Cricket bats are made of willow but not just any willow will do. While weeping willow trees are pretty common and easy to spot, they won’t do for a cricket bat. Neither will white willow or goat willow or most others you can think of. Instead a particular type of willow tree called Salix Alba Caerulea is used to craft cricket bats and for several key reasons.
Colloquially known as the Cricket Bat Willow, cricket bats are made of Salix Alba Caerulea which is a fast-growing willow that is very tough but also lightweight and holds up well to the force of hitting a cricket ball. This makes it an ideal choice as a strong but easy to swing bat even for smaller and younger players.
Why are cricket bats made of willow?
Willow is used to craft cricket bats but while there are over 400 species of willow trees that exist, only one is used to make bats. A certain type of willow species called Salix Alba Caerulea is a great choice for a cricket bat given that it meets certain criteria that make it an obvious choice:
Salix Alba Caerulea is fast growing
Salix Alba Caerulea is a very fast growing tree that can produce cricket bats in around 6 years. Older trees 12 – 18 years are still seen by some as being more desirable due to the increased grain that will be produced over time but modern bats may come from trees that are much younger.
Newer crickets bats with 6+ grains can be just as high quality as ones coming from older trees and the number of grains is a minor criteria to consider when choosing a bat which we’ll discuss more below.
By comparison it take 30 – 40 years for a maple tree to be big enough to tap for sap and a pine tree might require 25 – 40 years to be big enough to be considered mature and thus ready for harvesting.
In addition to being fast-growing, the Cricket Bat Tree also grows in a way whose general appearance works well for crafting them into cricket bats due to the nice grain and color that is produced.
Salix Alba Caerulea is hearty
Salix Alba Caerulea grows in a wide variety of locales and is common in Britain which is handy since it’s the birthplace of cricket
. It adapts well in most soils and grows well in the wild in poorly drained and wet areas that receive sun. It is seen as a great choice for growing in otherwise unproductive land that may be too wet and moist for other trees such as near rivers, streams, wetlands and ditches.
It is also used in other ways including construction, for artificial limbs, mill working, poles and tool handles among other uses. It can grow up to 90 ft (27m) in height and is typically felled for cricket bats when they reach 56″ – 58″ (142 cm – 147 cm) in circumference depending on the manufacturer.
In order to be used for cricket bats, the ideal cricket willow tree will have at least 60″ (153 cm) of clean tree trunk and ideally at least 84″ (214 cm) from the ground to the first branches.
These days, Salix Alba Caerulea is often specifically grown and harvested for the purpose of producing cricket bats. Many quality manufacturers will replace willow trees upon cutting one down to produce cricket bats.
Salix Alba Caerulea is relatively lightweight
High quality cricket bat wood is generally light in weight and typically weighs 340 kg/m3 – 420 kg/m3 (21 lbs/ft3 – 26 lbs/ft3). The heaviest wood in the world by comparison is reputed to the ignum vitae (Guaiacum officinale) which weighs 1365 kg/m3 (85 ft3 ).
Because a cricket bat is held in your hands and makes contact with a ball, it needs to be quick and light enough for players to swing it but also strong enough to withstand the force of hitting the ball.
In that regard, Cricket Bat Willow meets both criteria.
Salix Alba Caerulea is a strong wood
While Salix Alba Caerulea is a lightweight wood, it’s also very strong and doesn’t shatter easily which makes it an ideal wood for a cricket bat. Click here for a full article on cricket weight ranges and considerations.
A cricket ball (weight: 5.5 oz – 5.75 oz or 156 g – 163 g) is harder and heavier than a baseball (weight: 5 oz – 5.25 oz or 142 g -149 g). The average force on a cricket ball hitting a bat has been determined to be 8,800 N (Newtons) which is enough force to lift a 880 kg (1940 lbs) object off the ground.
Does the age of a willow tree matter for a cricket bat?
Some manufacturers will produce cricket bats from trees that are 4 – 6 years old whereas other manufacturers will fell trees that are 12 – 18 years old and even older.
The best cricket bats exhibit a number of variables but while in the past the number of grains was seen as being crucial to quality, this is no longer the case. In fact, the number and tightness of the grain is largely now considered a minor factor in cricket bat quality.
Each grain of a willow tree represents one year of tree growth. Grade 1 cricket bats have a minimum of 6 grains visible on the blade whereas the lowest grade 4 cricket bat may only have 4.
While a cricket bat with many grains from an older willow may perform better early, they may not last as long. A cricket bat with fewer grains from a younger willow may require more time to perform optimally but may also last longer.
So there is a trade off in terms of how old a tree is when felled to produce cricket bats.
How much do cricket bats weigh?
Cricket bats have different weights for different ages of players and strengths. You should choose your cricket bat less on how much it weighs and more based on how it feels to you.
Full size crickets bats are typically sized as follows:
| Size | Weight |
| Light | 2 lbs 6 oz – 2 lbs 7 oz (1077 g – 1106 g) |
| Medium | 2 lbs 8 oz – 2lb 10 oz (1134 g – 1191 g) |
| Heavy | 2 lbs 11 oz + (1219 g +) |
You will get certain advantages with different weights of cricket bats:
Heavier cricket bat: A more powerful bat that is also less prone to damage and breaking.
Lighter cricket bat: Offers faster bat speed and is easier to swing and manoeuver.
Cricket bat willow grades
While different cricket bat manufacturers may have slightly different standards, here is what you can expect as far as characteristics of each grade of bat.
| Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | |
| Use | Professional usage | Club cricket | Intermediate club players | Starting players |
| Willow | English willow (softer willow) | English willow (softer willow) | English willow (softer willow) | Kashmir willow (harder willow) |
| Grain | At least 6 grains visible on the blade that tend to be perfectly straight grain. | At least 6 grains visible on the blade although some may have a blemish. Straight grain. | A minimum of 5 grains visible on the blade although they may not be perfectly straight. | Any number of grains with 4 being common with irregular grain patterns. |
| Blemishes | Generally none but some may have minor blemishes | Some blemishes, knots and marks | Noticeable blemishes and coloring | Some bats have a cover to hide blemishes |
| Bleaching | unbleached | unbleached | unbleached | bleached |
| Price range | $353 – $686 | $198 – $445 | $141 – $269 | $141 – $226 |
NOTES: Pricing can vary wildly depending on where you live and who you order a bat from.
Depending on who is grading the bat, it’s possible that it could fall in between two grades and some manufacturers offer grades 5 & 6 as well.
You may also find for example that a specific grade 2 bat suits you better than a higher graded 1 bat.
English vs Kashmir cricket bat characteristics
The two main types of cricket bats you will find are ones made from English willow and Kashmir willow. Each offers distinct differences.
| English willow cricket bats | Kashmir willow cricket bats | |
| Origin | England | India |
| Use | Professional, international and club players | Junior and beginner level players |
| Sweet spot | More dynamic (more punch) | Less dynamic (less punch) |
| Soil | Willow is typically grown in wet and moist locales | Willow is grown in soil that is drier |
| Weight | Lighter raw material | Heavier raw material |
| Grains | Less embedded | More embedded |
| Moisture content | Lower | Higher |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
What to look for in a good cricket bat
Back in the day, it was assumed that the more grains a cricket bat had, the better the bat. So it meant the older trees 15+ years old were only felled to make into cricket bats. You will still see many bat manufacturers suggesting that they only fell trees that are over 12 years old.
But these days you can purchase quality cricket bats from trees that were specifically grown to make into cricket bats that are much younger. Instead of focusing simply on grains, consider your cricket bat purchase with these four criteria:
Ping: Describes the rebound of the ball after striking the face of the cricket bat. The ping will always be better with English willow over Kashmir willow.
Handle: You can choose cricket bats with differently designed handles that are made from various materials, namely English Willow, Cane and Composite. Choose the one that feels right for you.
Pick up: Refers to the weight and feel of a cricket bat and how the weight is distributed throughout the bat. Concentrate on the pick up and distribution of the bat rather than simply the total weight i.e. how does the bat feel in your hand?
Price: What is your budget for a cricket bat? While the grade 1 – 4 system is helpful you might find that a lower graded and thus cheaper bat suits your purpose and budget better than a more expensive one.
English Willow vs Kashmir Willow Comparison Summary
What type of wood are cricket bats made from? Here’s a comparison table of the two most common woods, English willow and Kashmir willow, focusing on their suitability for cricket bats and overall wood characteristics:
| Aspect | English Willow | Kashmir Willow |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Origin | England | Kashmir, India |
| Grain Structure | Straight, even, and prominent | Generally straight, but often not as even or prominent as English willow |
| Wood Density | Lightweight and highly sought after | Slightly denser and heavier compared to English willow |
| Sapwood to Heartwood Ratio | Higher sapwood ratio (preferred for cricket bats) | Lower sapwood ratio |
| Sweet Spot | Distinct and well-defined, often larger | Smaller and less pronounced sweet spot |
| Ping Sound | Produces a clear, resonant ping sound on impact | Produces a slightly muted ping sound |
| Performance | Offers excellent power, balance, and performance | Provides good performance, but generally considered inferior to English willow |
| Durability | Less durable and more prone to damage and breakage | More durable and resilient |
| Availability | Limited supply, high demand, and expensive | More readily available and cost-effective |
| Suitability for Bats | Preferred choice for professional and high-end bats | Used for entry-level and practice bats |
English Willow is highly prized for its superior performance, lightweight nature, and the pronounced sweet spot it offers in cricket bats. Due to its limited supply and premium quality, it is the preferred choice for professional cricketers and high-end bats.
Kashmir Willow, on the other hand, is a more cost-effective option and is commonly used for entry-level and practice bats. While it may not offer the same level of performance as English willow, it provides good durability and serves as a suitable choice for recreational players and beginners.
Choosing between the two types of willow ultimately depends on a player’s skill level, budget, and performance preferences. Professional and serious players often opt for English willow for its exceptional performance, while casual and novice players may find Kashmir willow bats more accessible and cost-effective.