Ran into this interview on PakPassion. For cricket bat enthusiasts it is great reading.\
http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?t=130391
PakPassion.net: Is bat making a dying art?
James Laver: I think it is a huge shame that a lot less bats can now be called ‘hand-made’. Unfortunately big business demands large profit margins and it is cheaper for many big companies to make bats in different manners. Having said that there are some absolutely superb bat-makers around doing their thing so I think that the art of the pod shaver will never disappear.
PakPassion.net: What is the most unusual request for a modification in a bat you were asked for?
James Laver: Aside from profiles, handles seem to be the part of the bat that customers are most ‘fussy’ about. We have many requests for different shapes, different materials, very specific grip set-ups etc. Recently we have had quite a few people asking about counter-balances as a few pro players have started using them.
I guess the most recent, very strange request came from a customer here in New Zealand who wanted a copy of the old Lance Cairns Newbery Excalibur. He insisted on it being the same shape and dimensions as well as the weight being identical to what Lance used to use – 3lbs 5ozs. I simply cannot understand how someone can use it effectively – but each to their own!
Another bat I have made is one the full 38” long for a player in the UK who had a bad back and could not bend. I can’t think of too many other reasons for using a bat this long though as it slows down your bat speed considerably.
http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?t=130391
http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?t=130391
PakPassion.net: Is bat making a dying art?
James Laver: I think it is a huge shame that a lot less bats can now be called ‘hand-made’. Unfortunately big business demands large profit margins and it is cheaper for many big companies to make bats in different manners. Having said that there are some absolutely superb bat-makers around doing their thing so I think that the art of the pod shaver will never disappear.
PakPassion.net: What is the most unusual request for a modification in a bat you were asked for?
James Laver: Aside from profiles, handles seem to be the part of the bat that customers are most ‘fussy’ about. We have many requests for different shapes, different materials, very specific grip set-ups etc. Recently we have had quite a few people asking about counter-balances as a few pro players have started using them.
I guess the most recent, very strange request came from a customer here in New Zealand who wanted a copy of the old Lance Cairns Newbery Excalibur. He insisted on it being the same shape and dimensions as well as the weight being identical to what Lance used to use – 3lbs 5ozs. I simply cannot understand how someone can use it effectively – but each to their own!
Another bat I have made is one the full 38” long for a player in the UK who had a bad back and could not bend. I can’t think of too many other reasons for using a bat this long though as it slows down your bat speed considerably.
http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?t=130391
