Cracking the History: Evolution of Cricket Bat
The evolution of cricket bat materials has been an intriguing journey. The origins of the cricket bat can be traced back to the early stages of the game when players used simple sticks or clubs. It later evolved into something more similar to a hockey stick before finally taking on the familiar shape and form of the modern cricket bat. Until the end of the 16th century, players would utilize anything likely to get the cricket ball from one place to another, from a simple stick to a curved bat reminiscent of a hockey stick.
The bat has seen several transformations, from a curve-shaped design like a hockey stick to the straight cricket bats we know today. This transformation started when the Marylebone Cricket Club, the custodian of cricket rules, introduced new laws to restrict the width of a bat following an incident in 1771 when a player brought out a bat as wide as the wicket. This pivotal moment in the Evolution of Cricket Bat Materials led to the first instance of bat manufacturers carving the bat out of a single piece of English Willow.
