Handle Breakage
Cause - General wear and tear.

Solution - The bat itself is not replaceable, but the handle may be repaired at the discretion of MRF.

Breakage to the Blade
Cause - Weak or excessively dry willow.

Solution - Potentially replaceable by full or partial credit, at the discretion of Manufacturer.

Surface cracking to the face of the blade
Cause - General wear and tear.

Solution - NOT REPLACEABLE, crack will not affect the performance of the bat. Repairable at the discretion of Manufacturer.

Surface cracking to the edge of the blade
Cause - General wear and tear.

Solution - NOT REPLACEABLE, crack will not affect the performance of the BAT. Repairable at the discretion of Manufacturer.

Surface cracking to the toe of the blade
Cause - General wear and tear. This type of damage is often caused by the striking of a "yorker" and or excessive tapping of the crease.

Solution - NOT REPLACEABLE, crack will not affect the performance of the BAT. Repairable at the discretion of Manufacturer.

Split through the toe area of the blade
Cause - This type of damage is caused by the striking of ball at, or near the base of the blade, e.g. the driving of a "yorker".

Solution - Repairable and/or replaceable at the discretion of Manufacturer.

Cracking to the shoulder of the blade
Cause - General wear and tear

Solution - NOT REPLACEABLE, repairable at the discretion of Manufacturer.

Moisture damage
Cause - This type of damage occurs as a result of use in damp or wet conditions. It generally leads to swelling of the toe area of the blade, which after drying may well split.

Solution - NOT REPLACEABLE, repairable.

Damage due to misuse of the bat or by accident
Cause - Generally caused by accidentally striking an object other than the ball, for example the stumps.

Solution - NOT REPLACEABLE, may be repaired at the CUSTOMERS cost.

Damage due to the use of poor quality cricket balls
Poor quality or excessively hard cricket balls can be the cause of many types of cracks/damage to the blade of the Bat, as previously illustrated. ALL CRICKET BAT MANUFACTURER'S recommend that only balls of reputable manufacturers are used. Use of any other style or type of ball may cause damage to bats and WILL affect any claim made.

Preparation for play

The CRICKET BAT MANUFACTURES recommend the following principles for the preparation and maintenance of cricket bats. Following these procedures will significantly reduce the possibility of damage occurring.

Oiling
All natural based bats MUST be treated using raw linseed or a specialist cricket bat oil, The main purpose of oiling is to maintain moisture levels within the blade, and hence reduce the chances of cracking and splitting. Light coats should be applied to the face, edge, toe and back of the blade - taking care to avoid the logs and splice area. Generally two or these coasts should be sufficient. Each coast should be allowed to dry into the blade in a horizontal position before the next is applied. 

Warning 

Do not over oil.
Do not stand the bat in oil.
Do not leave the bat in a vertical position after oiling.
Bats with full protective coatings should not have oil applied, but they must be conditioned as detailed below (Please see next column).

Knocking in

All bats are pressed, however "knocking in" is VITAL. This is the process by which the fibres of the willow in the face and edges are compressed together to form a barrier, which protects the bat against the impact of the ball. Effective "knocking in" will significantly improve the performance and increase the lifespan of the bat.

Stage one
The "knocking in" process should be undertaken carefully, using a special bat mallet or an old, quality cricket ball. The bat should be repeatedly struck (with gradually increasing force) in all areas. where one would normally expect to hit the ball. The conditioning must be performed with patience. This stage should be undertaken for a duration of six hours.

Stage two
The next step is to graduate to the use of the bat to hit short catches with an old quality cricket ball. However if the seam marks the blade, it is necessary to return to "Stage one" for further conditioning. This stage should be performed for at least another hour. Once these steps have been taken, the bat should be ready for use in the matches. 

Warning
Under no circumstances should a bat be used in match conditions less than two weeks following the date of purchase.