Cricket Bat Willow
Everyone knows that cricket is the sound of “leather on willow”, but it’s not any old willow. Cricket Bat Willow is a variety all of its own – Salix alba ‘Caerulea’. This fast-growing and straight-stemmed variety of willow produces wood that is tough but lightweight and does not shatter easily - ideal for cricket bats.
It’s a skilled business choosing the best wood, and there is a market for good quality cricket bat willow timber. Logs are split into “clefts” and shaped into the rough bat shape or “blade”. The ends are then waxed to prevent the wood drying out and splitting.
The wood is carefully air-dried over a period of 12 months to the correct moisture content and the blades are graded according to grain, colouring and any small blemishes. From Grade 1, which is the very best, blemish-free wood, to Grade 4, which will play just as well but will have more blemishes. The premium bat blades are the whitest with the closest grain. “Blemishes” on the face of a bat will be variations in colour, inconsistencies of grain, and “specks” - tiny grains of grit taken up into the tree from the soil. Tiny, “living” knots are confined to the edge of the blade, and larger, “dead” knots are cut out and filled and will only appear on the reverse of a blade.
The blades are then passed on to the cricket bat maker. To make the wood able to withstand being hit by a cricket ball at high speed, it is pressed at a pressure of up to 2,000 lbs but it a matter of judgement for the bat maker. Too little and the bat will break when used, too much and the wood will be unworkable. A handle is spliced on and the blade is finally ready for shaping, done by hand with a drawknife, spoke shave, planes and a practiced eye. A final sanding and coat of wax finishes the job.
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Discussion
Anyone have any English willow trees for cricket bat, (Salix alba)
Get in touch with me on 07951225107
Many thanks
PLEASE NOTE : Woodlands.co.uk neither grows nor sells willow or any wood products.
Hi,
I have a friend who is interested in buying English Willow. He explained to me that there are different grade in English Willow.
He will use this wood to product cricket bats.
He would be interested in buying in bulk, please could you provide me further details on this I will really appreciate it.
Kind regards,
Ash Raza
I have access to a number of willow trees (around 40 – 50) that are mature and which I think would be suitable for use as cricket bats. The trees in question are at a stage where they are towards the end of their life and will need to be removed. I am looking for someone who would be interested in the removal of said trees.
Rory I have a client who would be interested in talking to you. They specialise in felling willow trees and preparing them for manufacturer. They have an excellent reputation because they do free maintenance and know their stuff! Message me if interested.
Dear Liam
Sorry, woodlands.co.uk cannot help with your quest for willow as we do not but or sell wood itself – only woodlands.
Regards.
Hello my name is Liam and I was wondering if you would have any willow that I could buy to make a cricket bat out because it has always been my dream to make one and personalise it myself. Cannot wait for you to get back to me.
Kind regards Liam
PLEASE NOTE : We neither grow nor sell willow or any wood products.
Sir, I am looking English willow claft supplier who can supply all grades of claft s in regular basis if you can do the same will be happy to running my work with you. Please send me your prices with grades if possible thanks and regards I need cleft in India.
Anuj
Dear Sir,
We are manufacturer of english willow cricket bats in Meerut city, Uttar Pradesh, India.
We have required English willows in quantity.
Can you provide us willows???
If yes. Please contact us at- +91 9897916736.
With best regards
Mohd Gulzar
SSG Sports Industries
Meerut -250002
Mob- +91 9368372987,
+91 6395922933
We neither grow nor sell willow or any wood products.
Dear sir,
Hope that you will be fine. We are one of the biggest manufacturer of cricket bats in sialkot Pakistan with the brand name MB Malik. We are keenly interested to buy English willow clefts and trees.
If you help us on it we will be really thankful to you.
Best regards
Ajmal butt
I’m doing some development work on my farm soon and at least one mature English willow will have to be felled. I’d love to think that this tree could have a future in cricket!
Drop me a line if you’d like more details.
Tx. Rory
We wish to import english willow clefts
if anyone who is supplying kindly drop us a mail on [email protected]
Regards
we wish to import english clefts
if anyone who is supplying kindly drop us a mail on [email protected]
Regards
If anyone is interested and still monitoring this site, we now produce very high-end English Cricket Bat Willow Clefts in different grades.
The next full container will be ready at the end of October 2017. These clefts are waxed and and dried, prior to shipment.
Sample photos can be sent on request.
Should this be of any interest, email on the details below.
Sir
Mostly in what places the grown English willow trees are available?
Requirement of English Willow Cleft. Please visit our website to know more about us.
Sir I am looking for a English willow cleft supplier who can supply all grades of clefts in regular bases if you can do the same will be happy to start my work with you. Please send me your prices with grades if possible thanks and regards I need clefts in India
Rohit
Nice info
Woodlands.co.uk does not deal in willow clefts or other wooden products.
Hi I am interested to buy the willow clefts for making bats,pls let me know your contact details
Sir I am looking for a English willow cleft supplier who can supply all grades of clefts in regular bases if you can do the same will be happy to start my work with you. Please send me your prices with grades if possible thanks and regards I need clefts in India
We are envious of your work. Trying very hard to find similar green woodworking people in crocketford dumfries. every time woodland comes up for sale there never seems to be a supply of coppicing ,mostly pine or new plantations.
do you no of any contacts? postcode DG28RG.
07983001898 Sean.
Hi
My self Mubashar Butt from Pakistan, and we have our owned company as DulDul Sports,
We are looking for a willow supplier that can supply us the willow every year, as we needs 5000 clefts per season ,
Basically we are getting our willow from JS WRIGHT not directly but by though our cousin, he died in last year and we face a lot of problem to get the willow and our many Business caused due to this .
Does You help us for supplying the willow cleft to us , can You please let me know Your prices
As we needs first order 100-1500 clefts
Waiting for for Your answer.
Thanks
Regards
Mubashar Butt
Muhammad Mubashar Butt
5 August, 2023