Cricket is a fulfilling sport. It offers many mental and physical health benefits, from enhancing stamina, endurance, and muscle strength to increasing happiness and social collaboration. However, to spawn the benefits, one must enter the cricket ground with optimum quality gear from a renowned offline or online cricket store; otherwise, you may not be able to give your best in the field. One of the most essential parts of your cricket gear is a good quality cricket bat.
A cricket player must spend ample time taking care of their bat to retain its quality, play well and extend its life. A cricket bat is expensive; if you take proper care of it, it can last you for many years. Therefore, we bring you a blog dedicated to the care and maintenance of your cricket bat. Read on to learn how-
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How to Take the Best Care of Your Cricket Bat?
There are 3 ways to take the best care of your cricket bat. There is storage, oiling and knocking in. Let’s learn about each method and how it can safeguard the cricket bat-
Storage
The first step to safeguarding the cricket bat is to store it properly. Whenever you purchase a cricket bat, there will be a cover that can keep your bat snug when not in use. Use the cover to safeguard the bat and place it in a garage or cupboard away from any heat source.
As wood is the key component used to build a cricket bat, it will be sensitive to changing temperatures. The rapid heating and cooling of the bat can make it brittle, and mishaps can happen unexpectedly. For example, if you place the bat in the trunk of your car, it may heat quickly and wood can be damaged. Similarly, if it gets wet, it may weaken the wood.
Oiling
Greasing or oiling a cricket bat serves a functional purpose. If your cricket bat is out in the sunlight, there are high possibilities that the heat can dry it out. Over time, it becomes much more likely to crack. Oiling the bat helps to safeguard it even when it stays for too long in extreme temperatures. The best oil for this purpose is linseed oil. It binds the fibers in the bat together to maintain performance and keep the bat strong. You can find the linseed oil at any online cricket store. It isn’t difficult to find as it is also commonly used in other wood products such as furniture.
It is certain that once a season (between seasons) is an excellent time to oil your cricket bat. There is no need to repeat oiling until the next season. Therefore oiling once in a calendar year is fine for a cricket bat to remain in perfect condition and last for a long time. However, if a bat seems particularly dry, you can prioritize oiling to maintain its good condition.
Here are the steps for oiling your cricket bat-
Step 1: Spread, not Smear
Sit down at any place where you are comfortable sitting and can keep the bat in a horizontal position for oiling. Begin by taking oil in your palm and slowly spreading it on the bat. Remember to cover the entire surface of the bat without making it too slippery.
Step 2: Let the Bat Absorb the Oil
Now spread the oil evenly on the bat, hold it in the vertical position to see if there is excess oil. Remove oil from the bat with a clean cloth if you see oil flowing. Now you can leave the bat overnight to absorb the oil and be more resistant to temperatures and pressure.
Step 3: Reapply
The following day you can apply another coat of linseed oil. However, remember to take it in small quantities. After thorough application, leave the bat for another six hours.
Knocking in
Knocking or running a cricket bat compresses the fibres in the sheet to create a firm and flexible surface. There are cricket bat mallets designed to knock the bat. The mallet is made of wood and has a round head similar in size to a cricket ball. You can use an old cricket ball wrapped in a sports sock if you don’t have a mallet. Using an old ball for the sock and ball method is important because a new one can leave severe marks on your bat. No matter what you use, allow up to 8 hours of knocking time to get the best out of your cricket bat and prepare it for the game.
Summing Up
Taking care of your cricket bat doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By following these simple tips, you can prolong the life of your bat and get the most use out of it. Remember to oil it and clean it after every game or practice. Keep your bat in a cool, dry place when you’re not using it, and enjoy many years of successful batting.
Online cricket stores like Season Sports offer knocking services, so if you want a professional to perform the task, feel free to get in touch with them. They have the best cricket gear and can guide you about storing, oiling and knocking the bat. You can also get some cricketing tips from the seasoned cricketers who are part of the Season Sports team.
