Source: Radio New Zealand
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George Fox didn’t set out to be a bat manufacturer – his expertise is making protective equipment for cricketers. Although even that began more by accident than design around 13 years ago.
A friend was a professional cricketer, and Fox wasn’t impressed by the standard of some of his protective gear and made a bet he could do a better job.
“I said, ‘I bet you a pint. Your thigh pad’s rubbish mate, let’s have a go.’”
It’s safe to say Fox won the bet. Through word of mouth his bespoke thighpads and protective equipment grew into a business under the Stretton Fox brand name.
Based in the English town of Market Harborough, Fox got to know bat makers and heard their complaints about the rising cost of raw materials – namely English willow.
The MCC, cricket’s law makers, even held a conference last year to address the rising costs of bats and willow.
Part of the reason is limited supply – aside from the cane handle, quality cricket bats are virtually all made from English willow. It’s light, flexible, and when prepared by a skilled batmaker acts almost like a mini trampoline, sending the ball flying to and over the boundary.
But as the name suggests, English willow grows best in England and takes upwards of 15 years to be ready for harvest. The tree is felled, cut into rounds which are then split into clefts, which are then shaped into bats.
When he found out less than half of the wood actually makes it into the finished bat, Fox started thinking, “How do you create a McDonald’s hamburger version of a cricket bat?”
The secret formula
Using his training as a material scientist, he’s worked out a method to turn the willow leftovers – including shavings and saw dust – into what he describes as a “willow porridge”. That mixture is then poured into a cricket bat-shaped mould.
“Within 10 to 15 minutes you’re pulling out a cricket bat,” Fox said.
The bat needs a week or two to fully harden, but is then ready for match play.
Fox calls his bats ‘ Re-Willow’. The exact method is a patented secret. Fox said up to 95 percent of the bat is made from willow and wood-derived resin.
“Then about 5 percent of it is very clever chemistry, which is the bit that makes it do what it does. So that’s my Coca-Cola recipe, if you like.”
Because the blade of the bat is made from wood, it complies with MCC laws. It’s still a work in progress though.
Cricket bat willow is graded mainly on looks, but also performance. Fox reckons his bats currently perform as well as grade three English willow.
“The grading’s tricky, but everyone kind of gets it in terms of the bounce and the ping. I reckon that within six to eight weeks, we’ll be at grade two/grade one.”
Currently a top-of-the-range bat can cost well over $1500. Fox says his ‘Re-Willow’ bats will retail for around $200 for an adult size.
Fox doesn’t see his bats as a replacement for English willow bats, but hopes they’ll help lessen the cost barrier of getting into the sport, particularly for kids.
Fox said he’s been contacted by cricket academies around the world who tell him, “We just can’t, for love nor money, get hold of good quality cricket bats.”
If everything goes to plan, Fox’s Re-Willow bats will be on the shelves before the end of the year.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
