Introduction
A cricket bat is a modified piece of equipment that batsmen use to strike the ball in the sport of cricket. It usually consists of a cane handle connected to a flat-fronted willow-wood blade. A batter who is making their ground will do it to prevent being run out if they keep the bat and hit the ground with it. The bat must be no longer than 38 inches (965 mm) in length and no wider than 4.25 inches in width (108 mm). The first time it was seen was in 1624. Since 1979, a law has required bats to be made entirely of wood.
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Manufacturing of English Willow Cricket Bats
Willow wood and cane are used to make the cricket bat. The handle of the bat is made of cane, and the blade of the bat is made of willow. Willow wood has properties that allow it to absorb shock. When the ball is struck hard and quick, it is difficult to bat. The shock is absorbed by the willow tree. The production of cricket bats goes through many stages in order to produce the highest quality bats. Various steps in the production process are included, from planting willow trees to playing cricket on the field. Kashmir willow and English willow are the two major bat-making woods in India.
Step 1:- Plating willow trees and cane:
Wood is the most popular raw material used in the production of cricket bats. Willow wood is the most common wood used in cricket bat manufacturing due to its shock-absorbing properties. Wetland areas are where willow trees are grown. For the manufacture of the bat, mature trees are used.
The average maturity age of a tree is 15 to 35 years. When trees are cut down for bat manufacturing. On the site where the old tree was cut down, two new trees were planted. The bat is made in an environmentally friendly manner.
Planting cane is the next step. Cane is a perennial grass that belongs to the grass family. Cane is used in the production of cricket bats. The bat’s handle is made of cane.
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Step 2:- cutting trees:
When willow trees are mature enough for processing, they are cut in the correct manner according to the guidelines and measurements of ice. After cutting down trees, the cut parts are given a shape. After that, the blades are stored in drying rooms to dry. This procedure takes six months to complete. The handle is made of cane and is held together with rubber and wood glue.
Step 3:- assembling blades and handle:
After cutting the trees and extracting the moisture from the cricket bat blades, the next step is to join the handle and blade. The handle is included in the blades, which are used to cut parts to a particular length. The blades are then given form by the staff who use the machines. This necessitates highly qualified personnel.
Step 4:- shaping to shoulders and handle:
Following the assembly of the cricket bat’s handle and blades, the shoulders and handle of the bat must be formed. Fine pressing is used to form the shoulders and handles, and then the bat’s handle is given a round shape.
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Step 5:- sanding:
The sanding process begins after the bat has been shaped and mixed. This is a time-consuming process that involves a few paper evaluations in order to reach a satisfactory conclusion. Finally, brush sanders are used to achieve a beautiful smooth finish.
Step 6:-Binding:
Binding entails wrapping the bat’s handle in the finest quality twine. The handle is made of the highest quality twine. The bat is assembled in a system that is operated by a foot treadle; the handle is rubbed with a stick and whipped with twine to ensure consistency at the join and along the handle’s length.
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Step 7:- polishing:
After that, the cutting edge is finely polished with a compound wax that finishes and straightens the wood, leaving a glossy silk finish. A traditional wooden bat’s surface is oiled with crude linseed oil before each game and during the season. This protects the wood and makes it less susceptible to moisture changes in the atmosphere, which could cause twisting or warping. Another important aspect is that it improves the surface rubbing of the ball against the bat surface, allowing for better chance management. The player can see a worn-out surface, indicating that re-oiling is needed. Raw linseed oil is used instead of bubbled linseed oil since the crude structure isn’t a drying oil in the same way that bubbled linseed oil is, so the surface remains shabby.
Step 8:- labeling, Gripping and knocking-in:
The next step after such a procedure is branding. The sticker is stacked to the blade on the upper side of the bat, where the handle is positioned in the blade, for branding purposes. The different company stickers were stacked on the blade according to the matches. After marking, the rubber is wrapped around the bat’s handle for a stronger grip. Knocking-in is a vital step in the bat manufacturing process that must be completed before the bat can be used. This strengthens the bat’s blade.
Export Scenario
In 2008-2009, industry exports were valued at approximately Rupees 585 crores, up from 320 crores in 2003-2004 at a rate of 14.7%, and it has risen to 2000 crores in 2016. With the country establishing the reputation of its products in the global market, India’s share of the global sports goods exports market is expected to increase significantly.
Inflatable balls and other sporting products have become a top foreign sourcing destination for international brands like Mitre, Lotto, Umbro, and Wilson in recent years. In addition to being original equipment manufacturers (OEM) suppliers for foreign sports brands, Indian sports goods manufacturers now export products under their own brand names.
General exercise equipment became the category leader in the domestic export goods segment from 2007 to 2008, with a growth rate of more than 70%. Hammocks have become one of the most common export products, with a growth rate of 24.1%, and India being home to Asia’s leading hammock manufacturers. Exports of inflatable balls increased at a rate of 10.6%.
For Indian sporting products, the EU, America, and Australia are some of the most significant global export markets. India’s largest export market is the United Kingdom; between 2006 and 2008, India exported US$ 38.4 million worth of sports and toy goods to the UK, an increase of 15.3%.
In recent years, Indian goods have been exported for international sporting events such as the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where bladders made in India were used. Indian-made athletic boxing equipment was also used at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics (2008).
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Market Outlook
The Cricket Bat Market has seen substantial growth in recent years and is expected to continue to do so over the projected period. EVA is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate that is used to make a wide variety of products. Cricket bats are usually made of white willow, which is widely used for cricket bat production due to its high shock-resistance and overall durability. The two most popular willow woods used to make cricket bats are English willow and Kashmir willow.
Cricket bat manufacturers are mass-producing bats on a large scale as the sport grows in popularity around the world. Since its inception in England, cricket’s popularity has grown and the game has spread rapidly. The game has grown in popularity and is now played in countries like Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Australia, as well as South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the West Indies.
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Currently, the game has received significant sponsorship from other countries, including North America, with the United States and Canada, as well as the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Nigeria, Oman, Nepal, Hong Kong, and others, being recognised as Associates by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
This is one of the major factors that is expected to lead to an increase in demand for cricket bats, which will boost global market growth. Sunridges, Gray Nicolls, and Kookaburra are some of the most well-known cricket equipment manufacturers in the world. Sanspareilles (SG) Greenlands is quickly establishing itself as a market leader, selling 350,000 cricket bats each year. SG has been exporting 35% of its cricket bats to other countries.
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The Indian sports goods market
In 2017, the Indian sports goods industry was worth US$ 3,621 million. By 2024, the market value is expected to hit US$ 6,054 million, with a CAGR of 9.0 percent from 2019 to 2024. India is a significant market for sporting goods. In 2017, India’s population was estimated to be around 1.3 billion people, accounting for roughly 18 percent of the world’s total population. Furthermore, the young generation, which is the target customer base for sports and fitness goods, makes up a significant portion of the existing population (the age group 15-29 years represents more than a quarter of the total population of India). India’s sporting goods industry has thrived for nearly a century, thanks to a professional workforce. Because of its labor–intensive existence, the industry employs more than 500,000 people. India’s sporting products are well-known worldwide and have made a name for themselves in the global sports goods industry. Nearly 60% of the total production of the domestic industry is exported.
Few Major Indian Key Players:
- Adidas India Pvt. Ltd.
- Hike Pvt. Ltd.
- Nike India Pvt. Ltd.
- Puma Sports India Pvt. Ltd.
- Sanspareils Greenlands Pvt. Ltd.
- Sporting & Outdoor Ad-Agency Pvt. Ltd.
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