Could the humble willow be about to be hit for six by bamboo as the future for bat manufacturing? 

A new study from Cambridge University has produced a prototype bamboo bat and found it to be stiffer, harder and stronger than willow.

It's also more sustainable with bamboo growing far quicker and less problems around waste, considering up to 30% of willow is wasted during bat production.

Co-author of the study is Dr Darshil Shah told Mike Hosking that it was an unusual study for them, as they were looking to replace a natural material.

"The problem we were trying to address is the shortage of willow and the increasing reach of the game."

He says that they want more people to play the game, and bamboo bats would help with that.

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