OILING AND KNOCKING IN YOUR NEW RC BAT
Richardson Cricket bats come lightly pressed and with edges boned to provide some protection from being damaged by cricket balls, but still require oiling and knocking in.
OILING
Following the purchase of your bat it is important to oil it with raw linseed oil. The main purpose of oiling is to maintain moisture levels within the blade , which heavily reduces the chances of cracking and splitting. Remember to apply the oil in light coats (2 or 3 should be sufficient) and ensure you don’t stand the cricket bat in an upright position after oiling. Allow for each coat to dry before applying the next. Wipe the bat down with a clean cloth once the oil is dry. Fitting a sheet of extratec following oiling is a great way to further protect the face of your bat from cracking. Don’t over oil or soak the toe in oil as it will deaden the rebound quality of the willow in your bat.
KNOCKING IN
To prepare your cricket bat for general play, it is essential that you knock it in. Knocking in helps to compress the fibres of the willow face and edges of your bat, the increased density forming a barrier to protect the bat against the impact of the ball. Effective knocking in will significantly improve the performance of your bat and increase its life span enormously. When knocking in it is best to use a cricket bat mallet and if you do not have one of those then an old cricket ball is perfect. Repeatedly strike all areas that you would normally expect the ball to hit, slowly increasing the force as you go. You will need to give the bat about six hours of knocking in
Particular attention should be given to the edges although the edges should not be struck directly at right angles as this can cause damage to the bat. Once knocked in the next step is to try some light hitting with an old cricket ball, however if you see marks on the blade you should cease the hitting and knock it in some more. When it seems ready for play try to avoid facing a new ball or hitting full blooded shots for a couple of weeks.
THINGS NOT TO DO!
DON’T use cheap cricket balls like bowling machine balls and compound balls against your bat.
DON’T leave your cricket bat in the sun for hours or in a hot car. This can dry out the willow of your bat and make it more susceptible to cracking.
DON’T expose your cricket bat to moisture such as tapping onto a wet pitch or playing in the rain. The swelling of the willow at the bottom of the bat can make it susceptible to cracking. Dry your bat immediately if it gets wet.
DON’T over oil your bat. 2 or 3 light coats maximum.
DON’T slam down on yorkers too hard. The full force of a drive shot downward onto the ball in contact with the pitch is like smashing the end of your bat onto the ground itself, and can cause cracking to the toe or damage to the handle.
DON’T abuse your cricket bat by throwing it or hitting the change room bench after getting out. For obvious reasons!
