A batsman should properly take care of the cricket bats to ensure their longevity and performance. Out of several types, you need to choose the best oil for cricket bats which dries faster and provides a defensive guard for the wood.
It is a fact that a batsman’s success depends upon the condition and quality of their bat. Typically, a cricket bat requires a sufficient amount of moisture to avoid damage while playing shots.
Since cricket bats are made of natural willow, it is common for the condition of the bat to deteriorate over time. Irrespective of the brand or finishing of the bat, you should take proper care by treating it with raw linseed or a specialist cricket bat oil.
The first thing you should do after purchasing is to select the best oil for cricket bats and immediately perform the oiling process before starting to play. Mainly, you have to wash your cricket bat first before oiling them.
Certain types of bats don’t require any oiling as they are manufactured with the pre-oil on top. Moreover, the blades of cricket bats are covered with protective scuff sheets to maintain the moisture level. You can change these scuff sheets on specified seasons. But, you might require a single coating of oil if you’re planning to apply a new scuff sheet.
Have you ever thought that there are any alternatives to raw linseed oil? Can any one of these varieties such as Mustard, Boiled Linseed, Flaxseed, Cooking, Coconut, and Olive Oil be the perfect alternative for linseed oil to apply on cricket bats?
Best Oil for cricket bats and its types
Using the best oil for cricket bats helps prevent dryness and cracks by selecting any one of these types. Also, you can check out the alternatives for linseed oil:
1. Linseed Oil:
The raw linseed oil is commonly used on wood products like cricket bats or furniture, which is easy to find. It is the best oil for cricket bats it keeps the fibers bound and maintains the strength of the bat.
You can purchase it either from a sports shop tagged as “bat oil” with different brands or acquire it from your nearby stores.
2. Mustard Oil:
Applying Mustard oil to your cricket bat provides shine and prevents cracks. At the same time, you will feel stinky after applying the oil on the bat.
Moreover, it isn’t the best oil for cricket bats when you compare it with raw linseed oil. This is because you should use the oil in small quantities and apply it more frequently in contrast to the usage of linseed oil.
You can find mustard oil in every household and prefer it only if you do not have access to linseed oil. Applying excess oil can damage your cricket bat by softening the wood.
3. Olive Oil:
The olive oil serves the same purpose as the linseed oil, which is extracted from the olives, the fruits of the olive tree. It is an ideal choice for oiling a cricket bat if the raw linseed oil isn’t available.
Maintaining the moisture level and reducing the chances of cracks, makes it the best oil for cricket bats. Furthermore, the oil provides an extra layer of protection on your bat.
But, you might get a similar smell of crayons or glue. If you prefer the longevity of cricket bats over the smell, then it is a better option than mustard oil.
4. Cooking Oil:
Different types of cooking oils like groundnut, mustard, sunflower, or olive oil can be used for oiling the cricket bat. Overall, they serve the purpose of moisturizing the cricket bat.
Since cooking oil doesn’t penetrate the wood as much as raw linseed oil, it can be considered as a choice, but not for selection as the best oil for cricket bats.
Which isn’t the best oil for cricket bats?
On the other side, certain oils aren’t best for cricket bats and you should completely avoid using them such as:
1. Boiled Linseed Oil:
The boiled linseed oil is heated up and not cooked oil, which isn’t ideal for oiling your cricket bat. You can prefer the raw linseed oil that penetrates the wooden surface faster compared to this oil.
Conversely, the boiled linseed oil dries up faster than the raw linseed. When you have very little time to dry up the bat, the only option left is to prefer boiled linseed oil by compromising the endurance of your cricket bat.
2. Coconut Oil:
The only advantage of Coconut oil is that it is available in every household. You can use it for oiling your cricket bat to provide moisture, but only for a shorter time.
Since it is not as effective as raw linseed oil, it isn’t the best oil for cricket bats. Also, the oil cannot penetrate the wood surface for a long duration, thereby reducing the solidness of the bat.
3. Flaxseed cooking:
Prepared from the ground and pressed flax seeds, the source of flaxseed cooking oil is the same as that of linseed oil. Though many people use Flaxseed oil for consumption, few experts said that it wouldn’t damage your cricket bat. In reality, it isn’t the best oil for cricket bats. Instead, you can prefer the raw linseed oil or olive oil
