Cricket Bat Preparation and Knocking In

New, natural-faced cricket bats need to be oiled and knocked in. Cricket bats are usually made from English Willow, which in its natural state has soft, fibrous reeds. This means that after purchase, proper bat care and preparation is required before it can be used to strike a ball.

Although all bats are pressed during production, which gives a degree of conditioning, ‘knocking in’ is also required and is a very critical part of the bat’s preparation and longevity. If a bat is used in match without preparation, or is not prepared properly, it will quickly crack and split, and have a very short life span.

Read further to learn how to give your new bat proper bat care and how to knock in your bat to extend its life.

Oiling your bat

All bats that have a natural face (uncovered) need to be oiled with cricket bat oil throughout their life to maintain moisture levels in the willow fibres. This will reduce the chance of cracking or splitting during use. The correct type of oil to use on your bat is natural linseed oil (available to purchase in-store and online).

How to apply oil to new bats

The best way to apply oil to a cricket bat is by using a cloth. Lightly coat the face of the bat, edges and toe of the blade. Take care to avoid the stickers, logos and the splice area. Generally 3-4 light coats should be sufficient, initially, and then apply one coat every 3-4 weeks thereafter. Allow each coat to dry, placing the bat in a horizontal position, before the next coat is applied. REMEMBER: use light coats only – you risk more damage to the cricket bat by over-oiling rather than under-oiling.

Knocking in

‘Knocking in’ your new cricket bat is vital for its survival. This is the process by which the fibres of the willow in the face and edges are compressed together to form a barrier, which protects the bat against the impact of the ball. Effective ‘knocking in’ will significantly improve the performance and increase the lifespan of the bat. We recommend that factory pre-prepared bats also have extra preparation by further knocking in using a mallet.

How to knock in your bat

Step 1:

Using a special bat mallet, strike the bat repeatedly across and down the front of the blade. You should gradually apply more force over time. This conditioning needs to be done with patience. Particular attention should be given to hardening the edges to minimise damage from an edge shot. This can be done by deflecting the mallet across the edges, and not at right-angles.

We also recommend ‘boning’ the edges, which involves running the handle of the mallet down the edges to compress them. The bat’s toe area should be struck carefully as there is risk of causing cracks or splits across the base of the bat if it is struck too hard.

This step takes between 8-10 hours to complete.

Step 2:

To ready your bat for match use, you should use your bat against throwdowns in the nets or by giving short catches. Make sure the ball you are facing is a quality, old ball. This should be done for at least 2 hours. If seam-marks, small surface cracks or indentations are visible, immediately go back to Step 1 for further preparation for at least 2 more hours. This is not sign of a faulty bat – it simply means that the bat requires further attention.

Once these steps have been completed, your bat should be ready to use in matches. You should try to avoid use against a new ball initially. If this can’t be avoided or you are an opening batsman, you should purchase the Extratec self-adhesive clear PU for added protection.

Sportsmart Bat Prep Services

Sportsmart in Melbourne offer a variety of options to help you prepare your cricket bat, including Deluxe Service, Standard Service and Oil & Extratec. Click here to learn more.