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[potzy248]

Anyone seen this or know about it?

Ian Callen looks to have set it up. Looks very interesting.

http://www.willowblue.com.au

[Bat and Ball Cricket]

I stumbled across this website a few months ago when i was looking into having a crack at making some bats myself (was struggling to find english willow clefts in very, very low volume in Australia. i.e only chasing a couple of clefts).

Of the Willow Blue Australia Accredited Bat Makers, I've only heard of McVicar's Cricket. Came across Tom's youtube page not that long ago.

[dougydee]

It will be good to have some more local bat makers here in Aust. Not too sure how the Aussie grown english willow will be received. There's no reason why it shouldn't be good given growing conditions similar to that of english grown willow.

[skip1973]

It will be good to have some more local bat makers here in Aust. Not too sure how the Aussie grown english willow will be received. There's no reason why it shouldn't be good given growing conditions similar to that of english grown willow.

It's not English willow if it's not grown in England!

[tugga]

Speaking of Aussie makers, few more are popping up:

http://www.ulyssescricket.com.au/
http://www.dnbcricket.com.au/
http://www.prenterbats.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grant-Cricket-Bats/365140326946999
http://www.mustangcricket.com.au/
http://www.willowblue.com.au/accredited-bat-makers
http://www.dingbatsports.com.au/about/

[Topgun]

Are they planting the willow in Australia? I dont know but i dont think that they will perform as good when compared to English grown willow. Any thoughts?

[Bat and Ball Cricket]

Are they planting the willow in Australia? I dont know but i dont think that they will perform as good when compared to English grown willow. Any thoughts?

Yeah grown in Australia.

A lot of guys get fickel about timber. Yes, if it isn't grown in England, it can't be called "english willow".
My general feeling, is english willow performs much, much better then kashmir willow. However, i've never seen any 'non-english willow' that has been grown in conditions similar/mimicking english ones. The only kashmir i've seen is for the mass produced indian market, something that Willow Blue is far from.

I know that wine is a long way from cricket bats, but this is a bit of a similar example.
True champagne is actually only produced in one region of France. If not in this region, it can't be called "champagne".
But the Italians have some Presecco that is a very, very similar product that many argue is better than champagne.

 

[potzy248]

I see where you're coming from. Its like Beef or dairy, subtle differences but pretty much the same.

I would have thought that Aussie and England couldn't be further apart in terms of climate? NZ would be a closer match.

Until they have a few first class batsman using the willow regularly then it won't be taken seriously IMO.

[Seniorplayer]

It could be  willow tree saplings grown in England and planted as sets in Australia otherwise known as EWNA.( English willow nurtured in Australia).
The same as EWNI.

[skip1973]

Yeah grown in Australia.

A lot of guys get fickel about timber. Yes, if it isn't grown in England, it can't be called "english willow".
My general feeling, is english willow performs much, much better then kashmir willow. However, i've never seen any 'non-english willow' that has been grown in conditions similar/mimicking english ones. The only kashmir i've seen is for the mass produced indian market, something that Willow Blue is far from.

I know that wine is a long way from cricket bats, but this is a bit of a similar example.
True champagne is actually only produced in one region of France. If not in this region, it can't be called "champagne".
But the Italians have some Presecco that is a very, very similar product that many argue is better than champagne.

Fisher in Melbourne has tried it, it's more durable than English willow and generally butt ugly and not as responsive, think decent net bat.

[skip1973]

Kashmir is a place, not a type of willow, that's why it's often called English willow nurtured in India. People doing a 5 minute course being labelled accredited bat makers I find quite amusing.

[procricket]

Doesn't ian callen use Australian williow ever tried one skip mate

[Wickets-then-runs]

I have a Callen made from Australian Willow and Skip is right: butt ugly and quite hard. It didn't really need much knocking in, if any. A good net bat.

[skip1973]

Doesn't ian callen use Australian williow ever tried one skip mate

Ian Callen would never get a cent from me.

[uknsaunders]

I suspect the biggest issue will be finding conditions very similar to England ie. damp most of the time, with the occasional brief burst of sunshine. I imagine somewhere like Tasmania would be as close as you could get.