Knocking of Cricket Bat

Cricket bats, newly made, are not ready for use. They must first be "knocked in," a process of repeated percussion that requires several hours. Either with a cricket ball or a specialized cricket bat mallet, the bat is repeatedly struck, which compressed the fibers in the wood, allowing for greater resiliency. This limits the chances of the bat breaking when striking the ball, and offers the user greater power, control and speed. Some bats are available pre-knocked, so that the purchaser can avoid this up to eight-hour process; however, many players prefer to personalize their bats by knocking them in themselves.