MCC not keen about bamboo bats, says they’re illegal

London, May 11

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The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), guardian of cricket’s laws, has said that bats made of bamboo would be “illegal” under the current rules governing the game.

However, MCC said they will discuss the matter during their laws sub-committee meeting.

According to a study by Darshil Shah and Ben Tinkler-Davies of the University of Cambridge, bats made from bamboo are economically sustainable and stronger than the ones made from willow.

“Currently, law 5.3.2 states that the blade of the bat must consist solely of wood, so for bamboo (which is a grass) to be considered as a realistic alternative to willow would require a law change,” MCC said in a statement.

“Importantly, the law would need to be altered to allow bamboo specifically, as even if it were to be recognised as a wood, this would still be illegal under the current law, which bans lamination of the blade, except in junior bats,” it added.

Shah and Tinkler-Davies found the bamboo bat to be “stiffer, harder and stronger than those made of willow, although more brittle” and also supposed to have a larger “sweet spot, closer to the toe of the bat.” — TNS, agencies