Firstly, a word of warning: many modern cricket bats are “pre-prepared” in the factory by the manufacturer. Pre-prepared does not mean that the bat is ready to use, however. It will have been oiled, pressed and lightly “knocked in” by hand, but will still require a minimum of two hours “knocking-in” before it can be used, otherwise there is a high risk of seriously damaging your bat. Cricket Bats that aren’t pre-prepared will need even longer, usually around 5-6 hours before they are ready to play; and even after “knocking-in” is complete, you should avoid using is matches against a new ball until you have had a few net sessions or throw downs.

When you knock in a cricket bat you compress the fibres of the willow and knit them together, so they become tough enough to withstand the impact of a cricket ball. Effective “knocking-in” will dramatically improve durability and increase the lifespan of the bat.

Using a wooden bat mallet, tap the blade of the bat – avoiding the handle, back and splice – and keep tapping, gradually increasing in force, until the indentations level out . Make sure you pay particular attention to the toe and face edges of the bat, as these are more susceptible to damage, but do not hammer the edges at right angles, 45 degrees is advisable. You should notice that the edges become rounded and compacted the more you knock them in. The ‘ping’ will also improve as you go along.

When you have finished knocking the bat in, you should start by practicing in the nets with an old (but good quality) cricket ball, and play in a defensive manner. Perhaps add a few throw downs or slip catching practice to test how well you’ve knocked in those edges! Then move on to normal practice play and try to play a few more shots – still with a good quality, old ball – before finally unveiling your new secret weapon to the world in a match situation, at least 2-3 net sessions later.