Why OX29 Is different when it comes to English Willow

Most cricket bat brands work under willow contracts. That usually means they take whatever they are given, whenever the merchant decides to release it.

OX29 does not work like that. 

We don’t have a fixed willow agreement. Nor do we need it. As discussed in a blog from last year, we don't agree that there is a willow shortage. Instead, I have access to the willow I want, more or less when I want it - and every single cleft is handpicked by me in Oxfordshire, albeit not within OX29 itself. This level of access is extremely rare and exists only because of a long standing, trusted relationship with my supplier - something I am genuinely grateful for. It is a privilege, not an entitlement, and it allows OX29 to operate with a clear market advantage.

There are established brands within the industry who own or control their own willow supply. These companies often use that willow across both UK and overseas production, handpick what they need, and sell the remainder on. They have usually been in the game far longer, have seen multiple crops harvested over their time making bats, and in many cases are also buying trees themselves.

OX29 is not trying to be a willow merchant. We stick to making bats.

Some smaller brands may claim to handpick their willow, but very few choose to make that a core part of what they stand for. If it is not being talked about, it often suggests it is not happening consistently - or at all.

For many brands, receiving large volumes of willow creates another problem entirely. Valuable workshop hours are spent sifting through deliveries - selecting lighter clefts, rejecting surplus stock, and shipping unwanted willow back out to India or Pakistan, often at close to the same price it was originally bought for. For bigger brands, managing this process can become almost a full time job in itself. By handpicking our willow at source, OX29 avoids that waste entirely.

Like any bat maker, we still see some defect bats come through. These are extremely popular on the website and are the result of natural willow characteristics or the occasional manufacturing imperfection that we knowingly accept. The key difference is that nothing slips through without being seen and approved.

Because we control our willow selection from start to finish, there is no risk of foreign willow being mixed into our stock - something that can happen when sourcing from India or Pakistan.

OX29 bats are made from English willow only. No compromises. No surprises. Just complete confidence in what goes into every bat we make.