"For Salix, customer service begins with quality.  We are, and always have been committed to producing bats which are exquisitely hand made to look and perform like no other.   We do not believe in two tiered brands - the bats on the shelves of our stockists are the same quality as those used in professional cricket.

We have worked very hard to produce this bat which has been individually handmade in our workshops from willow selection through to final polishing and labelling.  We are confident of its quality, durability and performance and ask you, the buyer, to complement this dedication with your own care.  We manufacture in accordance with the laws of the game which stipulate that wood (willow) must be used for the bat blade.  Despite our manufacturing processes, wood will not change its inherent characteristics so wear and tear through the game is inevitable.  The condition of a cricket bat during use is a partnership between the manufacturer and owner - I have done all I can to produce a bat of exemplary quality and its longevity is largely dependant on how it is used in play and how it is maintained.

Please see the notes within this tag for basic advice on the bat's preparation and maintenance, which should be backed up by advice from your stockist and further information on our website www.salixcricketbats.com.

Quite simply, we hope that the bat inspires you and your game as we have been inspired in its manufacture.

With best wishes,

Andrew J Kember"

Natural finish bats
The bat needs two separate light coats of raw linseed oil (allowing the first to dry before the second), followed by patient knocking in with an old, good quality cricket ball. Knock in the face with the ball through practice such as throw downs or applying the ball in a sock. Bat mallets should only be used on the face of the bat with care. Once the oil is completely dry, apply anti-scuff to the face, being careful not to cause damage to the wood when trimming (do not trim on the bat). Anti-scuff facing is essential for the first season; after the first season, remove the facing across the grain (left to right), sand and oil again. This is the best route to a long lasting, optimal performing bat.

Workshop prepared bats
We have prepared the bat for use, but the blade still needs to be knocked in with an old ball through sensible practice such as throw downs. Bat mallets should only be used on the face of the bat with care. After the first season's use, please carefully remove the facing (from left to right across the grain of the bat) then gently sand the face ready for a light coat of raw linseed oil. A new sheet of anti-scuff should then be applied once the oil is completely dry ready for next season's use. If you have any queries, then please consult your retailer.

Returns
If you have any concerns about your bat then please contact the shop who sold it to you; they will advise you and return the bat to us if necessary. We will then advise the shop of our action as quickly as possible and aim to complete the work with the minimum delay. We understand that you need your bat for the cricket season and will do all we can to minimise inconvenience, however, please bear in mind that the cricket season will also be our busiest time. Any repair work will be completed by the same craftsmen who made your bat and will be to the highest standard.

Please note that the bat must be attended to as soon as any cracks appear, leaving or even forcing damage until severe, irreparable cracks occur will not ensure a replacement, and may undermine your claim. Any enquiries about the return should be addressed to the shop returning the bat or if contacting us directly, please bear in mind that we are a craft based firm, not a large customer service team. We will do our best to help and to rectify any queries with any Salix bat. The appeal of a Salix bat is the way in which it is made and these same people will deal with any concerns arising during its life.

Cricket balls
The worst piece of willow will never break against a tennis ball, but the finest piece will always suffer against a hard cricket ball. Poor quality, cheap cricket balls with hard centres are a menace to bats and the game. In junior cricket especially, balls are often cheaper and therefore harder, coupled with the fact that they have a smaller circumference which concentrates the impact; they are a real issue against good quality English willow bats. It is a myth to think that junior cricket is somehow easier on willow than the senior game and it is imperative that all Salix junior bats have anti-scuff facing to protect the surface and also to spread the load of impact. As manufacturers we do feel that purchasing cheap balls for clubs or leagues really is a false economy as it is the players who end up paying for this through damage to their bats. Quality balls are expensive, but then so are cricket bats.

Guarantee
We guarantee Salix bats against manufacturing flaws for 12 months from the date of purchase. Bats must be returned with proof of purchase to support any claim under warranty. Failure to adhere to Salix recommendations will affect the guarantee. Willow and cane are natural raw materials used by Salix in accordance with the laws of the game and will naturally deteriorate with use (despite improvement in playing performance) and cannot be impervious to the effects of poor quality balls, mistimed shots/yorkers, general wear and tear etc. If any damage occurs please take your bat straight back to your retailer for advice - minor repairs can easily be completed, leaving damage unattended until beyond repair may be construed as neglect.

Bat registration
Please note that due to pressure of production we have ceased to number each bat individually. This is not due to changes in manufacturing or finishing, but simply because we kept losing track of the numbers and it became impractical. We are happy to sign any bat on request but the key thing is to keep your receipt, read all the instructions and look after the bat - there is no need to register to validate your guarantee. So please ignore the registration section on the bat's swing tag.

Bat & Equipment Sizing
It is difficult to be absolute with sizing, especially with bats as these are handmade and are often tailored beyond the standard sizes, but we have collated these general measurements below as a guide.

For further information, both these links from our Stockists’ pages are very useful:
www.owzat-cricket.co.uk/size_guide/size_guide.htm
http://www.cricketsupplies.com/size-guide.asp