Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of cricket’s laws, is looking to have a discussion on research that suggests cricket bats manufactured from bamboo could provide a cheaper alternative to the traditional willow.
According to the Cambridge University study, bamboo bat is cheaper to produce, more sustainable and stronger than willow blades and could expand the game worldwide.
The article, published in the Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology on Sunday, also claimed that the laminated bamboo bat has a larger sweet spot, which is a dream for any batter.
However, MCC must approve any change to the material used to make bats from wood. Even if the rules were amended to allow bamboo to be classed as a wood, the laws would still need to be modified as they currently ban lamination of the blade.
As per the study, Bamboo bats could increase participation in lower-income countries thanks to lower production costs and make cricket much more sustainable without compromising quality.
Reacting to that point, MCC said "sustainability is a relevant topic", before adding that the topic of bamboo bats would be discussed at its next laws sub-committee meeting.
Earlier, study co-author Ben Tinkler-Davies said: "Whether you're playing or spectating, you wouldn't notice much of a difference.
"Because laminated bamboo is so strong, we're very confident we can make a bamboo bat light enough, even for today's fast-scoring, short forms of the game."
In 1979, Australia's Dennis Lillee sparked controversy by using an aluminium bat, which was then banned.
However, co-author Darshil Shah reckons, "Playing with a bamboo bat would be within the spirit of the game because it's a plant-based material. Cane, a type of grass, is already used in the handle.
"Tradition is important but think about how much cricket bats, pads, gloves and helmets have already evolved.
"If we can go back to having thinner blades but made from bamboo, while improving performance, outreach and sustainability, then why not?"
(With AFP inputs)
