How do you make the bats?
Please take a look at the manufacturing section which gives the basic stages involved in making Salix bats.

Where can I buy the bats and equipment, why can’t I buy online on the Salix website?
We supply cricket specialists throughout the UK so please see the stockists section which gives all the shops county by county. Many of these will also sell Salix online. Our website gives all the information about our brand and our current range but you cannot buy online without linking to a stockist first.
Due to increased demand for Salix products and our intensive manufacturing processes, we recommend telephoning stockists to establish what is available before ordering. We make bats constantly and send orders out to stockists throughout the year but are aware of how quickly the bats sell, making it impossible for stockists to offer the complete range all season. Good luck finding your Salix and please CONTACT US for advice if you are struggling to find the product you require.

Why can't I find Salix in shops overseas?
We cannot make enough bats for UK demand, so have decided not to try to export to other cricket playing countries. This is a shame as we receive many emails from outside the UK, but unless we actually manufacture overseas, it is difficult to supply foreign markets competitively once freight costs and duty are factored in. We do not want to outsource a different product for overseas growth as this would undermine both quality and brand integrity. Many of our UK stockists, especially those with online sales, will be able to help and will be happy to post overseas.

Can I visit the Salix factory?
First and foremost we are manufacturers, so to buy a bat please see our list of stockists who will be happy to help. If you still wish to visit the factory then the only time we open to visitors is on Saturday mornings from 9am to 12 noon, from Saturday 8th March until Saturday 27th September 2008. These Saturday mornings are dedicated to bat fittings and equipment sales. Due to our workload and health & safety reasons we cannot see anyone outside of these hours when we are at full production. Please see the CONTACT US section for details on how to find us and do telephone first if travelling any distance.

Does Salix offer sponsorship?
As demand for Salix bats outstrips supply, our full sponsorship of players is restricted to a handful of County professionals and England juniors. However, we do have a scheme for junior players selected for their County which gives discounts and access to very special custom made bats. For an application form for the scheme, please use the CONTACT US FORM to request an application.  We revise the scheme each year, sending out applications to new and existing players then assess all forms and write back as promptly as possible but as with all things, we would be grateful for your patience. Please also note that irrespective of what you might hear on forums, we only have one scheme, one level of discounted sponsorship and that this is oversubscribed. We welcome applications from players who want to use amazing bats and kit and who would like the opportunity of having Andrew make their bat personally.

How do I care for a Salix bat?
Please see Bat Care which explains in detail.

Will Salix donate to our charity, club or fund raiser?
As you can imagine, we receive many requests but have to restrict our donations to supporting local cricket and local causes.  It is very flattering that people perceive us as a big brand with deep pockets, but the reality is that we are a small firm making labour intensive products and we do not have a big budget for donations or sponsorship. You are of course welcome to try us and we will always help if we can, but unfortunately have to say no more often than yes.

How can I stock and sell Salix bats?
For more information on trade accounts please contact us using the contact form under contact us. We do require stockists to be cricket specialists with premises and we have minimum stock orders with long lead times for bats.

I would like to supply Salix, who do I contact?
If you have a product or service which you think may be of interest to us then we would be grateful if you could post details to us for the attention of Victoria Kember. We have long established suppliers for raw materials and also imported equipment (luggage, clothing and soft leather) so we cannot see or speak to anyone without prior arrangement.
 
Can I buy Salix bat labels?
Unfortunately we do not sell labels separately due to increasing demand and our understandable wish only to label Salix bats with our designs. However, if you need replacement labels you are of course welcome to return the bat to us or to take it your nearest stockist who can obtain labels from us. Our labels are very durable, they are sub-surface screen printed by specialist UK plastic printers and we use only 3M adhesive, but they will inevitably suffer from wear and tear in use.

Do you service older or non-Salix bats?
Yes we do service bats and are glad to see many very old friends back each season for an annual overhaul.  We assess each bat individually and will not recommend work going ahead unless we feel the bat merits it - we would never advise wasting money on repairs which might not last. We sincerely recommend returning bats at the close of the season, before Christmas as all our repair work goes through production in the same way as bat manufacture, so peak periods are to be avoided when repairs can take up to 8 weeks.

My bat is damaged - what do I do?
Cricket bats are made from natural raw materials (willow and cane) in accordance with the laws of the game. These materials are susceptible to damage whether accidental, through normal wear and tear or from simple bad luck. The crucial thing is to follow our care and maintenance advice (bat care) and if any damage occurs, to stop using the bat and to take it back to the shop from whom you bought it. They will advise and if necessary, return the bat to us. Surface cracking is normal on face of the bat, but edge and toe damage generally needs attention immediately.

On receipt of a returned bat, we will assess it and notify the shop who returned it accordingly. Please bear in mind that although we take every step to maximise durability, all bats are vulnerable to damage, regardless of the price or manufacturer and that there is no fixed longevity to a cricket bat, although we do guarantee the bats for twelve months against manufacturing defects.   We will always try to repair rather than replace a bat with repair work being carried out by the craftsmen who made the bat originally.

If it is more practical to return the bat directly to us, then this is fine as long as it includes proof of purchase and your contact details. If posting then we recommend Royal Mail Special Delivery which is fast and insured. Do wrap the bat well before sending it.

Please bear in mind that repairs at peak periods can take up to 8 weeks, so it is advisable to service bats at the close of the season.

Please see BAT CARE for further advice.

Can you help me with my school or university coursework? Can you send me information on the bats?
As we receive so many enquiries about projects, we have tried to include as much information as possible within the site, so the chances are that your answers are here already. Due to sheer pressure of work, we can no longer deal with individual queries in great detail. We must also of course take care to protect our ideas, designs and manufacturing techniques as these are the core value of our business and have helped establish Salix as a unique brand.

Other relevant sites which are well worth looking through first are:
www.cricketbatwillow.com
www.lords.org/latest-news/top-storie
www.icc-cricket.com
An especially useful book on the history of bat making is 'Quilt Winders and Pod Shavers' by Hugh Barty-King, originally published by Macdonald and Jane’s, ISBN 0354085476. Although out of print, it can often be found through Amazon Marketplace or eBay.

If you still have a specific enquiry which cannot be answered within the information on site, please email or telephone and we will do our best to help. You are also welcome to visit during our seasonal opening hours - see contact us.

Why are cricket bats made of willow?

International Cricket Council

The main reason of course is that the ICC (see next question) prescribe that a bat has to be made of wood and the lightest wood that has been found with the properties essential for play is cricket bat willow.

Many attempts have been made to produce an alternative, but thankfully these have consistently failed.  Whilst the majority of all sports equipment is mass produced and/or imported, it is amazing and valuable that wood is still used and that this traditional craft remains alive within the cricket industry.

Are there regulations defining cricket bats and equipment, how do I find out the rules of the game?
The ICC defines the laws governing bats and equipment and the MCC are the custodians of the game. Both these links will take you to the relevant sections of the laws and regulations:
www.lords.org/laws-and-spirit/laws-of-cricket
http://in.yimg.com/icccricket/pdf/ regulations_advertising_clothing.pdf

I have a willow tree - can Salix use it for bat making?
Cricket bat willow is a crop which is specifically grown for the industry and needs to be maintained and harvested correctly in order to be viable for bat making. Only one variety is grown and used in the UK for bats, so it would be very unusual to find suitable cricket bat willow trees by accident or domestically. If you do think you have cricket bat willow then please see this link to cricket specialists JS Wright & Sons for further information www.cricketbatwillow.com and do contact us or them before cutting the trees.

What does ‘ex Salice Præstantia’ mean and why are you called Salix?

Ex Salice Præstantia is our company motto and literally means 'out of willow, excellence', which we call 'excellence from willow'. The motto is Latin as Salix is the generic word for willow, with cricket bat willow being specifically salix alba, var. cærulea. Many of our bat names in the past have also therefore been Latin, just to continue the theme.