Saralnama
Cricket is facing a shortage of quality bats due to a lack of English willow wood. This wood takes 12 to 20 years to grow and is mainly grown in the UK. The rise of the Indian Premier League and many T20 leagues has increased demand for bats. Climate change is also affecting tree growth, making bats harder to prepare. Kashmir's bat industry is in danger because willow trees are being cut faster than they grow. This shortage has raised bat prices and may affect cricket's future. One solution could be laminated bats, but their fairness is still debated. To help, people should support sustainable willow tree planting. (Updated 28 Aug 2025, 01:06 IST; source: link)