike a ball on its sweet spot, it springs off the wood like a tennis ball comes off a racket. However to maintain such performance, you must look after the bat from the moment of the purchase. Even before you use it for the first time, it needs oiling and knocking in.

Instructions

1. Oil Your Cricket Bat

   • 1
     Use a cloth to wipe a film of oil across the face of the bat. Do not over-oil and avoid oiling the splice.
   • 2
     Stand the bat up. If oil runs off the face you have put on too much. Use your cloth to wipe away any excess oil.
   • 3
     Lie the bat down and leave it overnight.
   • 4
     Apply an even thinner layer of oil to the bat and allow 6 hours for it to soak in.
   • 5
     Do this routinely.

   Knock In the Cricket Bat

   • 6
     Lay the cricket bat across your lap. Either bounce a ball off the face or hit it gently with a mallet. From the start, soften the impact of the mallet with a sock.
   • 7
     Hit the blade and the edges of the bat for 2 hours. Let the bat recover overnight.
   • 8
     Begin the hitting process again the next day. This time, gradually increase the power the blows. Occasionally test the bat's hardness by pressing your fingernail into the willow. When your nail stops leaving a mark the bat is ready.
   • 9
     Go outside and have a gentle hit around.
   • 10
     Go to the nets for the final phase of the knock in process. Make sure you face some good bowlers.