The best way to choose a bat is to pick it up and get a 'feel' for it because every individual bat is unique. The pick-up weight is the most important, as you should feel comfortable with what you are playing with. You should also remember that there is a scale of willow grading which determines the quality of wood that was used when making the bat.

A heavy bat gives more power or weight behind the shot. It is also less susceptible to splitting. If, however, it is too heavy then you may find it unwieldy.

It is very important that youngsters should use bats which are the correct height and weight. If these are wrong then it can interfere with their shot making, therefore hindering their development and inhibiting their enjoyment of batting.

A light bat is easier to manage, therefore making response time quicker.

Covered bats: Covered or coated bats tend to be harder wearing. They can also be cheaper, as they are usually made of a lower grade willow. They can still play well and are ideal for club and school bats or for someone who is, maybe, a bowler who may only bat occasionally.

This is where the fibres of the willow blade are compressed and knitted together to help prevent damage from the impact of the cricket ball. The best way to do this by using an old ball or bat mallet.

It is not enough to just hit a few balls in the nets or in the garden! In particular, you need to try and make the toe and edges harder than when the bat was purchased. This is in order to limit the damage from an edged stroke.

Some bats come already knocked in, however others don't. When you are buying a new bat then the best thing to do is to ask whether it has already been knocked in or not.

How Do I Knock In My New Bat?

• Use an old ball or a bat mallet like a hammer and deflect gently off the edges of the bat.
• Increase the force that you use and work the edges until they show a rounded, compact appearance.
• Use the bat to hit short catches or bounce a cricket ball up and down on the face.
• Use the bat in the nets against old, softer balls.
• Use the bat in the nets against newer balls.
• The bottom of the bat toe (the part that is in contact with the ground) should never be hit with the mallet.

Bat willow is soft and light, but hardens when subjected mechanically to pressing rollers. Naturally, because it is a soft wood the condition of the bat will deteriorate during usage.

Due to wear and tear, some small cracks are bound to appear on the bat, however these will not affect its performance.

DON'T play with a bat until you have carried out minor repairs that need doing, as minor repairs can become major repairs if they are not treated properly!

Damp getting into the wood fibres can cause the toe of your bat to swell. You can avoid this by doing one of the following:

• Applying a light coat of oil to toe before each game.
• Applying a toe guard before the bat is used.
• Use of a sealant to prevent water penetration.

To remedy an already swollen toe:

• Place the toe of the bat in a woodworking vice, being careful to cushion both sides of the blade to prevent damage.
• Allow the damp area to dry normally.
• Then use an old ball to knock out the swollen area.

If the edges look in danger of breaking away then use some bat tape to repair it. Sometimes you can support the crack with a fine pin. Bats may get damaged if the batsman edges a quick ball or digs out a fast yorker.

Knocking in properly will reduce this risk, however a bat damaged in this way must be put in for repair, as no willow will withstand this type of impact

Willow is a natural material - it is not manufactured. Surface cracks or crazing will appear on the face of all bats after a certain amount of use.

Knocking in is very important in limiting surface cracks.

Surface cracks do not hurt the bat's performance but proper knocking in will delay the appearance of these cracks. If any of the cracks are lifting, put a strip of bat tape round the bat to hold them down.

Correct oiling is vital as you can damage the wood fibres by over oiling

Polyarmour bats or bats with face tape* do not need oiling, apart from perhaps a very light coat to the toe. This is to avoid water seeping in and causing wood swelling.

* Polyarmour is a varnish type finish which gives initial protection, adds strength to the blade and stops the wood from getting dirty in store. Face tape is a clear self adhesive film that is applied to the face and edges of the bat in sheet form. It is used a great deal by test players due to easy maintenance.

To oil your bat properly:

ONLY USE RAW LINSEED OIL!

• Use a soft rag, apply a light coat of oil to the front, edges, toe and back of the bat blade.
• (do not oil the splice area).
• Keep the bat in a horizontal position.
• After 2 weeks, lightly sand the oiled areas with very fine sandpaper. Then apply another light coat of linseed oil to the face, edges and toe (not the back).
• Repeat after 2 more weeks, ensuring the bat is kept horizontal between oilings.

Due to the way the ball is played, a bat handle can undergo a huge amount of strain. The section about an inch above the shoulders is the weakest point.

If the front section of cane is fractured then the handle would need to be replaced. This is best done by a manufacturer of bats or a bat repairer.

Sometimes the handle can become flexible and can feel like it's a broken handle even though no fracture can be seen. This is caused by the rubbers within the construction of the handle coming unstuck. To remedy this you need to remove the string and gently pull the canes apart enough to apply some adhesive. In this case, the best adhesive to use would be superglue (the thin watery kind). After applying the superglue the handle can be clamped back together by rolling a few strong rubber bands down the length of the bat handle.

The splice of the bat sometimes comes away to the point of being able to see movement when the handle is flexed. Applying superglue to any visible hairline cracks can also repair this.

How to look after your bat:

• Replace worn out grips with one from our range at The Pro Shop.
• Some handle damage can be repaired with superglue, serious repairs can be done at a repairers or manufacturer.
• To prevent the toe of the bat from swelling apply raw linseed oil or a toe guard.
• Ensure the bat is knocked in before playing with it.
• Minor surface cracks can be repaired with bat tape.