It might happen in some time from now that bamboo would
be used to make cricket bats instead of willow. According to a study conducted
by the University of Cambridge, bamboo can be and should be used to manufacture
the bats as it would be economically sustainable and would help players in the
game too.
The traditional cricket bats are made of English or Kashmir willow but bamboo seems to be a cheaper option, said the researchers- Darshil Shah and Ben Tinkler-Davies.
According to the media reports, Shah asserted that, “The sweet spot on a bamboo bat makes it much easier to hit a four off a Yorker for starters, but it’s exciting for all kinds of strokes.”
According to the Guardian newspaper, issues come up with the supply of English willow as it takes 15 years before harvesting a tree. And to keep the process going, new trees must be planted.
“Between 15 percent and 30 percent of the wood is also wasted during bat production”, it added.
However, Shah believes that bamboo is “cheap, available in abundance, fast-growing and sustainable material,”
Bamboo shoots are able to grow from previous stumps, and in seven years they can reach maturity.
He further added that “Bamboo bats are prevalent in the countries like China, Japan, South America.”
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According to the duo researchers published an article in the journal of ‘Sports Engineering and Technology,’ their prototype bat blade was made out of bamboo shoot strips which were then stuck together with a resin adhesive and formed into layers.
Interestingly the researchers found that the bat was “stiffer, harder and stronger than those made of willow, although more brittle. It also had a similar vibration performance, meaning it sounds similar when striking a ball.”
Shah added, “It is heavier than a willow bat, and we are looking to optimize that.”
Moreover, bamboo bat would have a larger “sweet spot, closer to the toe of the bat”.
As of now, this idea has not received any nod from the apex cricket associations, however, it would prove beneficial for starters.
There also emerged a counter-view of making bamboo bats as Prof Mark Miodownik, an engineer and materials scientist, and director of the Institute of Making at University College London, said: “Just because bamboo is more plentiful than willow does not mean bats made from it would be more sustainable”.
“The whole life cycle of production, including the manufacture of the laminating resins and their disposal, needs to be considered. Do these resins biodegrade for instance? If not, this could be LBW for this new material.”