High-tech bats to be made illegal

Ricky Ponting's Kookaburra bat was ruled illegal in 2006

Law-maker the MCC has outlawed some modern bats after an overwhelming vote to rewrite one of cricket's key laws.

With a two-thirds majority needed, 98.6% of members voted to re-write law 6, which calls for "equal balance between bat and ball".

The new law now stipulates that 90% of the volume of bat handles should be made of cane, wood and/or twine.

The other 10% can be used "for the purpose of reducing vibration, for example rubber".

The handles, including the splice, must also not exceed 52% of the overall length of the bat and the law also restricts the thickness of materials that can be used to protect and repair bats.

The MCC, guardians of the laws of cricket, had been concerned by the use of carbon-fibre and graphite in modern bat handles, which gives extra strength and also makes them lighter.

"In cricket, the battle between bat and ball is key," said MCC head of cricket John Stephenson. "If one comes to dominate the other, the game will become predictable and less enjoyable to watch.

"While cricket pitches, balls and boundaries have changed little in centuries, modern bats have developed to the extent that mis-hits are now clearing the boundary rope for six.

"By ensuring that bats are made in the traditional manner, MCC hopes to safeguard the traditional balance of the game.

"Modern training methods have allowed many batsmen to become stronger and fitter than their predecessors, thus hitting the ball harder and further.

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"MCC is not trying to legislate against those players, but rather the new material that could give them an unfair advantage."

The new law will come into effect from 1 October this year, when all bats used in the professional game will have to meet the new standards, though any amateur player in possession of an illegal bat would be allowed to continue using it "for the rest of the bat's natural life".

The MCC said in compiling the law change, it consulted the International Cricket Council, governing bodies of Test-playing countries, bat manufacturers, scientists as well as suppliers of willow and cane to ensure they could meet demand.

It will also carry out random tests on bats over the world to ensure the law is being implemented.

Modern bat handles are made with a hollow carbon-fibre shaft, fixed to the blade with a wooden plug, and housed in moulded foam, while traditional bat handles are a mix of cane and rubber, guarded by a linen thread, weighing up to six ounces more.

Modern bats make up the weight in the depth of their blades, increasing the potential force in the middle of the bat.

Before the change, there was little prescription on bat-making beyond maximum width (4.25in), length (38in), and that the blade should be made entirely of wood.

In 2006, a bat made by Kookaburra and used by Australia captain Ricky Ponting, was deemed illegal because its blade was backed by a graphite strip which the MCC ruled was "likely to cause unacceptable damage to the ball" (Law 6.2).

The ruling was backed by the ICC and the bat was withdrawn by the manufacturers.