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[Mattsky]

So...Andre Russell's black & pink Spartan.
Surely the sort of thing @Vitas Cricket will be filling the stock room with! 

I didn't think pros were allowed to paint bats or meddle with the willow much at all, now. Seems you can.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/dec/22/andre-russell-may-be-allowed-to-use-black-bat-again-despite-ban

[Sitonit]

Yeah man, put a scuff sheet on that ugly thing.

[Woodyspin]

Scuff or varnish surely?

[sanredrose]

Cricket Australia banned Russell's bat. Not sure what was he thinking ....

[WalkingWicket37]

Maybe it was a butterfly bat, and he was trying to hide the blemishes because when knew he'd be using it on telly! 

[Sitonit]

Scuff or varnish surely?

I think putting a scuff sheet on that ugly thing will stop leaving the black marks on the white ball. Varnish is not a bad idea either.
IMO, The best place for such bats is actually in the fireplace.

[Mattsky]

I'm actually OK with it for pyjama cricket. I think.
Certainly not for Tests though. Oh no sir.
I wonder, if the wood was stained, not painted, whether that would solve the problem of imparting colour to the ball.
Might be the best of both worlds, actually. You could make out the bat's grains, but it'd just be a different hue.
Like a fence post treated with wood preserver! 

[ScottParko]

He's been cleared to use it again, after applying a 'clear sheet' to front of the bat.