Frequently asked questions
What are your pads and gloves like?
They are of the highest quality. My softs are made in India, the same as the majority of big brands.
How do you grade your bats?
My bats are graded on playability and performance rather than how pretty they look.
Do you have agents in SA and abroad?
I use a few coaches to sell my equipment in SA and abroad. If you are interested, please email me with your particulars and I will put you on to the relevant coach.
Who makes the best bats in the world?
There are very few pod shavers left. If you are in South Africa, you would have to come and visit me for the best possible bat.
If I was in the UK, I would probably visit one of several factories. To name a few, Newberry, Salix and Charlie French.
If I was in Australia, I would want to visit Screaming Cat and the Grays Factory.
In New Zealand, I would have to say Laver and Wood.
At the end of the day, we all use the same timber. It is what the maker gets out of the timber that determines how good the bat will play.
Where do you get your English Willow from?
I purchase my timber from J.S. Wright and Sons, who are the largest suppliers of cricket bat willow in the world.
Are the majority of bats made in India?
I would say at least 80% of the big brands get their bats made in India and Pakistan. Most of these bats come from the same factory.
Do they make good bats?
In my opinion, some of the bats are fantastic. I just find the quality of pressing, splicing and the handles used in some cases are not up to scratch.
Can we visit your factory?
My doors are always open and I encourage individuals to come through and choose their willow, and watch me shape their bats.
Why are name brands so expensive?
Cricket has become a huge money game in the last few years and big name brands are paying established international players huge money to use their products. To recover their costs they have to retail their products as astronomical prices.
How long has cricket been around?
The game of cricket has a known history spanning from the 16th century to the present day, with international matches played since 1844, although the official history of international Test cricket began in 1877. During this time, the game developed from its origins in England into a game which is now played professionally in most of the Commonwealth of Nations.