How To Knock A Cricket Bat

To properly maintain a cricket bat you must first learn how to knock a cricket bat. Knocking a cricket bat means to strike the bat with a mallet to condition the soft willow wood of the bat, after oiling, to withstand impact from the ball during play. The act of knocking the cricket bat compresses the soft wood which gives it strength.

To knock a cricket bat, you will need:

• Linseed Oil
• Cricket Bat Mallet
• Clean Soft Cloth

1. Oil the cricket bat. The reason for oiling a cricket bat is to keep moisture in the soft willow wood and to prevent the wood from drying out. Apply a small amount of linseed oil to a clean soft cloth and apply an even coat of oil to all exposed wood on the bat including the tip and the end near the grip. Apply another three to four coats of linseed oil to the hitting area of the cricket bat. Let the oil dry completely.
2. Knocking the bat edges. The most important parts of the bat to knock are the six inches from the front end and the edges of a cricket bat. Compressing the wood of the bat edges will help to keep the ball from doing major damage during play. The edges are compacted with the mallet by beginning with gentle striking and working up to heavy knocks to the rounded edges of the corner on an angle similar to the same way a ball would hit the edges.
3. Knock the bat. Hold the front (the blade) of the bat firmly and begin knocking with gentle knocks and work up to heavy knocks. This is the hitting area of the cricket bat. Firmly knock both front and back of the cricket bat in the hitting area until the willow wood is thoroughly compressed. A correctly knockedcCricket bat will resist damage from a ball during play.

Tip:

Excessive oiling of the cricket bat wood can cause the wood to rot. A cricket bat should be oiled once a year.

Warning:

Do not hit the edges of the bat straight on. Always strike the edges of the bat on a 45 degree angle.

Reference:

Knight, Julian, "Cricket for Dummies." Wiley and Sons publishing 2006.