Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: Tom on April 15, 2010, 11:05:23 AM
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A FAMILY business that has been handed down through five generations is on the verge of being killed off by a decision made by the EU that will have a knock-on effect on world cricket.
Anglian Willow Services, based in King Street, High Ongar, has been producing wood for cricket bats since the late 1700s, but now faces closure following the introduction of a European Directive enforced on the UK in March, which bans use of the insecticide, methyl bromide.
The chemical, which has been banned because of its effect on the environment, is necessary for the treatment of willow before it can be exported to India and made into cricket bats.
The ban threatens the £3m-a-year Essex-based world cricket bat industry, as well as putting the future of the Watling family business in jeopardy.
Val Watling, company secretary for Anglian Willow Services, said: "I am horrified by the whole thing. It's not just going to affect us, it will mean closure for any of the businesses that are involved in the exportation of willow for cricket bats."
Both Anglian Willow Services and JS Wright, of Great Leighs, were lulled by promises that an alternative to methyl bromide treatment would precede the ban - but it did not.
Val's son Geoff Watling, who is a director of the family business, said: "They say a form of heat treatment can be used but that actually splits willow so we are basically left with nothing.
"The Indian Government cannot allow our willow to be imported without a treatment certificate. On that basis I give our industry 12 weeks to survive.
"We alone have 1,400 prepared trees ready to go and Wrights, who are responsible for up to 80 per cent of the UK supply, have 20 times that amount.
"The current rules of cricket demand bats are made of willow. Without quality East Anglian willow the worldwide game supply of test standard and 20-20 bats could dry up within two years."
Mark Orley, secretary for Willingale Cricket Club, has spoken out in support of the company.
He said: "Most of us are aware that a lot of the world's wood for cricket bats comes from Essex and it will be sad to lose any company that plays a part in the manufacture of cricket equipment."
A spokesman for the Department for Rural Affairs added: "Under the Montreal Protocol, methyl bromide was banned from 2005 in the developed world, except for quarantine and pre-shipment (QPS) and critical uses.
"Methyl bromide is no longer allowed from March 19, 2010."
From: http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/news/CRICKET-BAT-FIRM-knocked/article-2009046-detail/article.html
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Flippin EU! If only we were french, we could flout all of these directives, but because were british we have to abide by them!
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No big deal, not going to happen.
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Hasn't it already happened? I'm sure they were saying nothing has been exported for the past couple of weeks.
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there must be ways round - send it via afghanistan first - i'm sure theyr'e not overly hot on documentation there :)
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No big deal, not going to happen.
I hope your right, I quite like english willow....
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The way I read it is that the Indian government needs to change in line with the EU otherwise they won't be getting any English willow. I would have expected some huge orders from India, therefore shortages and prices hikes as the demand to get in before the legislation came through but that didn't happen. So not sure if it has already been enforced
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Flippin EU! If only we were french, we could flout all of these directives, but because were british we have to abide by them!
this is so true across all industries. On the plus side, it means I have a job...
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Good it will mean more production of bats in the uk.
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It is like this, the lazy sods exporting have known for a while but done nothing, the ban has come in due to the Indian government requiring the use of Methyl Bromide but it being banned in the EU. Currently the relevant authorities are trying to get them to accept the willow with a certificate of being pest free and then they will fumigate in India upon arrival. But until then no exports, no big problem as they have masses of it over there stockpiled.
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I might of interpreted this wrong but - am I correct that the only reason the willow goes to India is to turn the clefts into bats or does this cover the export of completed cricket bats as well?
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Since this has taken place does it mean there will be no batmaker left in UK?
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I would think there will be no affect to the bat makers in this country as it only affects willow being sent abroad. Sounds yo me a bit of bad management in waiting to long to find an alternative and the heat method not working
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I would think there will be no affect to the bat makers in this country as it only affects willow being sent abroad. Sounds yo me a bit of bad management in waiting to long to find an alternative and the heat method not working
If that is the case then it would be good for us at the quality of bat might improve. It might improve for the brands that send willow abroad
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Sure even if the worst happens and it all drys up, Petehosk will just need to have a sale and we should be running for an other 2-3 years, giving us enough time to find an alternative! :D
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They are looking at a new fumigation chemical in 2 months.
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Looking at a fumigation chemical and having a fumgation chemcial that will work are two entirely different things :)
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Hopefully won't affect british bat makers , maybe even increase sales for us,might affect companies who import most of there bats
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It might mean that the few companies that masquerade as 'british made bats' will have to bite the bullet and actually make their bats in england instead of importing them all from india!!! One very popular 'boutique' brand comes to mind - he wont be liking this news at all!
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might be getting near itchy bum time for a few the longer this go's on ....
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:D What goes around comes around!!!
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yes, I wondered whether it would help uk bat makers. Surely it will increase demand for bats made in the UK, as overseas bat makers struggle to obtain stock. It would also restrict demand and push willow prices up overseas and down in the uk - or have I got this wrong?
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it could be that many things change, or it could be the case that nothing will change at all - mike mentions they have a replacement fumigation chemical, i would probably imagine that they will sort this (or an alternative) out sooner rather than later and it will be business as usual.
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can't see willow prices going down in the uk,prob go up if anything !
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And if it got to the point where you could only get english willow bats made in the UK would it not push up the price of bats, as they're more expensive to make over here?
disclaimer: above comment is totally based on personal perception as oppose to any facts ;P
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Prices don't differ too much at the moment from England to Indian made, lower grades and Jnrs do though. But I would think that yes prices would go up, there isn't enough manufacturing capacity in the UK for all the brands who are sourcing gear from India. So price would increase as demand increases.
Interested to see how these new regs apply to Pakistan and to a lesser extent South Africa as they currently manufacturer for a few UK brands.
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Given how many bats are made in Pakistan, they must be loving this, they could be a big winner.
Having said that, I am sure Lalit Modi will have a view and could sort it out, even if he has to descretely get is chequebook out somewhere...*
(*not that I am suggesting in any way that indian business or indian cricket is corrupt, honest - will delete this post if it is deemed too contraversial!)
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oh the controversy!
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I have a feeling China may be passed the buck, could they start to make cricket bats?
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China can produce anything. They are the masters of imitation.
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Already making most of the helmet grills
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Also making clothing and bags for the serious players, bats are being tried but soft goods are starting to come out now.
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is labour cheaper in china?
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Yes, don't think theres minimum wage there...
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Might help you out Matt:
http://www.bankresearch.org/economicpolicyblog/2006/05/minimum_wage_ch.html
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Can't the willow be shipped to outside the EU (to Singapore for example), fumigated there using Methyl Bromide, and then onto India..?
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Yes it can.