MARYLEBONE CRICKET CLUB (MCC) hosted a Cricket Bat Conference at Lord’s this week, bringing together key stakeholders from across the sport to discuss the future of bat-making amid what has been described as the ‘cricket bat emergency’ of a shortage of willow and rising prices.
MCC president Ed Smith moderated the conference, which united bat manufacturers, willow suppliers, retailers, innovators, and even representatives from other sports marking the first time all corners of the cricket bat industry have met under one roof. The International Cricket Council (ICC) supported the initiative, with ICC general manager – cricket Wasim Khan addressing the group.
The current shortage stems from a positive trend: cricket’s rapid global expansion and the resulting surge in demand for high-quality bats. However, the sport’s heavy reliance on English willow has created a supply bottleneck and driven up prices. While Kashmir willow offers a more affordable alternative for recreational players, it does not match the performance standards of English willow at the professional level.
MCC and industry experts are exploring sustainable solutions to increase supply without compromising performance or the balance between bat and ball. One potential innovation under review is lamination, which would pair an English willow face with a backing of Kashmir willow or other woods reducing waste and easing pressure on English willow stocks. This approach is already permitted in the junior game and could be adopted more widely for recreational players.
Another avenue of research involves alternative or composite materials, aimed at producing non-wooden or wood-derivative bats. However, MCC acknowledges the risk of such bats exceeding current performance limits, potentially disrupting the integrity and safety of the game.
MCC will continue its research and development efforts in this area, with plans to review the Laws of the game in 2026 based on findings and innovations.
MCC director of cricket and operations Rob Lynch said, “It was great to welcome so many leaders of the cricket bat industry to Lord’s, including retailers, suppliers and manufacturers from across the market. It is clear to everyone in the industry that more needs to be done to ensure the supply of cricket bats continues to meet the increasing demand, which is the inevitable consequence of cricket’s global growth. MCC is a club that is uniquely placed to have a role in bringing people together and encouraging collaboration for the good of the game. This is the first time such a meeting of minds in this industry has taken place and I look forward to the actions that come from this.”
