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Are bamboo bats the future of cricket?

Cricket bats have been traditionally made from willow tree wood, yet a new style of cricket bat could change the way the sport is played. Traditionalists may cringe at the thought of willow bats no longer being used by cricketers. However, bamboo could become the new material cricket bats are constructed from and it may not be long until the sound of leather on willow is heard at major grounds. The T20 World Cup will take place later this year and cricket fans and bettors are debating which team will win the major tournament. Bettors can visit bettingbonuscodes.in to get the latest information on how to bet on the T20 tournament.

What’s the deal with bamboo cricket bats?

Researches into bamboo cricket bats have found some interesting information. Studies show that bamboo cricket bats may allow players to hit the ball faster and farther than traditional willow bats. Cricket bats have been made out of willow since the 1800s. The sport is set in its traditional ways and changing from willow to bamboo would be another step in the evolution of it – like short-form cricket. 

Studies found that bamboo-made bats may deliver more energy upon impact to the ball. The only downside is that bamboo bats are heavier than ones made from willow. One of the other pros for switching to bamboo cricket bats is the sustainability they offer to players and the world. 

Bamboo is a fast-growing material which makes it more readily available to harvest into sports equipment than slow-growing willow. The fast-growing material will drive the price of cricket bats down, thus making the game more affordable for players. It is a way to potentially bring more, younger players into the game. 

The case for change

Dhoni practice session at Chepauk Stadium

Nearly all high-end cricket bats are made from willow trees. Bats come from two manufacturers in England and the willow trees take 15 years to mature before cutting down. Manufacturers do not use up to 30% of the willow wood due to various imperfections that make them inappropriate for the bats. Using only around 70% of the wood makes the sustainability of using willow low and inefficient. 

Bamboo is a low-cost product and conveniently grows in countries around the world. Some of the countries that grow bamboo such as Japan, China, and South America have recently seen increases in cricket playing. Bamboo plants take around six years to mature. Making them even more sustainable than willow is that they can produce a number of harvests, not just one, and the plant regrows – it doesn’t need to be replanted. Cricket traditionalists and regulators have long resisted changes to the game. In 1979, Aussie player Dennis Lillee used an aluminum cricket bat – the same material used to make amateur baseball bats – in a game against England. Since then, wooden bats are the only ones permitted in professional cricket. Although researchers claim the cricket ball “pings” off of bamboo bats, it may not be enough to convince the sport’s regulators of changing them. The case for sustainability may not be enough with the old heads of cricket.



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