How to Check the Original English Willow Cricket Bat Before Buy in 2024?
A cricket bat may make or break a cricketer. A flawless genuine English Willow Cricket bat that feels excellent to the batter provides him the confidence to strike more strokes and play more comfortably, which is an invaluable asset for any cricketer. When choosing your first bat as a cricketer, it is vital that you know everything about it.
You must consider the quality, materials used, and convenience of use, among other factors. Professional cricketers most commonly utilize an English willow cricket bat. This article will teach you everything you need to know about English willow bats and how to distinguish between them.
Why Choose the Original English Willow Cricket Bat?
Why snglish Willow Cricket Bat over thould you choose the Original Ehe Kashmir Willow Cricket Bat? Kashmir Willow and English Willow are two types of willow commonly used to make cricket bats. Willow is the most crucial part of a cricket bat. It strengthens and compresses the bat.
These two willow species have vastly different performance profiles. To begin, English Willow grows in England, whilst Kashmir Willow grows in India’s Kashmir region. English and Kashmir willow bats are not the same.
The hue of English willow is white, while Kashmir willow is brownish. Kashmir Willow bats are heavier than English Willow bats and therefore less expensive to purchase. The English willow bats last longer than the Kashmir willow bats.
English willow bats can be shaped into more compressible forms. Many players favor the English willow bat over the Kashmir willow bat in terms of comfort.
Tips for Checking the Original English Willow Cricket Bat:
Color of the bat:
Identifying an English Willow cricket bat is far simpler than identifying any other type of cricket bat! Don’t be fooled by the sticker on the bats; it could be a counterfeit product. When compared to other woods, English Willow seems more white.
Even from a distance, this is one of the most obvious ways to distinguish an English Willow bat from other bats. Another distinctive attribute of an English Willow is the clearly visible grains in its wood. Unlike the Kashmir Willow cricket bat, the grains are not combined. They are highly visible and easily identifiable.
Weight:
A cricket bat’s weight normally ranges between 0.94 kg and 1.4 kg. The weight of an English cricket bat varies according to its model and design. English Willow cricket bats are preferred due to their superior performance.
These English Willow cricket bats are known for their great performance and are made of delicate fibrous wood. In general, the English cricket bat weighs between 1160 and 1200 grams and is ideal for all-round play.
Grade:
The English Willow comes in four separate classes, each with its own set of characteristics. The best is Grade 1, the most expensive willow, which is used by professional players. It features at least six immaculate straight lines (grains) on the bat blade and no flaws.
Grade 2 is a high-quality wood, with at least four or five straight lines (grains) on the bat’s blade, as well as minor imperfections and markings. Perhaps this is the grade for you if you want the most value for money.
Grade 4 English bats can have up to four grains, with more butterfly spots and flaws on their faces. Bleaching is occasionally used to cover up or improve the appearance of discolored regions. This is the least expensive willow.
Imperfections:
The English willow bat will inevitably have defects. Many of these problems will have little impact on the performance of cricket bats. Some of its defects are pin knots, dead knots, and specks. Pin knots are typically tiny (up to 1cm in width). They are most commonly found on the edge or beneath cricket bats, but they have also been reported on the nose.
A dead knot forms when a branch comes off after a long period of inactivity due to insufficient sunlight reaching it. As a result, it grows into a knot. Insects deposit their eggs in the tree’s bark and feed on its nutrients, resulting in a bright or dark patch. The larvae subsequently deposit a particle of dirt onto the tree.
Grain on the wood:
Grains are vertical markings that appear on the bat’s face and indicate the age of the trees. Grain is divided into two types: narrow (or tight) and broad grains. The bulk of professional players prefer narrow grain bats. These bats do not require many knock-ins.
Higher density wood is naturally heavier and brittle. A bat with broader grains is generated from a tree that grew quickly, resulting in fewer and larger grains. It is lighter than thin grains and requires more hammering and oiling time, but it lasts slightly longer.
Compressibility:
Because of the wood used in their construction, English Willow Cricket Bats are regarded as the best available. The English Willow has crisscross threads that create a mesh-like structure within the wood. This gives this type of wood a great deal of strength. A transverse cut through the English Willow also reveals small air-filled holes within the wood.
As a result, the English Willow functions like a sponge, and a collision with a hard leather ball results in a significantly superior spring-like reaction. Because of the characteristics of English Willow cricket bats, it is easier for a batter to hit the ball further with less force. Overall, they excel as cricket bats.
Balance and Feel:
When holding the bat, it should have the proper balance and feel. The balance and feel of the bat will improve if the weight is evenly distributed in the center. This can be seen in English willow bats. Proper balance enables the athlete to accomplish precise shot timing. Certain shots may fail owing to a lack of balance.
These tiny things set a great batsman apart from an average one. Top-tier players prioritize their bat’s balance and feel. Rahul David used to notice even tiny variations in the weight and balance of his bats. To recap, the bat should feel like an extension of your arm.
Conclusion:
English Willow cricket bats are made from the highest grade of wood. When you hit the ball, it makes a terrific boom and punches. It helps the ball to travel much further and more easily. The drawback is that it costs more. However, one advantage is that it is long-lasting. As a result, an English Willow cricket bat is ideal for individuals who want to play the game professionally.
It doesn’t have to be at the international level (though that’s obviously what you’d want to aim at), but an English Willow could be an excellent choice if you’re a batter who enjoys hitting the ball hard and long. Cricket bats made of English Willow are undoubtedly superior to those made of Kashmir Willow.