When you first get your new cricket bat, if you are anything like me you are desperate to get out there and use it. But you shouldn’t! It takes time to get your bat prepared for match action and the knocking-in process will enhance performance and longevity.

One question we get asked all the time is 'how long does it take to knock in a cricket bat' so we thought we would quickly summarise below:

How long?

You should spend are 4 to 5 hours knocking in an adult cricket bat. If you do this over several 30-minute periods it will make it less of a chore. Doing it this way will take you 2 or 3 weeks to knock your bat in.

For a junior bat, the process should take 2 to 3 hours. The reason is that a junior bat has less willow, the bowlers will bowl slower and batters have less power making it a quicker procedure.

Top Tip - You can use a bowling machine to help knock your bat in. The balls are usually softer and that helps to compress the fibres of the bat in a more enjoyable way.

What if my bat has been pre-knocked in?

It is helpful that manufacturers have taken the time to pre-knock in the cricket bats but don’t be fooled into thinking this is all you have to do. You will still need to knock your bat in for longer as the factory knocking-in process covers around 2 hours’ worth of knocking-in.

A good way to check if your bat is ready for play is to have some throw-downs with an old, soft cricket ball. When you check the face of the bat, if you can see prominent seam marks, it is a sign that the willow is still soft and requires further knocking in. If there are seam marks that are barely visible (if at all), you can then test the bat using a hard cricket ball with a more prominent seam.

Top Tip - It should say whether your bat has been pre-knocked in on the face or edge of the bat.

If you would like more information on how to prepare your cricket bat, check out our detailed blog - How To Knock In, Prepare & Oil Your Cricket Bat.