Print

[Chris1976]

Interested to see whether you guys feel that the days of the heavy bats are dead? well obviously there will still be a market for them but I've noticed that there is now a huge demand for 2lb 7 & 8's rather than 2lb 11 & 12's that were so popular a few years ago

I've got this 2lb 12 bat at the moment and I'm quite proud of it as its middle is amazing and it picks up nicely for its size although I have been working out ahead of the season so I might just be feeling strong  ....got a player in mind for it as I know he's in the market for a new bat ....I just know if he turns it down I may struggle to sell it around here unless I take some weight off it.

What are the trends like in your teams and leagues?  I would definitely say 2lb 9 is now the average weight in our club.... where as 8 years ago I'd of said average 2lb 11 was definitely at least the average... probably kept down by a few who liked very light bats i.e 2lb 6's

[attachment deleted by admin]

[attachment deleted by admin]

[SillyShilly]

I have to agree with you, i've moved from a heavy bats towards lighter bats. I've played better cricket gradually over the years and when you got guys who bowl at 75+ i found timing to be a real issue with the heavy bats, plus i havnt really noticed the difference in hitting distance between the light and heavy bats. I would have thought that heavy bats would still be popular, i cant think of many seasons where i've turned up to play on belting tracks week in week out and just nurdle it around, i usually play on puddings with crap outfields hence the need for heavy bats. I play in a relatively young side with loads of u16 and u18 and their bats vary massively.....i suppose what im saying is that it's often a personal thing, but making bats light with  big middle seems to be the most popular choice at the moment in my experience.

[Tom]

Years ago though in the days of Bradman I think they used really light bats and then with players like Tendulkar using 3lbers we moved heavier again. I think though now with improvements in technology, better ways to shape bats, more bat shapes, willow grown and managed better and the drying process of willow it has meant that big bats can be achieved in very light weights.

I've got a few 2lb 4's here which I had done specifically for indoor players local to me and they're massive. Edges must be 30mm on them, obviously willow has been dried more than usual and for that reason they may only last a season but still quite amazing.

When Bradman was using his bats they were a similar weight and were toothpicks in comparison. Would love to see the scores he'd get with the current bats.

[art]

Always around a 2lb 7 throughout my career.

The craze for heavy bats and very heavy bats seemed to be a fad that started when a few big name cricketers bragged about the weight of their bats. In reality a heavy bat can be used effectively by a big man and many of the smaller men who bragged about heavy bats actually changed them very quickly after the start of an innings.A 2lb 7 can clear the rope just as sweetly as a heavy bat.

[Chris1976]

When Bradman was using his bats they were a similar weight and were toothpicks in comparison. Would love to see the scores he'd get with the current bats.

Got to agree Tom was looking at his record again earlier.... it caught my eye when I was looking at Jack Hobb's record... which is almost as impressive in many respects.... I fear modern day bowlers would of got at the very least the same murdering and probably even more so due to covered wickets these days.

I've got some of my Dad's cricket bats from his county days and they are light as a feather.... very thin but then top class players tend to use the middle bit so I think it matters less eh.

[art]

I can't really support you in the statement that modern day bowlers would get at least the very same murdering.

Given that I have played now and umpired for quite a few years modern bowlers are fitte, in general, than their counterparts in years gone by and are generally more skilled. Some deliveries that were reserved for only the very top bolwers can now be bowled on demand by folks across many grades. By the same token batsman are also fitter.

I umpired a game yesterday where an experienced although relatively young bowler was bowling against the cream of the under 17/18 group. The youngsters won on the day but bowler with a little guidance took a hat trick at an important time. I guess I can still pick weaknesses, lol. But the key to my coaching was the fact that this bowler could put the ball exactly where told at 140k's.

Playing with a light bat last week I couldn't time a thing but that was due to lack of match practice, but the placement was there to get a few runs. Ability as in most things is the key. If you have to drag the bat up and think about it you are taking part of your concentration away from the shot.

But looking at the beautiful piece of willow, a big man or a man with powerful forearms would do the piece justice.

[Chris1976]

Yeah I can actually see what your saying about the bowlers Art its a very good and valid point you make!  Its unfortunately something we will never truly know but I'd sure of like to of seen Bradman play live.

I'm hoping to sell that bat to our club skipper as he uses 2lb 12's and is such a clean striker of a ball.... I've tentatively tested it with a ball and it feels and sounds great.... I hope he buys it so I can see it play.... its not my personal taste but then I'm only 5'8" tall and not exactly a bodybuilder