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[brokenbat]

Before you all say "NO"...hear me out.

I used to think that because they get free bats, they just take them straight into nets / games. But I am beginning to think they must at least do the edges and toe?
I have seen bats with zero preparation get DECIMATED with just one or two nets..

So, if pros really just go in with zero preparation, how do they make them last longer than a handful of nets?? We've all seen THAT pic of sachin's bat - the one he scored a million runs with...so clearly they make more use of them than one would expect out of "zero prep" bats?

[CrickFreak]

You guessed it right - they dont prepare their bats. They come pre-prepared. They usually carry around 5 bats per series and imagine what it would take to knock them all.
Sachin's bats were used in the nets by local boys before they were sent out to him.

[joeljonno]

There was an interview with  someone who said that you never get the smell of linseed like you did in the old days.

Freddie used to take them straight out the wrapper at times.

I guess they'll be prepared at the factory prior to despatch.


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[WalkingWicket37]

It depends on the pro.
Solve will prepare their bats properly, play them in IV the nets and have a favourite they try to keep going for as long as possible. Others will use a bat until it breaks, then take the next one or the wrapper and use that until it breaks.

I beleive Alastair Cook likes do play his in and keep them going as long as possible.
In one of his books Freddie Flintoff said about when he broke his bat in the 2005 Ashes, a load of brand new bats were bought out to him, and having never used any of them he didn't have a clue which one to pick, so he grabbed the one nearest to him and took it out the wrapper!

[procricket]

Can only speak about the players b3 sponsor and a few white label players we tend to knock them in before they leave the factory.

People forget the speed the ball travels at first class level and they can break much quicker.

Been lucky I have knocked in a few England players bats in my time no better or worst than my bats if I'm honest.

However one player asked for a fastball and it was made and sent and in the same day used in sky in a test match.

The idea is a player has two match ready bats at any one time and some like a 3rd to net with

[sarg]

I heard recently Warner tapes every bat the same and breaks them often because they are so dry to get those huge profiles down to 2.12. I  thought beforehand jeez he loves that bat with the tape.

[paul090971]

The one I have has never seen a mallet in its life. Huge dents and seam marks, just a scuff sheet stuck on then used straight away

[Kulli]

I usually only manage to give my bat a whack with a mallet for 30 mins or so max (live in a flat, get shouted down if i do it at nets, lazy, etc) and I've never had any real issues, get a few seam marks early on but they are easily hammered out or vanish of their own accord as the bat is used.

[brokenbat]

I think at the very least, they get their supplier to bone the edges and spend some time on the toe. Otherwise, they wouldn't last half a net session (given the quicks they play).

[VKS]

The "pro destined" bats we've seen over the years have had no preparation at all.

I recall sending Shahid Afridi a bat the day before the T20 World Cup Final at Lords in 2009, which had no prep work whatsoever and he hit a match winning 50 with it.

[liscon12]

Personally I think a lot of Pros don't care which shape or bat they use and will bat with anything that is put in their hands, the same goes for preparation as most are given bats for free so they don't care if the bat breaks or is misused by themselves as they didn't pay for it.

And finally they are Pros with better things to do than knocking in bats, oiling them and applying scuff sheets etc etc, they have the time and facilities to be bettering their game and developing new skills.

I'm sure there are the exceptions to this thinking and the odd Pro is a secret kit badger at heart but as an outsider looking in this is the impression I get with Pros and their kit.

Also has anyone noticed how many pics have gone up on Twitter recently of Kook and GN pros showing off all their new 2016 gear!

[i12breakfree]

The "pro destined" bats we've seen over the years have had no preparation at all.

I recall sending Shahid Afridi a bat the day before the T20 World Cup Final at Lords in 2009, which had no prep work whatsoever and he hit a match winning 50 with it.

What bat was that @VKS ..if possible can please you give more details. Did you guys knock it or was it soft pressed and all pingy from start.

@liscon12 i think a pro player does know what he wants - like weight, shape etc. Its an important part of the kit and a pro may not be that picky (like our members here ) but still they know what to get. Once use to a shape and style they don't change and they keep getting/using similar bats from same supplier.

Regarding bat preparation, talking to a few bat makers - some say there is no need of it these days and some make sure the bat is hand knocked before it is shipped out. As a pro player one has access to a good quantity of bats and he can pick and choose from what ever sounds/feels the best.

Like dhoni checking out his bat in this video

https://www.instagram.com/p/BC7fDrXm5HJ/

[procricket]

And there the answer pro players are as varied as the forum member some want knocked in some do not care just say send me 3 bats.

It is a interesting topic what I do know is a England player who had 10 bats had 10 very different bats to what the stickers we saying.

[liscon12]

And there the answer pro players are as varied as the forum member some want knocked in some do not care just say send me 3 bats.

It is a interesting topic what I do know is a England player who had 10 bats had 10 very different bats to what the stickers we saying.

Are you referring to a ginger northerner?

I wonder if different players get different treatment within brands depending on what standard they play at, would a Div 2 person get the ability to customise and have their own shape made for them or is this treatment only offered to top test players and the Div 2 guy only gets sent what the sponsor wants to send them. I'm thinking about this in terms of the big guys like GN, GM, Kook, Adidas, Puma, etc etc

[Bats_Entertainment]

Paul Aldred would have been the man to have asked. What a shame that we seem to have lost him.