With the price of cricket equipment constantly on the increase, more and more players are looking to the internet (Ebay for example) as a way of saving money on a cricket bat. Our advice to you is to think very carefully before doing so. We have seen many instances where players have purchased bats in this way and while the price may have been cheap (or apparently cheaper to begin with) in most cases the bats turn out to be of a lower quality than expected.
Why are cricket bats so expensive?
There are two types of cricket bats, cheaper and lower performing bats made from Kashmir Willow and the more expensive but best performing bats are made from English Willow. The very best bats are still individually handmade by highly skilled craftsmen (known as pod shavers) using a blend of traditional and modern bat making techniques. Due to world wide demand for high grade English bat willow, the price of willow has increased considerably in the last 5 years, this factor alone has added nearly 40% to the cost of cricket bats. Added to this is the labour cost of producing a hand made cricket bat. It takes several hours of careful shaping to produce a test match quality bat.
How is it possible that cheaper English Willow bats are available on the internet?
In general terms these bats are English Willow grown under subcontinent conditions. This is a fancy name for Kashmir Willow. English Willow, when grown under the hotter and drier conditions found in India and Pakistan tends to grow very differently to the same species grown under the cooler and wetter conditions found in the Uk. Hotter conditions lead to a heavier and more dense timber which lacks the rebound qualities found in the English grown timber.
Problems associated with purchasing bats off the internet (Ebay, Non Cricket Specialists, India)
You get what you pay for.
The only way to produce a cheap bat is to use low quality materials in its construction. If the the price is very cheap then it is more than likely that the bats are made from Kashmir Willow (English Willow grown under subcontinent conditions) in combination with very low quality handles. A top grade handle generally has 3 rubber springs and high quality binding. Cheaper bats usually have only 1 (or two at the most) rubber springs and are bound with a poor quality string or twine. Remember it is the handle that gives the bat its whip and feel- the better the handle, the better the over-all performance of the bat.
Warranty.
Generally there is no warranty associated with the purchase, this is especially the case if you are purchasing from a sub continent based company. If the handle breaks (which it probably will) then you are up for the cost of repairs (around $100).
Weight / Balance
There is no guarantee that you will get the weight of bat you want. If you do, there is no guarantee that the bat has been balanced properly. Bats made to a subcontinent design are notoriously toe heavy (it costs around $80 to have a bat rebalanced).
Shape / Playability
Is the shape of the bat compatible with your style of play? Is the hitting centre positioned in the best place for the
shots you like to play? Again you will have to take your chances and hope the bat you are sent is going to be OK for your game.
How to purchase a bat over the internet.
The ideal way to buy a bat is to go into a cricket shop, talk to one of the staff and feel a few bats. This is not always possible and you may need to order a bat on line.There is nothing wrong with buying a bat over the internet so long as you do some research first. There are many reputable cricket specialist companies who are able to supply you with high quality products at fair prices.
Provide these companies with as much information as you can in terms of your-
Age / Height / Grade of cricket you play or aspire to play / Make and model of your current bat / Batting style, front or back foot, aggressive or steady, power or touch / Budget.
A good quality bat will cost a bit more(starting around $300) but as long as it is right for your game it should be more than worth the price.
Premier Cricket Development Centres
and Taipan Cricket Bats.
Background
The directors at Premier Cricket reacted to the concerns raised by our customers in relation to the ever increasing cost of equipment. In order to address this issue we have been developing a complete range of cricket products over the past four years under the brand name of Taipan.
It has taken a lot of time and effort to find the best suppliers but our persistance and commitment has paid off with products now made locally and internationally to our strict quality standards.
The entire range of Taipan equipment is uniquely Australian offers all players the opportunity to purchase world class cricket products at value for money prices.
TAIPAN BATS
Taipan bats undergo a multistage production process allowing us a hands on approach in order to maintain our high levels of quality and performance.
Stage 1.
We engage the services of a leading overseas bat making company who make bats for many international cricketers. Their role is to take the English Willow clefts and begin the bat making process. This involves inserting the handle (treble sprung cane), face pressing and initial shaping. The shape (specified by us) is very basic and allows for final shaping here in Australia.
At this point the bats are packaged and shipped to us.
Stage 2.
Once the bats arrive they are quality inspected by Cricket Director Rick Heilbronn and Bat Maker Charlie Sale - (defected bats are removed), re graded (according to our grading system) iindividually performance tested with a hard wooden bat mallet (to ensure the pressing has been successful) and weighed. Bats not meeting our standards at this point are removed.
Stage 3.
This is where the real work begins. The "blanks" are individually hand shaped by Charlie to bring out the best qualities in each one. This is done using hand held cutting tools such as planes and carving chisels. The skill is in knowing how much timber to remove and from where to achieve the ideal combination of pick up, shape and balance while retaining the strength and integrity of the bat. The bat is rough sanded at this point and checked for pick up and overall weight.
Stage 4.
Once the desired characteristics have been achieved the bat is bounce tested once more to ensure correct performance before being fine sanded and buffed to a high quality, smooth finish. This finish has a slightly waxy feel which seals the timber against moisture. Any wax is easily removed during the oiling process.
Stage 5.
Bats are gripped and stickered according to model and willow quality and are made ready for sale.
Quality Assurance
Our hands on approach ensures you get a high quality bat that represents complete value for money. Our testing and inspection process means that we know your bat will perform to the high levels expected, even before you hit that first ball.
Prices start from only $270 - which is great value for a hand shaped, genuine english willow cricket bat. Check out the full range in the equipment section.
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