According to Gilchrist (in his autobiography) they are all one type of bat (can't remember as it's been awhile since I've read it and cbf'd searching for it right now) and then they whack the sponsors stickers on.
Gilchrist used a Millichamp & Hall Puma his whole career. Julian Millichamp has a signed bat in his workshop from Gilchrist saying something along the lines of "greatest bats in the world."
Apparently this is now highly illegal (adverstising something that you are not actually using) and is not as common practise as it was during the '90's. That isn't to say that it doesn't happen, just not as much.
Millichamp only makes 250 bats a year so I would find it hard to believe that every professional cricketer is using his bats. There is nothing stopping the likes of Grey Nicholls, Kookaburra, Puma etc. from hand-making around a dozen bats for each sponsored player then factory producing the other thousands for the sports shops around the country.
Many of them use Newberry or Millichamp then put stickers on.
Others actually do use mass produced bats and others use mass produced bats by another manufacturer and change stickers.
A few also have them made totally custom by some random.
Ricky Ponting for example, uses a Kookaburra made by Kookaburra and anyone can go and buy his bat. He doesn't have them custom made by any of the boutique dudes.
Ricky Ponting for example, uses a Kookaburra made by Kookaburra and anyone can go and buy his bat. He doesn't have them custom made by any of the boutique dudes.
Gilchrist used a Millichamp & Hall Puma his whole career. Julian Millichamp has a signed bat in his workshop from Gilchrist saying something along the lines of "greatest bats in the world."
Apparently to be a sponsor you have to make a certain number of cricket bats for commercial sale. MRF did this through rebadging another suppliers bats and making them available for purchase. That's probably what Adidas, Reebok and Nike do too.
the reason Waugh had a plain bat for awhile was he signed with a non-bat making company, and the laws around the stickers had not yet changed. As soon as they did he put the sticker on.
Ricky Ponting for example, uses a Kookaburra made by Kookaburra and anyone can go and buy his bat. He doesn't have them custom made by any of the boutique dudes.
of course the bat would be designed by Kookaburra in conjunction with RTP. But he still uses a mass produced bat that literally anyone else can use.
Good luck getting hold of the bat that Sachin uses, or even the thing hayden used to wield. They are fully custom. Hayden used to change bats depending on conditions too.
Different bat for subbie conditons, than in Australia. Used a heavier bat in India, than in australia
Even though there's plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise, I've always felt you weren't fair dinkum, as a batsmen, if your bat didn't have a Gray-Nicolls sticker on it. I don't know why, just do.
Many of them use Newberry or Millichamp then put stickers on.
Others actually do use mass produced bats and others use mass produced bats by another manufacturer and change stickers.
A few also have them made totally custom by some random.
Ricky Ponting for example, uses a Kookaburra made by Kookaburra and anyone can go and buy his bat. He doesn't have them custom made by any of the boutique dudes.
I'm not exactly an expert in bat making but I have bought a few custom made bats in the past. From what I understand it's really the quality and softness of the willow that sets apart the bats that pros use, rather than being hand made.
Softer willow supposedly is lighter and has the best rebound qualities but can break after one hit-out in the nets. This is why the pros use them as they can "afford" (or they are given) the best bits of willow despite the fact they are less durable. Many players I expect would go and personally choose the raw blocks they want the bat made out of when they have the chance.
Imagine if you went and bought a $600 "players" bat from Kookaburra or GN etc. and then it broke after one week. Whilst I'm sure they are still excellent bats, once you have tried the bat of a pro player you will find it hard to go back to your own!
A lot of players don't knock their bats in. A lot of modern bats don't need to be anymore. Also some believe that the best time to use a bat is brand new untouched as it has more rebound.
the reason Waugh had a plain bat for awhile was he signed with a non-bat making company, and the laws around the stickers had not yet changed. As soon as they did he put the sticker on.
I think you'll find that the rule did apply at the time Waugh had no contract and during his MRF contract. It may have changed but it certainly did exist when he was using the MRF label.
A lot of players don't knock their bats in. A lot of modern bats don't need to be anymore. Also some believe that the best time to use a bat is brand new untouched as it has more rebound.
I think you'll find that the rule did apply at the time Waugh had no contract and during his MRF contract. It may have changed but it certainly did exist when he was using the MRF label.
Pretty sure the rule is still there, you can have a small sticker of any sponsor along the side now but your main bat stickers must be a "bat manufacturer", you wont see enjoy a coke with Micheal on Clarkes bat.
Clarke has signed with spartan sports for $1million+ so thats why he doesn't just use a plain bat.