The earliest cricket bats looked quite similar to current hockey sticks. There were initially no regulations regarding the shape or size of any bat. Gentlemen would instead make agreements about the size and width. Those bats were light along their lengths, but had heavy bases.
Because of the lack of rules regarding width, eventually a player found a way to take advantage of that. In 1774, Shock White used a bat that was just as wide as the stump itself. When this happened, it became clear that further rules needed to be made. A restriction was made, limiting the width of any bat to four and a quarter inches.
The entire length of the bat used to be made in a single piece. The problem with this was that it made such instruments easily breakable. That is why is 1880 the grip was added to the rest separately. This strengthened the whole of the instrument. After four years, it was also ruled that the maximum length of any bat would be thirty-eight inches.
Originally, there was no specific wood used to make a bat. Eventually, however, it was decided that English Willow Wood was best, because it was strong, but still light enough for players to use. A bat made from this wood, however, weighed about 5 lbs.
Afterward, the sapwood of the English Willow was used, instead of the heartwood. This made the bat even lighter. It had become half the weight of its predecessor. Then, in 1920, some players wanted their instruments heavier again, to grant them more power and durability.
Nowadays, manufacturers have found even more ways to improve the old designs. Some cricket bats are built with core power areas, massively increasing the output of power if balls are hit just right. Other designs use heavier shafts with the feel of lighter ones. These enable fast swinging. Unfortunately, they can only last for about 1000 runs.
Because of the lack of rules regarding width, eventually a player found a way to take advantage of that. In 1774, Shock White used a bat that was just as wide as the stump itself. When this happened, it became clear that further rules needed to be made. A restriction was made, limiting the width of any bat to four and a quarter inches.
The entire length of the bat used to be made in a single piece. The problem with this was that it made such instruments easily breakable. That is why is 1880 the grip was added to the rest separately. This strengthened the whole of the instrument. After four years, it was also ruled that the maximum length of any bat would be thirty-eight inches.
Originally, there was no specific wood used to make a bat. Eventually, however, it was decided that English Willow Wood was best, because it was strong, but still light enough for players to use. A bat made from this wood, however, weighed about 5 lbs.
Afterward, the sapwood of the English Willow was used, instead of the heartwood. This made the bat even lighter. It had become half the weight of its predecessor. Then, in 1920, some players wanted their instruments heavier again, to grant them more power and durability.
Nowadays, manufacturers have found even more ways to improve the old designs. Some cricket bats are built with core power areas, massively increasing the output of power if balls are hit just right. Other designs use heavier shafts with the feel of lighter ones. These enable fast swinging. Unfortunately, they can only last for about 1000 runs.
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If you want to know more about Cricket Bats and their history, or see some modern examples, visit your local Cricket Shop.
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