Bat out of Hell

[Paoli]

The MCC want Ricky Ponting's bat banned. The Kookaburra bat that Ponting uses, dubbed the "Kahuna" has a carbon graphite film strip at the back, in a metallic silver colour. The MCC believes that the bat, which similar varieties are used by Brad Hodge and Jason Gillespie, gives an unfair advantage to Ponting as it lightens the bat weight. They also believe that shiny stickers flout the nature of the game. Kookaburra denied these claims.

MCC need to grow up and get a life. Why are Zimbabwe still playing the game??? And, as former South Australian cricketer James Brayshaw said on radio station Triple M yesterday, "I think they should be worried about two things; Firstly, winning the Ashes and stop trying to put us off; and second, worry about the games Indian and Pakistani powerbrokers who think they are bigger than the game".

Get a life MCC.

[Occasional Fan]

I think on this one I agree with you, Paoli. If the bat is legal, then how can it possibly be true to argue that a player who uses it has an unfair advantage? Quite obviously, if everyone can use it, then any "advantage" can easily be negated. I don't mind the MCC suggesting that particular types of equipment be banned - they make the laws after all, so it is their prerogative - but to use "unfair advantage" as a reason is logically unsound.

[Teatime FatCat]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

"I think they should be worried about two things; Firstly, winning the Ashes and stop trying to put us off"

I can think of a few Aussie fans, journos and players who could take heed of this little piece of advice themselves!

[Occasional Fan]

Well, the ICC has ruled that the bat is OK. Interesting that the law making body (MCC) receives this response from an administrative body which only looks after international cricket, but that is the strange state of affairs which governs our game at the moment.

Cricifo report here.

[Paoli]

Now Kookaburra chief reckons bats are being corked, a la Sammy Sosa, the MLB player!!

[Beny]

Originally Posted by Teatime FatCat

I can think of a few Aussie fans, journos and players who could take heed of this little piece of advice themselves!

You Started it!

[Occasional Fan]

So, the issue is not dead yet. The ICC, contrary to earlier reports, has not declared the bat to be acceptable outright - merely that it is acceptable unless and until the MCC, as the law-making authority, determines otherwise. So, the issue is back in the MCC's court, where it should be.

Cricinfo report here.

[Maranello]

Much ado about nothing

[Occasional Fan]

Well, we shall see what the MCC's law-makers decide. Not the first time that the Australians have experimented with bats which have eventually been outlawed, of course - remember the refreshing summer sound of leather on aluminium, courtesy of Dennis Lillee? (And quite possibly other teams have experimented as well: it's just that I can't bring an example to mind as easily as Lillee's aluminium special.) One thing should be clear though: the MCC is independent of the ECB structure insofar as law-making is concerned, so whatever is concluded - and there's no guarantee as far as I can see that this will necessarily be addressed or concluded before The Ashes - it should not be interpreted as favouring either Australia or England. I was surprised, however, to see that the manufacturers of equipment are apparently making bats which clearly do break the laws: trying out new technology is one thing, but making over-sized bats as were apparently detected in the World Cup 2003 is quite another. (See link in my last post for ICC comments on that.)

[Ernest]

The thing is about you Aussies Beny just cant be satisfied with a bat made from good old Alba Caerulea has been found the most suitable. Salix Alba Caerulea is "Cricket Bat Willow".

Originally Posted by Lever & Wood

The laws of cricket state that the cricket bat blade has to be made of wood consequently the never ending task to find the perfect piece of wood is put into place. The stipulation that the blade should be made of wood came about when the Australian player Dennis Lillee used an aluminium bat in a test match against England in Australia in 1979. After only a few deliveries Mike Brearley complained that the bat was damaging the ball and the umpires instructed Lillee to replace it. Lillee declared that it was "the thing of the future", however the cricketing world agreed that it "just wasn't cricket" and soon after, the M.C.C. amended law 6.

Yep I remember the row that broke out over this, for the law chew on the above.