Lesson 3 of 15
Willow Grades & Edges
5 min read•5/19 sections
Grain count, edges, and what makes a Grade 1.
Materials: G1 — 6–12 straight , no blemish; G4 — 4–6 , minor blemishes, butterfly stains allowed.
Technical Breakdown
19-section schemaDefinition
Grading scale (G1–G4 for English willow) based on grain count, evenness, blemishes and feel.
History
Bats have been made from English/Kashmir willow since the 18th century; blade dimensions are fixed under MCC Law 5 (max 108 mm , 67 mm deep).
Physics Involved
More = stiffer, more responsive but more fragile; wider edges (38–42 mm under MCC limit) increase the sweet zone.
Tactical Use
Pros usually play G1; academy and club cricket gets G2–G3 with no measurable performance gap below international .
Common Mistakes & Drills
Equating grain count with performance — , balance and ping matter more.