Bat Preparation & Care

Before first use

01 — Oiling

Apply a light, even coat of raw linseed oil to exposed areas of the face, edges, toe and back of the blade.

• Apply sparingly with a soft cloth or your fingers.
• Avoid the splice, handle, stickers and covered areas.
• Wipe away excess oil.
• Leave the bat horizontally at room temperature to absorb and dry naturally.
• Never soak the bat or stand it in oil.

Avoid over-oiling. Excessive oil can add unnecessary weight and adversely affect the willow.

If your Urumi bat has been supplied pre-oiled, additional oiling may not be required before initial preparation.

02 — Finish knocking-in

Urumi pre-knocked bats receive approximately 7,500 controlled machine knocks as part of the preparation process. This completes a substantial portion of the initial conditioning; however, final preparation is still required before match use.

As the central playing area has already received extensive conditioning, avoid excessive additional knocking through the centre of the blade. Over-knocking can unnecessarily compress the willow and contribute to the grains opening or spreading.

Focus final preparation on:

• Upper blade — Gradually condition the upper portion of the playable face.
• Edges — Carefully condition both edges, beginning lightly and gradually increasing force. Never strike directly into the edge at 90°.
• Lower blade & toe — Use controlled strikes around the lower blade and toe. These areas are particularly vulnerable, so increase force gradually.
• Playing face — Continue light, even conditioning across the face where required.

Never strike the back of the blade, splice or handle.

03 — Protective face sheet

A Clear Scuff Sheet or Clear Scuff Sheet with Edge Tape is available with each Urumi bat.

Apply the protective sheet after completing the knocking-in process. It helps protect the face from general wear and surface damage.

A protective face sheet is recommended before regular play.

Match ready

Introduce the bat to ball impact gradually before match use.

Mallet → Throw-downs → Light nets → Full nets → Match play

Begin with an older, good-quality leather cricket ball and progressively increase the pace and intensity.

Monitor the face, edges and toe throughout this process. If pronounced seam indentations, excessive marking or opening fibres appear, stop and return to controlled preparation before progressing.

There is no fixed number of knocks or hours that guarantees match readiness. Every cleft of willow is different, and the condition of the blade should determine when preparation is complete.

Ongoing bat care

Use quality balls

Use good-quality leather cricket balls appropriate for your level of play. Poor-quality, damaged or excessively hard balls can place unnecessary stress on the face and edges.

Limit bat tapping

Avoid repeatedly or aggressively tapping the toe against the ground, particularly on damp or abrasive surfaces.

Keep the bat dry

Avoid leaving your bat on wet grass, on a damp wicket or inside a wet bat cover or kit bag.

If the bat becomes wet, remove it from its cover and allow it to dry naturally at room temperature. Never use direct heat to dry the bat.

Avoid extreme heat

Do not leave your bat for extended periods inside a hot vehicle, beside a heater or radiator, or in prolonged direct sunlight. Excessive heat can cause the willow to lose moisture and become overly dry.

Inspect regularly

Regularly inspect the face, edges and toe for cracks, opening fibres, edge damage, excessive indentations or signs of moisture. Address developing issues before continuing use.

Normal wear & damage

Surface marks, dents, minor cracking and general wear are normal with use and do not necessarily indicate a defect.

If significant cracking, splitting or other structural damage occurs, stop using the bat and have it assessed before further play.

Off-season care

Before storing your bat for an extended period:

• 01 — Inspect — Check the face, edges and toe.
• 02 — Repair — Address any damage before storage.
• 03 — Clean — Remove dirt and surface residue.
• 04 — Oil — Apply a light coat of raw linseed oil to exposed willow where required.
• 05 — Dry — Ensure the bat is completely dry before storage.
• 06 — Store — Store in a cool, dry environment away from moisture, direct heat and significant temperature changes.

Important information

English and Kashmir willow are natural materials, and every bat will respond differently to use. Proper preparation and care can help extend its lifespan, but normal wear, cracking and damage may occur during play.