Cricket Bat Care & Maintenance

OILING

If you have had your bat knocked in by Fantail Cricket, please move to the ‘Match Ready’ step. If you haven’t, please read the following.

It needs two coats of Linseed oil before you start knocking in your new Fantail bat. Oiling the bat both protects and moistens the new wood. To do this, you require raw linseed oil. Apply the oil lightly with your fingers. Carefully apply the oil to the playing surface of the bat, avoiding any stickers or the splice of the bat. After oiling, place the bat horizontally to dry. Please be careful not to saturate or over-oil the bat.

KNOCKING IN

Once you have oiled your bat, you can start the knocking-in process. With your specialised bat mallet, repeatedly hit the blade with even blows across the length and width. Start with light to medium knocks and gradually increase the power of the knock. Pay special attention to the edges and toe of the bat, which should be struck at 45 degrees to the blade and use lighted strokes. This will help harden and slightly round the edges to protect them from chipping. Also, be careful when hitting towards the toe area, as it is a very fragile part of the bat. Initially, use light strokes before building up the force. Knocking-in takes patience, and roughly 2-3 hours should be adequate. Do not try to knock on the edge of the bat at 90 degrees to the blade, the back of the bat (which is in contact with the ground) or the splice area.

MATCH READY

Before using your new Fantail bat for match play, we recommend using it for light net sessions with an old cricket ball to assess its readiness to play. Start with a slow pace and slowly build up. Should small seam indentations or fine cracks appear, return to knocking in with an old ball, as the blade is not ready yet. Repeat this process until the issue stops occurring.

SURFACE CRACKS

It is natural for your cricket bat to develop surface cracks during normal usage. Surface cracks may appear more frequently with the age of the bat and are a sign of maturity. This does not affect your cricket bat's performance, and some cracking is expected. We recommend using a facing which helps reduce surface cracking and increase the longevity of your bat. Should you be concerned about surface cracking, please get in touch with us or drop it off for repair.

LIFESPAN OF A CRICKET BAT

Being made of natural material, there is no definite time frame for your bat to last.

When selecting your grade of willow, please keep in mind that, in general, the higher/more expensive willow has a shorter lifespan than a lower/cheaper grade. This is due to a narrow grain structure breaking down quicker than a wider one, and lower-density bats generally don't last as long as a higher-density bat.

In summary, the additional cost of the willow grade is for performance, not longevity.

To obtain the maximum life and performance, please adhere to the care and preparation instructions. Constantly monitor the blade of your bat, maintain it correctly, and store it correctly, especially in moist or wet environments. We highly recommend having a toe guard and facing on your bat. Along with getting an annual service.

IN CASE OF DAMAGE

Should your bat suffer damage, please remove it from play immediately and consult Fantail Cricket or a cricket specialist for repair. Damage should be fixed immediately without continuing to play.

STORAGE

Please ensure you store your bat correctly, especially in the offseason. We recommend that you store your bat in a cool, dry area away from excessive temperature changes. Your Fantail bat should not be left in warm areas, e.g., in front of heaters, in-car boots, etc., as this may promote drying out or warping of the wood, which may lead to further problems.

WARRANTY

Fantail Cricket provides a 6-month limited warranty for bats purchased after 20/02/26 (bats purchased on or prior to this date carry a 12-month warranty), covering specific faults listed below. Repairs due to reasonable use within this period are free, though return postage and packing charges apply. Subsequent repairs and servicing incur a fee. Reasonable use is defined as using the bat to hit cricket balls. If a bat is deemed unrepairable due to listed faults within 6 months, a store credit equal to its value will be issued. Fantail Cricket Ltd reserves the right to void the warranty if the bat is misused or if labels are removed. No cash refunds are available, and customers must cover return postage costs.

Should you believe a warranty claim necessary, the product must be returned to us for inspection. Proof of purchase is required for any claim to be valid. 

The warranty period does NOT include the following;

  • Misuse
  • Insufficient knocking in and preparation prior to use
  • Superficial cracking
  • Superficial denting 
  • Damaged/Broken edges, face or toe, or excessive use
  • Bats used against bowling machines are not returnable as these machines especially damage them.
  • Damage due to moisture and or dirt
  • Service add-ons

The warranty period does include the following;

  • Shoulder cracking
  • Handle cracks
  • Splice cracks
  • The blade breaking in half laterally
  • Damage due to storm damage