A cricket bat is a batsman’s most valuable weapon. To get the most out of it, a player must understand how to use cricket bat oil for knocking and properly maintaining the bat. Even the most expensive bats can easily break if not properly oiled.
Average-priced bats, on the other hand, with proper oiling and maintenance, can help increase the bat’s longevity.
Cricket bat oil allows the bat to perform at its peak for a longer period of time. For proper absorption, use 2-3 teaspoons of linseed cricket bat oil at a time. The oil should be applied parallel to the grains rather than across them. Before the next round of oiling, the bat should be allowed to dry for 12-24 hours. The Cricdost Free cricket scoring app has provided this interesting article.
What Happens If Your Cricket Bat Isn’t Oiled?
If you do not oil your cricket bat, it can be very damaging to the bat and you may end up losing your favorite willow as well as some hard-earned money. A batsman spends long hours in the hot sun practicing or playing long innings in a match. This can cause the bat to dry out, which can lead to cracking or splitting of the grains.
If the bat is not properly oiled and knocked, the fibers remain loose. In this case, a hard strike with the mallet or a fast leather ball can cause cracks in the bat by splitting the loose fibers. Oiling the bat helps to prevent dryness and thus extends the bat’s utility and life.
Should I lubricate my bat before using it?
Yes, absolutely! Knocking a new bat before oiling it can be disastrous. Oiling helps to moisturize while knocking helps to compress the fibers of the bat, keeping them tightly bound and thus strong. Oiling the fibers before knocking aids in their strong binding.
Some people alternate the rounds of oiling and knocking. Even so, make sure that the oiling comes first, not the knocking. To begin, it is advised to avoid vigorous knocking. Once the bat has been sufficiently oiled, the force of knocking can be gradually increased, and once the oiling is complete, hard-knocking can be used.
How Long Does it Take for Linseed Oil to Dry on a Cricket Bat?
After applying linseed oil to a cricket bat, it usually takes about 12 hours to dry. It also depends on how much oil has already been applied to the bat. On a brand-new cricket bat, the oil may be absorbed in as little as 12 hours. However, as the bat soaks up enough oil, it may take more than 12 hours for the oil to be absorbed in the later stages of oiling.
It may take up to 24 hours for a well-oiled bat to dry. It’s a warning to stop overheating the bat. It’s all set for the season. Remember to repeat the oiling process every 5-6 months or after a long season.
What Is the Best Way to Apply Linseed Oil to a Cricket Bat?
Before applying Linseed oil to the bat, prepare it for oiling by removing any stickers or taping on the bat so that the entire bat surface can be properly oiled. Then follow the instructions below:
Keep the bat facing up on a dry surface.
Dip a piece of cloth or cotton in linseed oil and slowly spread the oil along the grains of the bat from bottom to top.
After oiling, keep the bat horizontal for a few minutes to absorb the oil, then wipe off the excess.
The front face, the edges, the heel of the bat and about 3 to 4 cm from the edges to the back of the bat must all be oiled.
Keep in mind that rubbing linseed oil across the grains will not improve absorption.
How Much Oil Goes Into a Cricket Bat?
When it comes to oiling a cricket bat, more is not better. In general, 2 to 3 teaspoons of oil is sufficient for one round of oiling. A bat can only absorb so much in one sitting. If the bat is completely dry after 12-24 hours, apply one more round of oiling. Repeat until the bat no longer absorbs any more oil. Avoid over-oiling the bat because it will add unnecessary weight and may cause the bat to rot.
Conclusion
Oiling a bat may appear to be a simple task, but it is extremely easy to get it wrong. We hope that this article has helped you understand the significance of oiling a cricket bat, particularly a new one. The amount of oil used, as well as the time spent drying and knocking in after the oiling process, should be key takeaways from this article. Download the CricDost app, a free live cricket streaming tool for amateur players. Download now and enjoy to the fullest!
