Print

[Big Mac]

The mass isn't necessarily a flaw, it is another change in bat design/ bats used over the years which is reflected in the different bats. It is probably more true to say pros can max out "a" for a heavier bat compared to times gone by through training/ technique/ etc which has the added benefit of enlarging sweetspots and when all combined gives a better outcome.

The problem is those old designs will still be made using modern clefts which might not be as dense or pressed as heavily as they were back in the day, so while the recreated Ranji and Hammond bats might have the same dimensions they won't have the same mass as the originals.

Pros nowadays, despite all the strength training and range hitting practice, aren't hitting the ball further than the biggest hitters did 50 or even 100 years ago.

[edge]

Remember thinking that video just showed Luke Wright giving it a big smack with a variety of bats... Especially considering the bats were all Gray Nics replicas so the same weight as the originals, Ranjit bat is 2lb3 and Gower 2lb8.

[Manormanic]

The question, though, was about the perception that mishit balls now go for six.

Some do, probably more than did so previously. That is down to the external factors mentioned - boundary size, training, mindset etc as much as anything. I think we all agree that the middle of modern bats is bigger than that of bats thirty to fifty years old. But I have seen Viv Richards "mishit" one over the old pavilion at Headingley, Clayton Lambert toe end sixes down the ground at Scarborough, Jim Love top edge Sylvester Clarke onto the roof of the stand at The Oval...

[tim2000s]

The problem is those old designs will still be made using modern clefts which might not be as dense or pressed as heavily as they were back in the day, so while the recreated Ranji and Hammond bats might have the same dimensions they won't have the same mass as the originals.

Don't be daft. To allow people to hit the ball the same distance, not to mention that people are typically used to a weight, the bats will have the same mass. All that will happen is that the lighter clefts will be used to make lighter bats under the new regs. The only reason that the drying techniques that are used now to create very dry blades are used is to create huge bats of normal weight. When this requirement goes away, you'll just end up with older style bats with normal weights.

[JB]

The question, though, was about the perception that mishit balls now go for six.

Some do, probably more than did so previously. That is down to the external factors mentioned - boundary size, training, mindset etc as much as anything. I think we all agree that the middle of modern bats is bigger than that of bats thirty to fifty years old. But I have seen Viv Richards "mishit" one over the old pavilion at Headingley, Clayton Lambert toe end sixes down the ground at Scarborough, Jim Love top edge Sylvester Clarke onto the roof of the stand at The Oval...

Everyone who is complaining about the big bats obviously have very short memories....

[Big Mac]

Don't be daft. To allow people to hit the ball the same distance, not to mention that people are typically used to a weight, the bats will have the same mass. All that will happen is that the lighter clefts will be used to make lighter bats under the new regs. The only reason that the drying techniques that are used now to create very dry blades are used is to create huge bats of normal weight. When this requirement goes away, you'll just end up with older style bats with normal weights.

I was talking about the Luke Wright video. 

[Manormanic]

Everyone who is complaining about the big bats obviously have very short memories....

quite.  With the exception of Aaron Finch trying to break the media centre at Old Trafford a couple years back, the ten biggest sixes I've ever seen came from the likes of the above, Clive Lloyd, Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Symonds.  Back further, my Dad used to tell me that Colin Milburn used to be the biggest of hitters, and Yorkshire fans will remember that Herbert Sutcliffe regularly hit the first ball of first class games for six...