Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => CA => Topic started by: Mfarank on February 24, 2019, 06:17:55 AM

Title: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on February 24, 2019, 06:17:55 AM
So heres my teammate's Ca plus 15000 that he got at the start of the season in october. Hes a top order batsman and has scored about 800 runs with it in about 30 innings. Its seen a fair bit of repairs as well. And finally yesterday it gave in after he slogged one and inside edged it.
Was a standard issue Ca with about 41mm edge, 65mm spine and some concaving weighing at 2lb11oz and cost him about 200gbp

(https://i.postimg.cc/pLTfZDV9/IMG-20190223-143503.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/4NwvV8Gk/IMG-20190223-143510.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/HkhQPVj6/IMG-20190223-143518.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/J4Rcsf95/IMG-20190223-143532.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/QMvJVH3F/IMG-20190223-143559.jpg)

Its pretty much done now as theres not many people here in the uae who can fix this kind of damage professionally. The crack is all the way up the shoulder and into the splice
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Wickets-then-runs on February 24, 2019, 09:39:39 AM
That shouldnt have happened as the sticker on the front says the bat is fully knocked....
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on February 24, 2019, 10:02:21 AM
That shouldnt have happened as the sticker on the front says the bat is fully knocked....
The sticker was completely ignored and the bat was prepared properly as per the standard protocol
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: AJ2014 on February 24, 2019, 11:05:31 AM
Hopefully enough linseed oil was used, or does look very dry, think any bat will break the way this has been used
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on February 24, 2019, 11:09:58 AM
Hopefully enough linseed oil was used, or does look very dry, think any bat will break the way this has been used
If a bat has dried out no amount of linseed oil will ever put the moisture back in. Linseed oil only helps seal the moisture already inside the willow.
And no it has not been abused. The batsman this belonged to is a very good batsman who doesnt try to smash at everything.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: billyb on February 24, 2019, 01:26:21 PM
An old sage once told me that if you dip the bat in a river, it won't be dry anymore.  ;)
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: SD on February 24, 2019, 04:03:57 PM
What type of balls has that been used against? The seems to he a lot of yellow ball marks on that and many of the reds ones have left the kind of paint like residue you don't get with quality balls. It doesn't matter how good a bat you are using if the balls aren't up to scratch
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on February 24, 2019, 04:12:48 PM
What type of balls has that been used against? The seems to he a lot of yellow ball marks on that and many of the reds ones have left the kind of paint like residue you don't get with quality balls. It doesn't matter how good a bat you are using if the balls aren't up to scratch
The same kind of balls that all other bats are used against. Never seen anything like this with any other brands
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: InternalTraining on February 24, 2019, 04:32:01 PM
So heres my teammate's Ca plus 15000 that he got at the start of the season in october. Hes a top order batsman and has scored about 800 runs with it in about 30 innings. ...Was a standard issue Ca with about 41mm edge, 65mm spine and some concaving weighing at 2lb11oz and cost him about 200gbp

30 innings, 800 runs and cost 200 GBP is not a bad equation. How long, ideally, do you want a bat to last? How long should a bat last?
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: ca_gold on February 24, 2019, 04:34:35 PM
Your bias against the brand is clearly obvious. The number of full cherries showing up on the edge clearly show plenty of abuse. Which balls are used for the cricket in the UAE - SG?
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: InternalTraining on February 24, 2019, 04:35:17 PM
The same kind of balls that all other bats are used against. Never seen anything like this with any other brands

Are all things truly equal in your comparison? Usage? Prep? Let's say that all things are equal and this CA was less durable. Then, so what? Bats break, some sooner than others.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Andythomo21 on February 24, 2019, 05:22:09 PM
If last season was anything to go by going by the 800 run equation I think this bat would have lasted me about 5 years! 👍👍
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Ajdal on February 24, 2019, 05:40:54 PM
That edge looks more used than the entire middle of the bat.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: SLA on February 24, 2019, 06:10:00 PM
30 innings, 800 runs and cost 200 GBP is not a bad equation. How long, ideally, do you want a bat to last? How long should a bat last?

I always use 10p per run as a reasonable rule of thumb.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Ajdal on February 24, 2019, 06:20:01 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/0rgi8Q8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ukwKIZ7.jpg)

B3 after 2 long nets.

(https://i.imgur.com/zRAhhV4.jpg)

H4L after one net.

(https://i.imgur.com/igIOfO4.jpg)

GM players after a short and sweet innings for 38 runs.

All 3 have a few things in common, they were used by the same player, the middle got more action than the edges, and all of them are terrific bats. But sadly all of them had wear and tear along the edges very early and had to be fixed. Does this make these bats bad value for money, not at all because that’s expected of top end bats. Light for their weight and pressed differently than lower grade bats.

For comparison the CA below was used for 1.5 years and was used way more than all 3 bats above combined. Removed the scuffsheet and took these pictures:

(https://i.imgur.com/rfqILag.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JLHCo9k.jpg)


Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: brokenbat on February 24, 2019, 06:29:13 PM
800 runs is pretty good use (most brands say a bat should last about a 1000 runs). Also, the insane number of marks on the edge (more than the middle!) point to a lot of wild slogs (and you seem to indicate this is how the batter batted). All in all, doesn’t seem like the bat was lacking much in durability. Not sure why you’d go out of your way to malign a brand knowing fully well how weak this “evidence” is..
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on February 24, 2019, 07:10:03 PM
Fact is i have seen this bat being used in person while none of u have so when i say this bat hasnt been abused, u either take my word for it or call it as BS. Another fact is that this bat didnt  have a scuff sheet on but did have edge tape on. Naked wood doesnt attract as many cherries as edge tape or scuff sheet does. Also fact is that i have seen the same pattern of damage among every Ca bat i have seen or used in the past 2 years. Another fact is that i cannot force anyone not to use a bat or a brand. Enjoy the pictures, assume from them what u will. I have tried to be as objective as i could. Again i say i have nothing personal against any brand. Just thought id share it with the experts here.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: InternalTraining on February 24, 2019, 07:45:13 PM
^ Your experiences with the bat are perfectly valid. My position is that in general, CAs are reliable bats.

Bats break, it is the natural order of things. My biggest peeve is bat not opening up and those brands/bats are worse than bats that break. :D
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: AJ2014 on February 24, 2019, 07:59:25 PM
Think top end CA bats definitely dried plus they're pressed softer than their lower end bats, resulting in being pingy from first cricket ball hit, as most of the Asian guys I know they're too much fussed about knocking in their bats for hours, but they're also more prone to break off not properly knocked in and care taken, if CA would be more considerable about products they should at least start selling all their ranges pressed harder, just like Gray Nicolls, and believe me that Powerbow 6 900, didn't take more than an hour to become ready to be played in, even though it's supposed to be pressed on the harder sideas it's actually is factory prepared by gn, so these extras give more user satisfaction
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on February 25, 2019, 08:30:47 AM
Tend to find this is common of Asian made bats, and to be honest when then churn out 40mm edge bats at 2.8 time and time again they will be over dried being baked on roof tops in 40degree heat. Add in if you based in a warm country I would guess every drop of moisture would be sucked out fairly quickly

Saying that for 800 runs it’s not the worst return, and when you say the same balls what are they as unless they are approx £15 per ball I find that more often then not they are very very hard.
Shame it’s gone but a great reason to buy another bat
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Yorkershire on February 28, 2019, 02:18:43 PM
I wish they would just stop with these 'Knocked in' stickers.. my biggest annoyance...
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: JK Lewis on February 28, 2019, 04:43:52 PM
I wish they would just stop with these 'Knocked in' stickers.. my biggest annoyance...

I've always been a bit puzzled by those stickers to be honest. I'd think they just open the door to more complaints if the bat breaks or gets damaged.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Yorkershire on March 01, 2019, 11:32:06 PM
They are premier cricket brand in Pakistan. It's just stupid they have them and I agree 're encouraging complaints..

I'd understand it if it was some back alley brand...

Well they are having the hump with Hanif at EAS for telling it as it is due to their new models... have a Look at Hanifs Twitter account.

Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: KW9221 on March 02, 2019, 06:14:02 AM
Hanif is being unreasonable. He is probably bitter about something else and he is picking on CA.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: AJ2014 on March 02, 2019, 06:14:57 AM
First thing I've done with those bats, take off fully knocked in stickers, oiled and started knocking in,
agreed with above, more rain to complain, once I had to convince a 1st team player to oil and knock his ca15000, 2.7lb bat, can you believe this? 🙂
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on March 02, 2019, 06:44:23 AM
He called them out on their deception. And its true that they're doing it and they should have the balls to admit it. But if confronted theyr being whiny babies about it. All the more power to Hanif.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on March 02, 2019, 06:47:55 AM
Hanif is being unreasonable. He is probably bitter about something else and he is picking on CA.
As a retailer he has every right to be pissed if he is being sent grade 2 bats for the price of grade 1+ bats that now nobody is going to buy from him unless he goes the retailer BS route of "these 7 star bats are now graded for performance".
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: AJ2014 on March 02, 2019, 07:52:59 AM
7* bats are made of top grade willow, there will also be bats those don't beauties but performance is top class
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on March 02, 2019, 08:09:25 AM
7* bats are made of top grade willow, there will also be bats those don't beauties but performance is top class
Absolute bull. Being 7 star has got nothing to do with performance. Prices are solely based on looks
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: AJ2014 on March 02, 2019, 08:44:24 AM
Absolute bull. Being 7 star has got nothing to do with performance. Prices are solely based on looks
No, you've got it wrong and don't talk like this it you don't know everything!
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on March 02, 2019, 09:12:46 AM
No, you've got it wrong and don't talk like this it you don't know everything!
Agree to disagree
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Yorkershire on March 02, 2019, 12:22:42 PM
7* bats are made of top grade willow, there will also be bats those don't beauties but performance is top class

In Hanif's defence he has been reviewing their bats for 6 years... he has some kind of perspective ...

If CA just said they are bring prices inline with market conditions etc... and now their flagship bats will be morgs and white edition but prices are changing... a bit of communication would have helped CAs case. How many times can you add pro or + to a grade... 1+++++++???

They have essentially devalued their 7 star rating...
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on March 02, 2019, 12:37:10 PM
Products Description of Morg edition
Premium quality bat endorsed by Eion Morgon
Expertly prepared from Super Best English Willow
Made as per particular requirements of international players
Awesome power condensed in the striking area
Enormous Sweet Spot, minimum 40mm edges, 9+ straight grains
Ultimate balance and superb performance
Innovative embossed stickers with 3D-Effect (first time in Pakistan)

Products Description of Plus 15000 player edition 7 star
8+ straight grains.
Hand crafted from Super Best grade one limited edition English Willow .
Made to the requirements of international & professional players .
Immense power condensed in striking area with enormous Sweet Spot and thick edges.
Ultimate balance and super performance.
Innovative embossed stickers with 3D-Effect.
Pre-knocked, fitted with Toe Guard and clear Face tape provided with special bat cover.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: KW9221 on March 02, 2019, 12:52:35 PM
As a retailer he has every right to be pissed if he is being sent grade 2 bats for the price of grade 1+ bats that now nobody is going to buy from him unless he goes the retailer BS route of "these 7 star bats are now graded for performance".
Well my friend I have seen his video where he has shown the bat quality and honestly he is being unreasonable. I have seen pro bats with blemishes but they go for big amount. I have had more bats gone through my hands than many have seen in life. He is upset that these bats have blemishes and should be downgraded. I completely disagree with his approach and I have read CA response to his tweet and they haven’t said anything wrong in their defense.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: dt-second-hand-cricket on March 02, 2019, 01:20:39 PM
calling him 'unqualified' to judge their bats and then threatening him with legal account for damaging their brand image does not fit together as a company statement

they are saying he is basically an amateur in judgement, but that his videos are damaging to their brand - means that any review/judgement we give on here about any brand/bat etc is libelous - if it is a negative view - that is the action of a bully.....
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: KW9221 on March 02, 2019, 01:28:53 PM
calling him 'unqualified' to judge their bats and then threatening him with legal account for damaging their brand image does not fit together as a company statement

they are saying he is basically an amateur in judgement, but that his videos are damaging to their brand - means that any review/judgement we give on here about any brand/bat etc is libelous - if it is a negative view - that is the action of a bully.....
I agree! They should not have said any of it. But what is his criteria to judge any bat? I have seen him selling £400 bats with blemishes without any issues. The first video that I have watched where he criticized CA Bats, all he said was these bats have blemishes and they should be CA 12000.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: dt-second-hand-cricket on March 02, 2019, 01:35:59 PM
I agree! They should not have said any of it. But what is his criteria to judge any bat? I have seen him selling £400 bats with blemishes without any issues. The first video that I have watched where he criticized CA Bats, all he said was these bats have blemishes and they should be CA 12000.
it certainly is a bit of an odd one from both angles - the problems of buying 'unseen' bats is the same for retailers as it is for Joe Public it seems!!!
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: jonny77 on March 02, 2019, 01:49:57 PM
Not sure that was his point. He wasn't annoyed they had blemishes as such, what he was saying was that before the Morgs etc were introduced, these bats would have been lower grades by CA. I get his point and he wasn't competing them to other brands, as all grade differently. He was saying CA are basically now calling these bats 15000s or whatever due to the fact they now want more for their Morgs Edition. If you bought a BMW 320 one year for X amount, then the next year when you went to upgrade they'd stuck a BMW 320 badge on a Ford and asked for the same money, would you think it was acceptable?
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on March 02, 2019, 02:18:29 PM
Not sure that was his point. He wasn't annoyed they had blemishes as such, what he was saying was that before the Morgs etc were introduced, these bats would have been lower grades by CA. I get his point and he wasn't competing them to other brands, as all grade differently. He was saying CA are basically now calling these bats 15000s or whatever due to the fact they now want more for their Morgs Edition. If you bought a BMW 320 one year for X amount, then the next year when you went to upgrade they'd stuck a BMW 320 badge on a Ford and asked for the same money, would you think it was acceptable?
Wow u just hit the nail down on the coffin! Perfectly explained what i have been trying to say for days! Well done!
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Psi on March 02, 2019, 02:50:47 PM
One thing's for sure is that all this discussion on here, YouTube and Twitter is giving CA loads of good publicity. Even though there is quite a lot of criticism of grading and over-drying, no-one has criticised how well the bats perform out of the bag. Lots of people may want to give them a go this season just because of that and the Morgan links.

Has anyone got experience of doing their own heavy bats in the airing cupboard? Do they lose many oz and still perform well?
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Yorkershire on March 02, 2019, 03:13:04 PM
One thing's for sure is that all this discussion on here, YouTube and Twitter is giving CA loads of good publicity. Even though there is quite a lot of criticism of grading and over-drying, no-one has criticised how well the bats perform out of the bag. Lots of people may want to give them a go this season just because of that and the Morgan links.

Has anyone got experience of doing their own heavy bats in the airing cupboard? Do they lose many oz and still perform well?

I don't think anyone doubts the quality of CA.. maybe except @Mfarank  ;)

It's the value for money ... also as a major brand they can't get stickers that are accurate 're weight and knocking in...

As bats I rate them highly but won't buy one due to there being better bang for buck elsewhere...
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: InternalTraining on March 02, 2019, 03:31:20 PM
Bats grading is as random as it gets. A brand can grade a bat as they see fit. There is no standard and this discussion proves my point as well. We need standards for bat specs and grading. There is no true apples-to-apples comparison anywhere between bats that are graded the same. There is maybe one (non-custom) brand that is consistent in their grading.

I have a few "pro" or "pro" grade bats and some of them look like "Grade-2" bats if graded generously.

I can see why a bat seller would take a brand to task as his customers will ask questions about the pricing and grading. It is a no win situation. We can blame CA all we want but until bat specs and grading is standardized, we will remain in the grey area of what's right and wrong about a bat's price, grading etc.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: ca_gold on March 03, 2019, 12:23:22 PM
Again, those looking to get a CA - check the grading on the handle. That is all you really need to know - don't go buy the stickers placed. The stickers are definitely determined on the looks of the blade.

And in regards to the debate, I saw the video and think it's a bit harsh. It can also be due to the current supply of willow the brand has. Everyone crying about what CA is doing, how is it any different to what any other brand is doing? MRF have done the same with Chase master, PS, Grand edition etc -  SS has been doing this for years - i.e same shape with a new top model coming every few years.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: cricketbadger on March 03, 2019, 04:34:21 PM
Wow this Super Best Grade 1 willow sounds good.

Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: KW9221 on March 03, 2019, 04:46:48 PM
Not sure that was his point. He wasn't annoyed they had blemishes as such, what he was saying was that before the Morgs etc were introduced, these bats would have been lower grades by CA. I get his point and he wasn't competing them to other brands, as all grade differently. He was saying CA are basically now calling these bats 15000s or whatever due to the fact they now want more for their Morgs Edition. If you bought a BMW 320 one year for X amount, then the next year when you went to upgrade they'd stuck a BMW 320 badge on a Ford and asked for the same money, would you think it was acceptable?
I have been in market for buying a car myself and car prices have been going up consistently. You have same cars with different features but for every additional feature, comes an additional cost associated to it. You are well within your rights to criticize CA but he was being harsh. There might be more to the story than we all know. I have seen many brands over the years that have been doing this.
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Tom on March 03, 2019, 06:27:09 PM
Wow this Super Best Grade 1 willow sounds good.
Weirdly, Super Best is a genuine grade (above G1) from one particular willow merchant. Just shows the lack of uniformity across the industry,
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: AJ2014 on March 08, 2019, 07:17:42 AM
https://youtu.be/luvNyKModyU
CA 7* review by Hanif 🙂
Title: Re: Drier than the sahara
Post by: Mfarank on March 08, 2019, 07:22:50 AM
https://youtu.be/luvNyKModyU
CA 7* review by Hanif 🙂
They look and feel lovely. They always do. No doubt about it. If i was doing an honest review of a brand new Ca bat it wouldnt be much different from this. Unfortunately there is no way of telling how dry they are until u actually start using them. For some it doesnt matter so much for others it does.