There are two types of willow (wood) commonly used to make Cricket English willow bat and Kashmir Willow. The differences in their performance are significant.
High-quality English willow bats have tight and narrow grains and require minimal knocking in. They are preferred by most of the professionals. These are also more expensive than bats made from Kashmir willow.
The Type of Willow
The type of willow used in bats is important, as it determines how a bat feels and performs. The main types of willow used are English and Kashmir Willow. Both have their benefits, however the English Willow is more widely used.
Both are made from Salix alba (white willow) trees but the conditions where they are grown influences their physical properties and suitability for bat making. This can include factors like climate change, soil structure and moisture levels.
Grade 1 English willow bats are a premium product and are known for their performance, power and balance. They usually feature a swell depth of mid spine and have a concentrated sweet spot at the middle. These types of bats are preferred by Professional Cricketers. The highest grade of English willow is Grade 1+ which features blemish free blades with 12 straight grains. This is often referred to as Players Grade.
The Grain
The number of grains visible on the face of a bat indicates the age of the willow used to make it. In the past, it was assumed that a higher grain count meant a better bat, but these days, most willow cricket bats are made from younger willow and therefore have fewer grains.
When selecting a new cricket bat, you should look for one that has a light and springy feel to it. If the handle is spliced in, look for a tapered splice, which reduces the stress on the connection point and will help reduce cracking and splitting.
Narrow grained bats have more visible grains and indicate that the willow used to make the bat was grown slowly. They are generally considered the preferred choice of most professionals as they have a naturally hard surface and don’t need much knocking in. Bats with wide grain are made from willow that has developed more quickly and require more hammering in and oil to reach peak performance, but tend to last longer.
The Colour
The condition in which the Willow grows has a big impact on its strength and performance. Whether it’s strong winds, soil structure or humidity - all affect how the Willow grows. These conditions can also cause flaws in the wood which can affect how the bat performs.
The colour of the Willow used in cricket bats is one way to identify it. English Willow is whiter than Kashmir Willow and therefore can be easily differentiated from a bat made of Kashmir willow.
Another way to distinguish English Willow from Kashmir Willow is the specks on the bat. The light specks are caused by the insects that lay their eggs inside the bark, leaving behind the specks. The heavy specks are caused by severe pruning. This pruning is often done by professional players who want to maximise the performance of their bat.
Generally, the top batsman prefer English willow, although Kashmir willow bats are also well known for their quality. The reason is that English willow is lighter, softer and has the best grain quality than Kashmir Willow.
The Stain
The batting style of a player determines the sweet spot position in a bat, and a wellformed shape will allow players to maximise the performance of their equipment. The sweet spot is located in the lower-middle area of a front-foot player’s bat and the higher-middle area for back-foot players.
The willow used in Cricket English willow bat is a soft wood and requires careful processing to ensure the best possible performance from the blade. One of the most important processes is pressing, which creates a hard surface on the back of the blade and prevents the willow from absorbing the ball and reducing its power.
Willow is susceptible to a natural infection known as ‘watermark disease’, which leaves a dark watery stain on the face of the bat. This can be seen as a good thing as it means the bat has matured and the blemishes are a sign of a well-made piece of English willow. However, too much moisture can be detrimental to the structure of a bat and lead to premature cracking and splitting.
