1. Cricket Bat Care and Maintenance Tips

2. It's not just about picking out the right bat. You need to make sure that you look after it and take care of it to ensure you don't reduce the performance. 3. You should oil your new cricket bat using linseed oil before you begin to knock it in. 4. Start by lightly sanding the surface of the cricket bat with fine sand paper. Apply 2-3 coats of oil to all the exposed surfaces of the bat and allow to dry overnight. 5. If your cricket bat has already had an artificial coating then it's best to avoid putting oil on it. 6. Remember not to stand the bat in oil as this can soften the bat and it is more likely to become damaged. 7. It's important that you check your cricket bat after every match for any signs of damage. You want to check for cracking or splitting of the wood. 8. If you have cracked or split it you can repair the damage by sanding and cleaning the damaged area, then using super glue or cricket bat tape to repair any surface cracks. 9. When the season is over you should avoid storing your cricket bat in a warm location. Specifically, keep your bat away from direct sunlight or rooms with high temperatures as this will cause the bat to dry out. 10. Another thing to do at the end of the season is to apply another light coat of linseed oil and again at the start of the next season. If you manage to take good care of your cricket bat it should last at least 3- 4 seasons. 11. If you mistreat your cricket bat and don't care for it properly it will be much more prone to damage. 12. Cracks on any cricket batsare normal so as long as you repair them it should last much longer.