Most people have some kind of hobby, and for many people, that hobby involves some type of sport. It could be a passion for Australian rules football, or it could be soccer, but another very popular sport in the country of Australia is the game of cricket. Cricket is somewhat a national pride in this country, and while an abundance of people love to watch it, there are many that fancy themselves as a semi-pro cricket player.
It’s probably true that out of all the people who regularly play cricket, many of them dream of being a batsman. When school children play cricket as part of their sports activities, arguments about who gets to be the batsman are far from rare.
However, not everybody was born to be a famous batsman, and learning the proper technique to be great at the sport can be challenging. On top of everything, batsman needs to invest in a high-quality cricket bat, as well as learn to maintain it properly. While buying a bat requires quite an investment on the more expensive range of products, a lack of proper maintenance will seriously reduce its lifespan.
Taking Care of Equipment
Maintaining a cricket bat isn’t too difficult. However, it’s completely necessary for those who want to make their bat last for as long as possible. If you’re one of those people, read on to find out how to take care of your cricket bat.
- Oiling – Regular oiling is essential if a cricket bat is going to stand the test of time. The main reason oiling is so important is because it prevents bats from drying out and consequently, reduces the risk of the cricket bat from cracking. It should be made sure that no oil touches the splice as it can weaken the glue.
- Sanding – Only new cricket bats really need to be sanded, and that’s especially true if it’s a natural-faced bat. Only light sanding is required with 150 grit sandpaper in order to remove the polish. Then, cricket bat oil should be lightly applied to the face and toe of the bat.
- Extratec covers – Applying an Extratec cover to a cricket bat is likely to increase its lifespan by quite a lot. They make a bat extra resistant and reduce the risk of cracking, but the cover should be removed after every season so that the bat can be re-oiled. At that point, cricketers may choose to apply a brand new Extratec cover.
Cricket is no doubt a very fun game and it makes for a great day out, whether it’s being watched or played. However, like every fun hobby, there a range of costs involved, and that’s why it’s a good idea to make sure cricket bats last as long as possible. There are a range of things that can be done to increase the lifespan of a bat, as detailed above, and that will ensure cricketers don’t waste any money buying equipment unnecessarily.