Appendix E (The Bat)

Categories of bat – Types A, B and C are bats conforming to Law 6, sections1 to 8 inclusive. Bats which do not qualify for any of the three categories are not recognised in the Laws. Type A bats may be used at any level. Bats of Type B or Type C and any other bats may be used only at or below levels determined by the Governing Body for cricket in the country concerned.

The blade – The face of the blade is its main striking surface. The back is the opposite surface.
The shoulders, sides and toe are the remaining surfaces, separating the face and the back. The shoulders, one on each side of the handle, are along that portion of the blade between the first entry point of the handle and the point at which the blade first reaches its full width.
The toe is the surface opposite to the shoulders taken as a pair.
The sides, one each side of the blade, are along the rest of the blade, between the toe and the shoulders.

Adhesives – Throughout, adhesives are permitted only where essential and only in minimal quantity.

Materials in handle – As a proportion of the total volume of the handle, materials other than cane, wood or twine are restricted to one-tenth for Types A and B and one-fifth for Type C. Such materials must not project more than 3.25 in/8.26 cm into the lower portion of the handle.

Binding and covering of handle –The permitted continuation beyond the junction of the upper and lower portions of the handle is restricted to a maximum, measured along the length of the handle, of
2.5 in/6.35 cm for the twine binding
2.75 in/6.99 cm for the covering grip.

Length and width- 
(a) The overall length of the bat, when the lower portion of the handle is inserted, shall not be more than 38 in/96.5 cm.
(b) The width of the bat shall not exceed 4.25 in/10.8 cm at its widest part.
(c) Permitted coverings, repair material and toe guards, not exceeding their specified thicknesses, may be additional to the dimensions above.

Length of handle – Except for bats of size 6 and less, the handle shall not exceed 52% of the overall length of the bat.

Covering of blade – The cloth covering permitted for Type C bats shall be of thickness not exceeding 0.012 in/0.3 mm before treatment as in 6.6(d).

Protection and repair of blade – The material permitted in 6.6(a) shall not exceed
0.04 in/1 mm in thickness. In 6.6(a)(ii), the repair material shall not extend along the length of the blade more than 0.79 in/2 cm in each direction beyond the limits of the damaged area. Where used as a continuous binding, any overlapping shall not breach the maximum of 0.04 in/1 mm in total thickness.
In 6.6(d), the use of non-solid material which when dry forms a hard layer more than
0.004 in/0.1 mm in thickness is not permitted.

Toe and side inserts – The wood used must not be more than 0.3 in/0.89 cm in thickness.
The toe insert shall not extend from the toe more than 2.5 in/6.35 cm up the blade at any point.
Neither side insert may extend from the edge more than 1 in/2.54cm across the blade at any point.

Toe protection – The maximum permitted thickness of protective material placed on the toe of the blade is 0.12 in/3 mm.

Commercial identifications – These identifications may not exceed 0.008 in/0.2 mm in thickness. On the back of the blade they must occupy no more than 50% of the surface. On the face of the blade, they must be confined within the top 9 in/22.86 cm, measured from the bottom of the grip.

© Marylebone Cricket Club 2013