Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => Custom companies => Topic started by: Buzz on April 08, 2025, 08:33:11 PM
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https://dudleyboy.substack.com/p/the-best-bloody-podshaver-in-the
Just follow the link and read the story.
Please come back and thank me later. This is wonderful.
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Very cool.
Mount Maunganui/Tauranga in NZ is where I live. I didn't know Julian worked there. Great story.
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Great read, enjoyed that. Thanks.
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Great find, thanks for sharing.
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https://dudleyboy.substack.com/p/the-best-bloody-podshaver-in-the
Just follow the link and read the story.
Please come back and thank me later. This is wonderful.
Eh...funny!
"Our partnership lasted seven years, until we sold the Australian business to PUMA and Julian decided to stay out in Australia. In the UK, Millichamp & Hall exists till this day, forty years on, under the excellent stewardship of Rob Chambers and his team of master podshavers at the Somerset County Cricket Ground."
Didn't some sleuth from Custom Bats discover that M&H were having their bats made in India?
I got an Amplus before the ruckus and I am glad I did. What an amazing bat!
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So who is making M&H bats in England?
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One thing that strikes me about the M&H ‘About’ webpage, is that at no point is it proudly shouting about bats being made in England.
And just uses the term ‘high end cricket gear’. So what gives you the impression anything is made in England? (Other than the factory tour bespoke experience)
The website suggests nothing is local anymore. Or they arent proud to shout about it. Just the finest English willow being used. It would be interesting to see if anyone has a M&H blue or butterfly bat?
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You guys must have missed the massive thread about M&H being Indian made. Someone found a shipping invoice that showed them all being imported from India and the can of worms opened about M&H having to change their slogan from being UK made.
It was a good thread.
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Is it a case of them making their top of the range bats here and everything else abroad or are they all Indian imports.
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Is it a case of them making their top of the range bats here and everything else abroad or are they all Indian imports.
There's a limited few made here, pros/people with deep enough pockets, and then the rest are India. Not that there's any problem with that I should add, so long as you're honest about it when challenged. I still firmly believe the best batmakers in the world are based in the subcontinent, they just don't have a social media account for people to put a face to them etc.
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There's a limited few made here, pros/people with deep enough pockets, and then the rest are India. Not that there's any problem with that I should add, so long as you're honest about it when challenged. I still firmly believe the best batmakers in the world are based in the subcontinent, they just don't have a social media account for people to put a face to them etc.
It's hard to disagree having played with some of the top grade DSC/SS bats in recent years. They have really upped their game.
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There's a limited few made here, pros/people with deep enough pockets, and then the rest are India. Not that there's any problem with that I should add, so long as you're honest about it when challenged. I still firmly believe the best batmakers in the world are based in the subcontinent, they just don't have a social media account for people to put a face to them etc.
Better than Julian Millichamp? Andrew Kember? Tim Keeley? Etc etc.
What are their names?
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Better than Julian Millichamp? Andrew Kember? Tim Keeley? Etc etc.
What are their names?
I think this is the point, people don't know the names because they don't have their own companies or their own social media following.
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I think the reason you don't know their names is because they may not have the same prestige as a 'boutique podshaver' in their countries.
Most likely seen as manual labourers, likely been paid a pittance for a skill they have mastered over decades anonymously in some factory. Im not an expert on Economics but I also imagine, you cant set yourself up as a one man band selling expensive bats, it may just not be viable. I know having spoken to people in Pakistan, high end grade english willow bats are out reach for most local young cricketers and some amateur teams pool their money together to maybe buy 2-3 communal team bats.
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I think this is the point, people don't know the names because they don't have their own companies or their own social media following.
Or make bats better than Millichamp, Kember and Keeley.
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Or make bats better than Millichamp, Kember and Keeley.
That is subjective, there's many top internationals that use bats other than those by the names above. Don't think anyone is taking anything away from those named above.
I think one of the most valid points made here previously, I cant remember who posted it but made a valid point for Tim as he has and is consulted by companies in the sub continent (I've seen a video with him and MB Malik owners).
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Same argument - who's the best of Millichamp, Keeley, Kember? Nobody can give you a definitive answer precisely because it's subjective. Exactly same could be said of some of these subcontinent makers.
Plenty top internationals use SS bats (stickered SS or something else), so clearly they do something right for these guys to use them.
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Do we know of any current international cricketers using bats made by Julian Millichamp or Andrew Kember?
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I think the reason you don't know their names is because they may not have the same prestige as a 'boutique podshaver' in their countries.
Some of them appear not to even have shoes.
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Do we know of any current international cricketers using bats made by Julian Millichamp or Andrew Kember?
Millichamp is retired. But since I was a boy in the late 80s & 90s it’s no secret that the best players arent using bats that their stickers are advertising. Why would the best players not be using the best batmakers today? Just like they always have been and always will. Top sports players have always been paid to wear branded clothing and be seen using top brands equipment.
It doesnt mean its the same you buy in shops. All the great batmakers have got memorabilia from the top players over the years thanking them. I can well believe eg a ‘New Balance’ player contacts the best batmakers to get a couple of favourites copied every year. But how would anyone know. Its the biggest paid secret.
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Weren't most Screaming Cat bats part made in India anyway?
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Weren't most Screaming Cat bats part made in India anyway?
Shhh you will shatter the legend
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Millichamp is retired. But since I was a boy in the late 80s & 90s it’s no secret that the best players arent using bats that their stickers are advertising. Why would the best players not be using the best batmakers today? Just like they always have been and always will. Top sports players have always been paid to wear branded clothing and be seen using top brands equipment.
It doesnt mean its the same you buy in shops. All the great batmakers have got memorabilia from the top players over the years thanking them. I can well believe eg a ‘New Balance’ player contacts the best batmakers to get a couple of favourites copied every year. But how would anyone know. Its the biggest paid secret.
Thanks for that revelation.
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Weren't most Screaming Cat bats part made in India anyway?
Not to begin with but he did end up going that way unfortunately. I dont doubt that its the only way to keep up with demand that his reputation created. But did the finished product get better? Seems very unlikely.
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Weren't most Screaming Cat bats part made in India anyway?
From what I've been told, setup the press and taught them how he'd like his part mades pressed. No different really from when he taught Colin in Yorkshire how to do them for the beginning of the venture with Hall. (I do wonder if that press they bought off him is one that is down in Somerset)
Not to begin with but he did end up going that way unfortunately. I dont doubt that its the only way to keep up with demand that his reputation created. But did the finished product get better? Seems very unlikely.
I doubt the quality dropped either. Normally people talk about the feel of the bat and how it played - which you could attribute to high quality materials, (handle and willow) high quality work done on the Indian end, (Handle making and part made production) and Julian being exceptionally skilful with the way he shaped bats, handles and balanced. You can only do so much in your lifetime as a batmaker, why work yourself to death trying to meet demand when there's people you can teach and trust to be part of the process to streamline things?
Thanks for the share - I've never heard any of the batmakers who knew him have anything but praise for Julian. Now to rewatch his Youtube videos for the thousandth time :D
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I hasn't appreciated how short a period of time Julian Millichamp was actually involved in the UK operation.
Their branding remains fantastic though and seems to be the kit of choice for a lot of the public schools I have played against
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https://dudleyboy.substack.com/p/the-best-bloody-podshaver-in-the
Just follow the link and read the story.
Please come back and thank me later. This is wonderful.
Brilliant article thanks very much for sharing. Growing up in Somerset in the 90s they were the local bat maker. Luckily I had a friend who let me borrow his many a time
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https://dudleyboy.substack.com/p/the-best-bloody-podshaver-in-the (https://dudleyboy.substack.com/p/the-best-bloody-podshaver-in-the)
Just follow the link and read the story.
Please come back and thank me later. This is wonderful.
Christ that's a good read - kudos Buzz for sharing!
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Better than Julian Millichamp? Andrew Kember? Tim Keeley? Etc etc.
What are their names?
No doubt the likes of SS and SG will have some bat makers that can rival anyone in the UK or Aus, just look at get the volume produced in India and they will have a couple of senior makers that would have honed the craft over decades but it’s just not going to be known who they are given A) size of the operation, B) not being in the UK or western world and no doubt social media not as prevalent and finally unlike the mentioned who’s names are the known brands these are cogs in a vast enterprise
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No different really from when he taught Colin in Yorkshire how to do them for the beginning of the venture with Hall. (I do wonder if that press they bought off him is one that is down in Somerset)
Where does it say that he taught Colin anything?
"Colin was seventy years old, hair and beard frosted with sawdust, and had worked at the same big cricket bat company since he was fifteen using that selfsame press; an impressive, wrought iron machine the size of a small car. When he’d left, he’d bought the press from the company and, a couple of years later, when he finally retired, we’d end up buying it from him. "
Seems likely that Colin had worked at Slazenger?
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Where does it say that he taught Colin anything?
"Colin was seventy years old, hair and beard frosted with sawdust, and had worked at the same big cricket bat company since he was fifteen using that selfsame press; an impressive, wrought iron machine the size of a small car. When he’d left, he’d bought the press from the company and, a couple of years later, when he finally retired, we’d end up buying it from him. "
Seems likely that Colin had worked at Slazenger?
Apologies, I had misread/mis-recalled - he specified what he'd like and you'd probably trust someone with 55 years of experience to deliver! Slazenger is a fair shout
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Based on locations/timing I think the batmaker in question would be the late Colin Easter from Crown.
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Based on locations/timing I think the batmaker in question would be the late Colin Easter from Crown.
Would make sense as they used to supply handles to other brands as well. Was there not a maker with the surname 'Eason' ( I maybe wrong) there too?
I did purchase a 'Raje branded' bat from Raje Sports when they had just purchased the machinery and still had Crown bat makers helping out. Was a very traditional bat.
One of the brands on my doorstep that I wish I had purchased from earlier.
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This suggests his name was Colin Easton.
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/against-the-grain-1842376 (https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/against-the-grain-1842376)
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The article is wrong. 100% it's Easter
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That article is wrong. 100% it's Easter.
I believe you. Who was the head batmaker there? I remember a different name. Was mentioned on here when he died, I think.
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A Google of his name brings back this nice mention from Paul Bradbury on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/388913699899805/posts/463816869076154/).
(https://i.imgur.com/gsJQ5QT.png)
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Do you know the other fella's name?
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https://knights.auctionary.com/lot-details/index/catalog/26793/lot/47151/The-Ashes-England-v-Australia-1981-Crown-Sports-Dewsbury-Ltd-The-Sovereign-full-size-cricket-bat-signed-in-ink-to-the-face-by-el (https://knights.auctionary.com/lot-details/index/catalog/26793/lot/47151/The-Ashes-England-v-Australia-1981-Crown-Sports-Dewsbury-Ltd-The-Sovereign-full-size-cricket-bat-signed-in-ink-to-the-face-by-el)
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Do you know the other fella's name?
Nope.
The timing on Colin Easter leaving his old batmaking job, and then being at Crown would probably semi-align (right-ish time frame and location) with him being a former Senior Counties - Clough & Ward maker. Which would be where Duncan Fearnley started out too.
That factory used to be in Drighlington before later being Dewsbury.
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https://knights.auctionary.com/lot-details/index/catalog/26793/lot/47151/The-Ashes-England-v-Australia-1981-Crown-Sports-Dewsbury-Ltd-The-Sovereign-full-size-cricket-bat-signed-in-ink-to-the-face-by-el (https://knights.auctionary.com/lot-details/index/catalog/26793/lot/47151/The-Ashes-England-v-Australia-1981-Crown-Sports-Dewsbury-Ltd-The-Sovereign-full-size-cricket-bat-signed-in-ink-to-the-face-by-el)
Love that livery, very classic and stylish!
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I feel slightly sad to have forgotten the name.
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I believe Crown are doing a retro run later in the year, debatable as to whether it is the same brand etc.
https://m.facebook.com/crownsportsofeastboldon/