When you buy a cricket bat from a reliable source, unless it specifically states that the bat is ready for use, it is not. Obviously it is critical to buy the right bat for your size and for your style of play. But a great cricket bat can become a bad cricket bat very quickly if you play with it without preparing it properly. For many preparing their cricket pre or mid season is a labor of love for others it is tedious and there are some that simply don't know where to start with their cricket bat preparation.
We strongly suggest that if you fall into the "busy or no-idea" category of bat buyer you ask a Cricket Store Online expert for either guidance or take advantage of their superb bat preparation services.
The cricket bat before being match ready will undergo oiling. Oiling ensures integrity of the willow. It molds the fibers in the willow to give the willow resilience and a better ping off the face of the cricket bat. Oiling a cricket bat is not as time consuming as knocking a cricket bat in. The bat needs to be knocked in thoroughly to ensure that all of the wood fibers are compounded and pressed together to reduce the possibility of cracking and improve performance. You can buy a top of the range bat and break it in no time if you are careless or lazy about knocking it in.
Cricket Store Online has a machine dedicated to knocking in cricket bats with machine precision for superb consistency and never any missed spots. There is no proof that a hand knocked in bat is better than one that is knocked in by machine. Quite the contrary, the machine delivers more speed, precision, power and efficiency. Of course once knocked in, all the bats are tested for their performance by a Cricket Store Online expert bat analyst.
Some players will want to add scuff sheets to their bat face or edges and some may wish to add additional grips. Ask Cricket Store Online today about how you can get your cricket bat match ready.