The Bat Cave - Cricket bat repairs and sales

Change of use; yet another example of why not to throw away your old stick.... 🏏

Here we have someone moving their focus across to competitive indoor cricket, specifically asking for “quick hands” and more wrist play in the faster paced, finesse focussed format of the game.

The canvas; a very bottom heavy blade designed for one thing.... hitting bombs!

End result, a complete transformation from 2:10, shaved down to 2:5, with nothing removed from the shoulder or the toe, which is critical when aiming to keep the reliability. More important than the weight saved for the new purpose, is the whopping 40mm improvement in centre of balance making this beauty closer to a samurai sword than a cricket bat.

Here we have an example of a bat that’s had it’s fair share of use against low quality/cheap cricket balls (as noted by the owner), mixed with over oiling, resulting in several delaminations.

Whilst it may not look it, this bat has quite an extraordinary middle, so the owner was keen to revive it if possible.

First we strip it back, give a preliminary clean up to better asses the real damage and attend to the minor blemishes, knocks, scratches and cracks before we attack the bigger issues.

Due to the extent of the existing oil, we need to first get some turps into the areas needing repair so we can get some quality adhesion from the applied products. In this case, resin.
*Too often people forget this step and struggle to have their repairs last due to poor adhesion. It’s not the products used, it’s that they’re trying to stick to an oily surface*

With the resin installed slightly oversized & partially cured we commence initial shaping/contouring back to the surrounds.

Now to sit and wait a day or so for full cure to finish it off.

This old beast lives another day.....

*Update to come once complete

This week in the Cave was a request to rebalance, reshape & reduce weight whilst maintaining the performance, specifically targeting a low/mid profile.

Whilst the original is not a currently popular shape, this was a reasonably common shape from some subcontinent manufacturers a few years back when demands for ‘big edges but light weights’ took priority. The result was an overly scalloped back and an unbalanced pickup.

With targeted approach to reshape for a low/mid profile, we’ve created a completely new pickup precisely to the clients preference, whilst still maintaining 40mm edges and a deep spine.

Big shout out to the GOAT Marty Henderson for reaching his 500th match. What a milestone to hit and what incredible figures to hold after so many matches. Unstoppable this fella.

Keep being awesome mate 👌🏼

Just because your old faithful has a major blowout, it doesn’t mean it’s time to retire her. In this instance, because there is still a healthy amount of undisturbed willow behind the damage, it was feasible to fill the void with a resin and reshape to suit. 5 years use, and now lives to play another day.....

Now for a final clean up and oiling

3 beauties I’m working on currently..... all legal size..... all absolute weapons!!!!

Finals will be just that bit better for these lads.

Putting an order in by the end of the week, and likely to be the last for the season so if there’s anything specific you’d like to see come in, let me know and we’ll sort something out

Last one for the week: I’m knackered.....

Dans pride and joy had copped a couple nasty Yorkers and edges, needing some early intervention before small cracks become bigger issues.

All tidied up, cracks mended, and stickers buffed to remove ball scuffs (with GN collars removed at owners request)

Toe reset with semi flex adhesive, full tidy up, moisture balanced and protective sheet applied.

Good to go for another bout 🏏

Another day, another toe blow out.....