The Modern Cricket Bat

The cricket bat did not always work and appear as it does today. In fact, the modern bat is the final step in a multi-stage evolution. Many cricket historians actually suggest that the Shepherd's crook was actually the original cricket bat – and this is somewhat confirmed by the “fossil record” of the cricket bat, which looks radically different if we trace it back to the oldest remaining ancestor from 1729. This bat appears to be quite similar to a crook, with a rather twisted, wavy tip, rather than the flat, straight one often employed today.

The modern bat is made up of four parts: the handle, the shoulder, the blade, and the toe. The handle, quite obviously, is what the batsmen hold onto. In contrast to the bulk of the cricket bat, the handle is usually covered – and generally with plastic or rubber to deafen shocks and to facilitate grip. The shoulder is the point at which the blade meets the blade meets the handle. The batsmen's thumb and finger will usually rub up against the end of the shoulder. The blade is the large swath of the cricket bat that extends from the shoulder to the toe –  the part where the batsmen strikes the ball. The last part, the toe, is at the very end of the bat. It is usually rounded and uncovered.

The modern bat is usually composed of hard, shock-resistant wood that is also dent-resistant. Since bats are flat and long, the wood must be pressurized to prevent splintering on contact with the ball.

One of the more common brands of bat is Slazenger. Inexpensive Slazenger models sell for as little as $40 – and often come with bat cases, which will prevent the bat from getting scratched or denting when it is placed on hard surfaces