Cricket bats are used by the batsmen in the sport of cricket. The cricket bat is used to score runs by hitting the incoming bowled cricket ball either out of the boundary or in an area where there is little field coverage so the batsmen is able to run between wickets. Cricket bats are made from willow wood and the first one to ever be used is thought to have been way back in 1624 – the game of cricket is truly historic.

Cricket bats are not just a simple plank of wood however. They are specially shaped into a paddle-like design along with a paddle handle which is a long cylindrical shape usually gripped up to fit snugly into the cricket batsman's hands, offering him comfort and an excellent grip to obtain maximum power and poignant accuracy. The area of the bat known as the blade is a wider wooden block which is flat on one side and contains a V-shaped ridge on the other. This ridge provides greater air flow in the batsman's follow through swing and gives the whole cricket bat a greater overall strength. The flat side at the front of the bat is used to hit the cricket ball.

When you first purchase your cricket bat, it is generally advised that you do not use it straight away. This is because it is advised that you should knock in the bat by hitting the surface with a cricket ball first (there is also a special bat mallet to do this job). This is for the safety of the bat as knocking it in will compact the fibres within the cricket bat thus protecting it from snapping during play. The recommended time for knocking in a cricket bat is a staggering 3 to 6 hours; however it is said to be worth it, as your cricket bat will be more controllable and contain a lot more power.