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[Kulli]

Sure I have asked this before but given that SC's are pressed clefts that Julien shaped, is there more than a sentimental reason that they are so sought after, way more than say a M&H or Puma made by JM going by eBay/forum Prices?

I thought the general forum consensus was that pressing was the be all and end all regarding bat performance.

[jamesisapayne]

I'm not convinced at all of the hoodoo surrounding Julian's bats.

No doubt he was an absolutely fantastic podshaver, but the mystique and reverence his bats are held in is way beyond what it should be for a carved piece of wood, and totally smacks of people trying to generate a cult status in order to drive prices up.

I understand retiring an old bat that's had it's day for sentimental reasons, but bats are things to be used to hit a 5.5oz leather ball around a field, not held aloft like excalibur. I'm sure Julian would prefer his bats were being used for their intended purpose rather than kept in storage, thats why he made them in the first place.

[Yorkershire]

Great points there by @Kulli and @jamesisapayne !

The pressed clefts is an interesting point... weren't a well known manufacturer accused of this...

Also as many people always talk about ...'skill is in the pressing'...

Food for thought...

[Cover_Drive]

So you gonna use them?

I surely will!

Open to offers on current bat that I use!

[ca_gold]

I used a SC extensively and really never found it anything special from a performance perspective. Well made bats for sure, but certainly more hype around the brand than substance in the product from my perspective.

[Tom]

Sure I have asked this before but given that SC's are pressed clefts that Julien shaped, is there more than a sentimental reason that they are so sought after, way more than say a M&H or Puma made by JM going by eBay/forum Prices?

I thought the general forum consensus was that pressing was the be all and end all regarding bat performance.

So 2 bits contribute, one is the fact that he had a signature shape and handle - a shape which is very different to most modern era bats. Secondly, he's retired so it's the fact you can't get hold of them anymore. That rarity makes them desirable.

I was back on the old Cricket Supplies forum when Screaming Cat launched in 05/06 (have I really spent the last 13 years of my life talking about cricket bats?), there wasn't a huge amount of interest and were regarded in a similar vein to the likes of Laver & Wood.

[Kulli]

So 2 bits contribute, one is the fact that he had a signature shape and handle - a shape which is very different to most modern era bats. Secondly, he's retired so it's the fact you can't get hold of them anymore. That rarity makes them desirable.

I was back on the old Cricket Supplies forum when Screaming Cat launched in 05/06 (have I really spent the last 13 years of my life talking about cricket bats?), there wasn't a huge amount of interest and were regarded in a similar vain to the likes of Laver & Wood.

Do you think there's a reason that you can pick up JM made M&H's or Puma's second hand for far less than a SC would be sold for, just the exclusivity? maybe also that it's less easy to see/know that they are JM made.

[Tom]

Do you think there's a reason that you can pick up JM made M&H's or Puma's second hand for far less than a SC would be sold for, just the exclusivity?

So there's a much bigger risk with buying an M&H and, in particular, Puma that it wasn't him that shaped it. He wasn't the only batmaker at either of these companies and from what I'm aware, played much more of an overseeing role at Puma. They're also older bats so size and shape wise not quite impressive to look at as his later work.