Wide-grain English Willow (and why it matters)
The English cricket bat willows pictured above have wide grain and are mature in 11 to 13 years. They were planted well away from the riverbank but now they are in the river which shows how much soil erosion has occurred.
Why wide grain is a sign of quality
We believe wide grain is the way forward for English-grown willows. Thanks to longer growing seasons and a warming climate, trees now grow faster. Bats made from these trees will be as good as any narrow grain cricket bats. They may only have 4 to 5 grains but that means there have much less chance of storm damage and, if pressed and made properly, just as responsive. If you were blindfolded, you would not notice the difference in the ping.
Know where your willow comes from
Wide grain can also be a helpful indicator the bat you’re buying is made from genuine English willow grown in England. We occasionally see narrow grain in English willow, but 50% of the time bats will have no more than 5 or 6 grains. By contrast, the presence of 10 or more grains is common in willow from other countries being sold as English willow, which is a growing issue in the global market, especially from companies who are not our customers. To bring more transparency to the industry, we’re considering publishing a list of customers on our website in the very near future.
Planting for the future of the game
At J S Wright & Sons, our passion lies in preserving the legacy of cricket bat willow for generations to come. To that end, we plant more willow trees annually than required, proactively meeting the growing future demand for this essential material of our beloved sport. Our commitment extends beyond simply planting trees; we pride ourselves on being the best in the business. Our deep expertise ensures that every tree receives optimal care, whether directly from our own dedicated maintenance teams or through our guidance of landowners, all to cultivate the highest quality English cricket bat willow.
Supporting landowners and growing partnerships
We’re always interested in purchasing additional mature cricket bat willow trees from across the country. We’re also keen to build relationships with landowners who want to grow willow for the long term. Whether you’re managing an established site or considering planting your first trees, we offer expert advice and ongoing support to help you get the most from your land.