English Willow vs Kashmir Willow: Which Cricket Bat Is Best for You?

The feel of holding a cricket bat, middling the ball with perfection, has no match for any batsman. Whether playing casually or at a professional level, timing the ball to the boundary is special. But what makes it special is the cricket bat they hold. English Willow and Kashmir Willow are the most used bats across the globe. Both are crafted from Salix alba, a tree that only grows in cold regions and has properties suitable for cricket bats. However, there are key differences between these two bats. The inherent properties, weight, growing conditions, and even moisture level create a difference between the two. If you are an aspiring cricketer or play it casually, you must be wondering which willow would suit you best. In this blog, we are going to answer that for you.

Properties of English Willow

●     Type of Wood: The English willow is procured from England. The tree takes a long time to grow, and the moisture content in this willow is optimal. Though the Salix Alba tree is hardwood, the English willow has softwood properties due to moisture content.

●     Weight Profile: The ideal weight of English willow is 1100 - 1190 grams. It has a lighter carry, and the batsmen feel like it is an extension of their hands. It has a diffused porous surface for great shock absorption

●     Grain Pattern: The grain lines in English willow may vary between 8-12. It has almost zero blemishes on its surface, reflecting its pristine finish. However, different grades have different numbers of grains.

●     Moisture Content: The moisture content of English willow is 12-13% for the optimal sweet spot.

●     Performance Control- The lightweight, softwood and shock absorption qualities make English willow a high-performing bat. Batsmen can play stroke freely, with the best response to the speed. The vibrations aren’t felt even at express pace.

Properties of Kashmir Willow

●     Type of Wood: The Kashmir willow is grown in the Kashmir valley. It has denser wood due to less moisture content of trees grown in slightly warmer regions.

●     Weight Profile: The weight of Kashmir willow ranges between 1170-1240 g. It is heavier than English Willow due to denser wood.

●     Grain Patterns: The number of grain patterns on Kashmir willow is 4-8. Higher the number, better the bat quality.

●     Moisture Content: The moisture content in Kashmir willow is less than 10%. It has less moisture due to drier climatic conditions.

●     Performance Control: Due to the heavy wood, the power generated by Kashmir Willow is high. Batsmen can use it for powerful stroke-making. However, it is less responsive than English willow.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you are an aspiring cricketer, you can either choose English Willow or Kashmir Willow. If you choose English Willow, you can train your elegant and classy cricket shots, where timing the ball with on sweet spot is a priority of the training. Glances, drives, down the ground, sweeps, mid-on drives and cut shots need perfect timings, hence prefer English willow in this case. On the other hand, Kashmir willow will help you practice powerful strokes, train your hands, shoulders and upper arms to use the long handle to play high-percentage shots, which is a need of modern cricket.

Conclusion

Both these bats are useful for an aspiring cricketer. One trains for timing the ball, the other trains to hit the ball powerfully. For casual players who play in local grounds or sports complexes, Kashmir Willow Cricket Bat is an ideal choice as it has higher durability. Maintaining the English willow requires more effort, hence it is used for more professional purposes. At GLS Sports, we provide both these bats in a wide range to meet the diverse preferences of our customers.