You will have heard the term “knocking-in” if you’ve been around cricket for any length of time. Knocking-In is the process of preparing your cricket bat to be used for the first time.
We know that once you have purchased your new bat, it becomes your prized possession. Some stroke it. Others sleep with it next to them. One thing is for sure, you want to ensure that you treat that bit of wood correctly. Knocking it in is the sure fire way to give it the best start in life.
The first thing to do is buy yourself a bat mallet, designed specifically for knocking-in cricket bats (hit the link at the bottom of this post). If you don’t have access to one, an old cricket ball in a sock will do the trick but it won’t be as consistent or easy to use.
Begin by lightly hitting the face of the bat (the flat part at the front), working up over time to hit harder. When the face is complete, the mallet should no longer be leaving marks on your bat.
When you have completed the face you can move on to the edges of the bat. PLEASE DON’T hit the edges of the bat directly or the toe of the bat. The best way to knock-in the edges is replicate the glancing blows the bat would receive during an innings. At a 45 degree angle, flick the edges of the bat with the mallet.
Another note of caution - do not hit the back of the bat, or above the splice (roughly the sticker area on the front). Keep it to where you’d hit the ball in a game situation.
If you need any further advice, please drop us a message at hello@gray-nicolls.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.
