The original cricket bat is estimated to have been used about 1620 when a batsman hit a bat on a fielder to prevent him from collecting the ball. Because rotating one's arm over wasn't common at the time, the shape of the bat was supposed to be similar to modern hockey sticks. Since 1979, a law has required that bats be made entirely of wood. Law 5 of the Laws of Cricket states that the length of the bat must not exceed 38 in (965 mm), the breadth must not exceed 4.25 in (108 mm), the total depth must not exceed 2.64 in (67 mm), and the edge must not exceed 1.56 in (40 mm).
During at least once at the beginning of their cricket career, each aspiring cricketer will come across these terms. The two most common willows used in cricket are English and Kashmir willows. We go deeper into the fundamental distinctions between these two kinds of wood, as well as numerous willow-specific characteristics. English (White) Willow and Kashmir Willow are the two types of willow frequently used to make cricket bats. Willow is the only wood that has the strength and compression that a cricket bat requires. The performance of the two varieties of willow differs significantly. To begin with, English Willow trees are grown in England, whilst Kashmir Willow is grown in northwestern India's Kashmir region.
Apart from their origin, let us look at the fundamental differences between Kashmir willows and English willows.
1. Grain Texture
The grain texture is one of the most noticeable distinctions between the two types of woods. The English willow has more prominent grains that stand out. In the context of bats, grains are thin brown/black lines found on the bat's surface. However, this does not imply that Kashmir willows are inferior to English willows in terms of quality. The grains of high-quality Kashmir willows are more prominent and noticeable than those of low-quality English willows. So, if you have a youngster who is interested in purchasing a professional willow, please consider grain texture as one of the most significant factors when selecting a willow.
2. Colour
The colour of the wood is one of the easiest and most noticeable features of the Kashmir Willow. Brownish/Reddish Brown is the hue of Kashmir Willow. In comparison to an English Willow, it is much darker. It's easy to tell the difference between the two. Because the English willow is slightly whiter than the Kashmir willow, these bats shine brighter than their Kashmiri counterparts.
3. Weight
The bat weight composition is another distinguishing feature between the two. Kashmir willows are typically significantly heavier than their English equivalents in nature. The main explanation for this is that Kashmir willows have a larger density and moisture content, which causes them to be heavier.
4. Sound of Impact
High-quality Kashmir bats, on the other hand, have a perfect balance, therefore bat speed and ping from the bat are unaffected. However, they do not 'ping' like English willow bats, thus junior cricketers do not receive the same value for their shots when using Kashmir Willow bats. The sound of impact also aids in distinguishing between the two types of willows. The ping of English Willows is mild, whereas the ping of Kashmiri Willows is harsher and sharper.
5. Orientation
When it comes to fibre orientation, Kashmir willow fibres are slightly horizontally orientated, whereas English willow fibres are vertically orientated. In Kashmir Willows, the fibres are horizontal, whereas, in English Willows, the fibres are vertical.
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