How cricket bats are made in India
Meerut district names cricket bats among its One District One Product sports goods, and Jalandhar's district portal lists bats among the city's main sports exports. "Kashmir Willow Bat" has been a registered Geographical Indication since 2025 (application 903, Jammu and Kashmir), applied for by a cooperative in Anantnag.
NITI Aayog's 2026 sports equipment report describes the process. Willow logs are cut into clefts and air-dried for several months. The clefts are rough-shaped and pressed with rollers, which compresses the fibres on the face. The top of the blade is cut into a deep V, a cane handle is glued into it, and the bat is shaped, sanded and balanced by hand. The report notes that most English willow and the Singapore cane used for handles are imported, and that Kashmir willow is hard to move to clusters outside the region.
The grade on a bat (Grade 1, Players, Club and so on) is the maker's own scale, not a standard. It usually reflects the number and straightness of grains on the face, blemishes and the colour of the willow. That is why a grade must be fixed by an approved sample, not a word.
MCC Law 5 limits the inspector measures
| Item | Limit in Law 5.7 |
|---|---|
| Overall length, handle inserted | Not more than 38 in / 96.52 cm |
| Blade width | Not more than 4.25 in / 10.8 cm |
| Blade depth | Not more than 2.64 in / 6.7 cm |
| Edges | Not more than 1.56 in / 4.0 cm |
| Bat gauge | Blade must pass through the gauge described in Appendix B.8 |
| Handle share | Not more than 52% of overall length, except bats of size 6 and less |
| Face covering (anti-scuff) | Not more than 0.04 in / 0.1 cm thick |
| Toe protection | Not more than 0.12 in / 0.3 cm thick |
Law 5 also says the blade must be wood only and sets four bat types. Type A bats may be used at any level. Types B and C may have material inserted at the toe or sides, and Type C a cloth covering, and are limited to levels set by the national governing body. Type D bats may be laminated or coloured and are for lower levels only. Lamination is named only for Type D, so a laminated bat sold as a match bat for any level is a false claim.
What we check on cricket bats
| Check | How it is checked | What fails |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | Length, width, depth and edge measured; every sampled adult bat passed through an MCC-pattern bat gauge | Bat sticks in the gauge; edges or spine over the limit; length off the size chart |
| Pick-up weight | Each bat weighed on a calibrated scale, recorded in grams and lb-oz | Outside the weight band on the label or the order |
| Willow and grade | Grains counted across the face; knots, butterfly stain, red wood and sap marks compared with the grade sample | Fewer or wavier grains than the grade; Kashmir willow where English was ordered |
| Cracks and moisture | Face, edges and toe examined; moisture meter on the blade | Cracks across the grain; damp blades that will shrink or split |
| Handle | Splice glue line, binding, grip fit and handle straightness; handle twisted firmly by hand | Glue gaps at the splice, loose binding, handle movement |
| Finish and branding | Stickers, face sheet, toe guard and oil or lacquer against the sample | Lifting stickers, bubbles under the face sheet, wrong graphics |
Common cricket bat defects and how they are classed
| Defect | Typical cause | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Handle loose or splice opening | Poor glue line, damp cane | Critical (handle can break in use) |
| Blade fails the bat gauge where the bat is sold as match-legal | Oversized press or shaping for big edges | Major |
| Laminated blade sold as a match bat for any level | Cost substitution | Major (false claim) |
| Pick-up weight outside the stated band | Inconsistent clefts, no weight sorting | Major |
| Crack across the grain on the face or toe | Over-pressing, dry or damaged cleft | Major |
| Grain count or blemish below the grade sample | Lower-grade clefts mixed in | Major or minor, by your grade definition |
| Sticker lifting, minor finish marks | Rushed finishing | Minor |
Surface cracks in the face that do not cross the grain are normal in willow and usually not counted, but say so in your defect list.
Packing, transit and your purchase order
Willow takes up and loses moisture. Bats packed damp, then shipped through a hot container, can crack or warp before they reach the shop. Each bat should travel in its own sleeve or cover, with the face protected and the toe away from the carton bottom. Grips should be fitted after the bat has settled, not on a wet handle. The inspector checks sleeves, size labels and barcodes against each bat, because a size 5 bat in a size 6 cover is a common error.
Put these in your purchase order:
- Willow type (English or Kashmir), grade and the approved grade sample.
- Size chart with length, blade length and pick-up weight band per size.
- Bat type under Law 5 (A to D) and whether every bat must pass the bat gauge.
- Handle (cane, number of rubber inserts), grip type and colour.
- Knocking-in, oiling and face sheet: done, or left to the customer.
- Moisture content limit at packing and the packing method.
- Toy-bat sets for young children: test reports to EN 71 or ASTM F963.
Bats are usually shipped with pads and gloves and balls from the same maker. Book an inspection anywhere in India.