{"id":2212,"date":"2025-06-03T17:22:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T16:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/?p=2212"},"modified":"2025-06-03T17:22:28","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T16:22:28","slug":"cricket-bat-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jusmedia.co.uk\/sidelines\/2025\/06\/03\/cricket-bat-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"From root to pitch &#8211; how are cricket bats made?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>Making a cricket bat is no easy task. This is how Wombat Cricket crafts the perfect bats&#8230;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-divi-layout\">[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_4,3_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; min_height=&#8221;321.3px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|auto|-47px|84px||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;33px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/06\/Wombat-Cricket-040-1-1-edited-scaled.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Harry Solomon hand crafting a cricket bat in his workshop&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Wombat Cricket-040 (1) (1)&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-63px||1px|-40px||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|20px||19px||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; min_height=&#8221;318.7px&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Harry Solomon, photo courtesy of Harry Solomon<\/em><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; min_height=&#8221;324.8px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-38px|||-39px||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|97px|4px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<p>We often buy cricket bats without a second thought, but at Wombat Cricket, there\u2019s a whole lot more consideration to it. From growing the willow to shaping the perfect bat, it\u2019s all done in-house, with a focus on quality from start to finish.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat sets us apart is that we do it from tree-to-bat. That\u2019s our USP. We control everything from the tree right through to the finished bat and everything in between. There\u2019s not many companies that do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harry Solomon, Master bat-maker at Wombat Cricket, created their bespoke service 12 years ago and is now working in a team of just four people who handmake up to 600 bats per year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHandmaking the bats massively affects the quality of what we produce, because we\u2019re bringing it all in-house and controlling it all,\u201d Solomon says.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Harry Solomon bat-making\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DvS0Cv0Hicc?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Video courtesy of Harry Solomon <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The process begins with the raw material: the willow tree. From there every phase of production is meticulously controlled to craft the perfect bat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe chainsaw the willow tree in the yard, and cut it in the sawmill part of our workshop. The wood is then put in a drying-kiln where it dries for 4-6 weeks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOnce dried, the wood is then usable to make the bats. There\u2019s machinery to fit the handle, to press the cleft [the raw piece of willow that&#8217;s shaped into a bat] which gives the performance,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen you hit a ball, how well the bat is pressed will affect how far the ball travels and the sound of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-divi-layout\">[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#09300B&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|-60px||-3px||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;3px||5px|5px||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_5,1_5,3_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-21px|auto||auto||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;38px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/05\/cricket-groundskeeping-collage.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;cricket groundskeeping collage&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; alt=&#8221;a collage of images layered over each other showing Hallam Cricket Club head groundskeeper Mark Beckles Willson at work at Crimicar Lane cricket ground, Sheffield. there is an overlayed image with lower transparency of a red cricket ball on a green grass background.&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_heading title=&#8221;Read More: &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-4px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-3px|-281px||||&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/2025\/06\/01\/how-climate-change-is-rewriting-cricket-groundskeeping\/\">How climate change is rewriting cricket groundskeeping<\/a><\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;3_5&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThen after that, the rest is all done by hand: shaping the bat to get the right balance and profile out of that piece of wood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where the individuality of each bat comes into consideration and why making it by hands is so important in their work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBy doing it by hand, we control all the essential elements. Every piece of wood is different. Even though two pieces of wood have grown next to each other for 18 years, they could be completely different.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"2233\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/06\/Wombat-Cricket-006-1-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"the wood in the drying kiln where it is stored for 3 to 4 weeks until it is ready to be made into a cricket bat \" class=\"wp-image-2233 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/06\/Wombat-Cricket-006-1-1-980x552.jpg 980w, https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/06\/Wombat-Cricket-006-1-1-480x270.jpg 480w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/576;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Wood in the drying kiln, <em>photo courtesy of Harry Solomon<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"712\" data-id=\"2232\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/06\/Wombat-Cricket-092-2-1024x712.jpg\" alt=\"Picture shows Harry Solomon outside of their workshops cutting up parts of a willow tree ready to be made into bats. \" class=\"wp-image-2232 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/06\/Wombat-Cricket-092-2-980x682.jpg 980w, https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/06\/Wombat-Cricket-092-2-480x334.jpg 480w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/712;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo courtesy of Harry Solomon<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"2260\" data-src=\"https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/06\/Wombat-Cricket-085-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Picture shows the showroom of Wombat cricket with their hand-made cricket bats \" class=\"wp-image-2260 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/06\/Wombat-Cricket-085-1-980x552.jpg 980w, https:\/\/sidelinesmag.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2025\/06\/Wombat-Cricket-085-1-480x270.jpg 480w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/576;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Photo courtesy of Harry Solomon<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou have to work with each individual bat at all times. You shouldn&#8217;t force a bat to be a shape that it doesn\u2019t want to be. You gauge from the feel and the pick-up and weight. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEveryone wants all these lovely grains and clean bats, but that stems right back to the start of looking after the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where the importance of quality willow trees comes into play &#8211; especially with the trees in &#8220;short supply.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To deal with these challenges, Solomon and the team at Wombat Cricket also set up Wombat Willow, which grows the trees for their service, ensuring the quantity and quality of their work.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEnglish willow is the pinnacle material to make bats. You want to look after the trees that you grow. The cleaner and better grown they are, the better wood that\u2019s produced which means you\u2019re producing high-end bats at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s why we set up Wombat Willow. It\u2019s all about the quality. If you produce quality bats, people will come to you from wherever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Wombat Willow\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xCMk34dtZqw?feature=oembed\"  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Video courtesy of Harry Solomon<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But with growing willow trees comes a long wait, and a considerable amount of risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a hard gig. It\u2019s effectively 15 to 18 years for a willow tree to grow. There\u2019s a lot of time in it and who knows, a storm could come tomorrow and clear out all the willows and you\u2019re back to square one. There\u2019s a big risk to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">Through patience, care and skill, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wombatcricket.co.uk\/\">Wombat Cricket<\/a> continues to craft some of the finest bats in the UK, one tree at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-divi-layout\">[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|-95px||-95px||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;7px||2px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||1px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; divider_weight=&#8221;3px&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_heading title=&#8221;Sidelines Recommends&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_font=&#8221;Smooch Sans|600||on|||||&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;#09300B&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-38px||0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_divider color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; divider_weight=&#8221;3px&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||4px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-24px|-95px||-95px||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;1px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_blog posts_number=&#8221;1&#8243; include_categories=&#8221;28&#8243; offset_number=&#8221;3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_blog posts_number=&#8221;1&#8243; include_categories=&#8221;29&#8243; offset_number=&#8221;3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_blog posts_number=&#8221;1&#8243; include_categories=&#8221;28&#8243; offset_number=&#8221;2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_blog][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Making a cricket bat is no easy task. This is how Wombat Cricket crafts the perfect bats&#8230; Video courtesy of Harry Solomon The process begins with the raw material: the willow tree. From there every phase of production is meticulously controlled to craft the perfect bat. \u201cWe chainsaw the willow tree in the yard, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":198,"featured_media":2214,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28,37],"tags":[95,48],"class_list":["post-2212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-innovation","category-technology","tag-cricket","tag-innovation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>From root to pitch - how are cricket bats made? - Sidelines<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Making a cricket bat is no walk in the crease! 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