Gray-Nicolls is a highly esteemed cricket brand that has been producing high-quality cricket equipment since 1860. Flash forward to 2021, the brand endorses some of the best cricket stars in the world like Kane Williamson, Aaron Finch, Babar Azam, Kagiso Rabada, and Mitchell Marsh, who use the latest Gray-Nicolls cricket bats.
However, most people don’t know that Gray-Nicolls is one of the few companies that allows buyers to come into their store and design a custom-made bat. The salespeople will generally get you to test a range of their high-quality bats and judge your style of play when using them. By using your height, weight, strength, and stroke play preferences, the professional bat makers will create a bat to suit your style.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the custom bat-making process so you know what you’ll be getting for your money. Regardless of your preferences, one thing is certain; you’ll be walking out with a stunning, high-performance Gray-Nicolls cricket bat.
Why Gray-Nicolls?
It’s quite simple. Gray-Nicolls engineers arguably the best custom-made cricket bats in the world for different player profiles, blending nearly two centuries of tradition with innovation. Here’s what makes the brand stand out from the rest:
Hand-Crafted English Willow (Grade 1-4)
Tailored to the Individual and Made to Measure
Renowned Customer Service
True British Quality
Pre-Specified Customization Options
Gray-Nicolls Customization Options
Gray-Nicolls offers several customization options for buyers so they receive a tailor-made bat that is perfect for their game. These options include:
Bat Size
Width of Grain
Weight
Blade Type and Length
Handly Shape and Length
Toe Guard
Ready2Play Service (Knocking)
How Custom Made Gray-Nicolls Cricket Bats are Crafted
Order Placement
You can purchase custom Gray-Nicolls cricket bats either online at their outlet or a reputable cricket shop near you. All you have to do is fill in a form and explain your requirements to the representative via call, in person, or email. Once you make the payment, your custom bat will be delivered to you within a couple of weeks. However, if you opt for the Ready2Play service, it could take longer, depending on the season or workload.
Raw Material Unloading
The willow arrives at the workshop in different locations in the country and is cut into roundels, which are sealed in controlled environments to dry for a few days. During this period, the willow is compressed and becomes harder before being shaped into clefts.
Splitting
The bat makers strip the bark from each roundel and spit them into clefts, which is the roughest form of the blade before it is sent to the machine for shaping.
More Drying
The English willow cleft is graded according to its quality and then left for nearly two months to air-dry. This secondary drying process further reduces its naturally high moisture content due to English weather conditions.
Handle
Next, the professional bat makes designs the handle according to your specifications on a lathe and fits it into the cleft by hand.
Bat Shaping
Once the handle is fitted with the blade, the bat maker will shape the bat until it is perfectly balanced in terms of pick-up, strokeplay, and overall performance. They carefully sand and buff the surface until they have a finished look and feel. Once the bat has been perfectly handcrafted according to the desired profile, they will apply oil to give it a shine.
Pressing
The custom bat is further dried out for a couple of days and then pressed. This is done to compress the natural fibers and increase their density to offer crisper, more powerful stroke play. It also provides the blade with its bow.
Binding
Finally, the handle is permanently glued to the blade to add more strength and prevent it from cracking upon high impact.
Branding
Finally, the professionals carefully apply the labels (stickers) you chose along with the handle’s grip before shipping it out to the outlet for pickup or your home.
Conclusion
By now, you probably understand what happens behind the scenes after you place your order for a custom-made Gray-Nicolls cricket bat. However, you should understand that designing a custom bat is a big decision since there relatively more expensive than ready-made options. So, you should speak to a cricket expert before and discuss your preferences and requirements before splashing out your cash online or at a cricket shop near you.
Resources:
Gunn and Moore Cricket Bats - GitBook
Cricket Shoes - Oregon State University