Understand
Essex and Suffolk willow makers supply thousands of cricket bats to India
Overview
Manufacturers in Essex and Suffolk are exporting tens of thousands of cricket bat clefts made from English willow to India and Pakistan, driven by surging demand and a growing population able to afford cricket equipment.
Key points
- Essex and Suffolk are responsible for approximately 75% of the English willow grown for cricket bats.
- Companies like JS Wright & Sons and Foskett Willows export up to 90% of their products to India and Pakistan.
- English willow trees take 15 to 20 years to reach maturity, requiring manufacturers and landowners to carefully manage long-term supplies and planting.
- A single mature willow tree can produce around 40 cricket bats, while larger trees can yield hundreds.
- Local landowners, farmers, and parish councils supplement their incomes by growing willow trees in wet areas and low-lying meadows.