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[Milky Bar Kid]

Yesterday, opened the batting against a fourth team who fielded their 1st team opening bowler. Needless to say he was sharp and on a spicy wicket I got a nasty one first ball at the chest. Managed to get at on it but it didn't feel right. Looked down and felt sick. My beloved salix has cracked at the shoulder. I've tried to get some pics of the damage, what are your views? Is it repairable, worth sending off to them? It's still under warranty if that helps.

Milk

[LEACHY48]

if its still under warranty, send it off to them and you should get a replacement, Paul aldred replaced my bat after it broke in a similar way.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Is there anything I could of done to prevent it? Or is it just unlucky that it hit a weak spot?

[petehosk]

Some glue and a dowel to strengthen it, and it'll be all sorted!
Send it off.....should be straight forward fix.
Or replacement anyway!

[petehosk]

The only bat which is commonly given thicker shoulders to ensure that this doesn't happen easily are GM bats....players models in particular!
But a lot of bat makers are under pressure to provide a huge amount of wood in the middle at light weights, and they have to take the willow from some places, which means wood is often removed from the  shoulders and toe to enable extre wood to be left in the hitting area.

[praguetaz]

or you can get a custom made bat perhaps an inch shorter in the blade, longer handle but still with a thick shoulder. It'll probably still crack on the edges higher up if you catch a quickie but enables you to still have a lot of willow in the middle.