Monday, September 23, 2024
HISTORY BEHIND
Sunday, September 22, 2024
NOT AN EASY JOB
Making a cricket bat
Cricket bat making is an art and we come across different makes of bats in International cricket. The sound of the timer and the way balls soared over the boundary is a treat to watch. But bat making is not an easy job and it undergoes many processes before taking the shape of a cricket bat.
A cricket bat is a specialized piece of equipment used by batsmen in the sport of cricket to hit the ball, typically consisting of a cane handle attached to a flat-fronted willow-wood blade. The length of the bat may be no more than 38 inches (965 mm) and the width no more than 4.25 inches (108 mm). Its use is first mentioned in 1624. Since 1979, a rule change stipulated that bats can only be made from wood. Dennis Lillee used an aluminum bat and that was banned for use in cricket matches. Matthew Hayden used a Mongoose bat during an IPL match and that was not in use thereafter.
Cricket bat willow is a cultivated timber which predominantly grows in large plantations in wetland areas throughout England mainly in the South East. The trees are mature between the age of 12-15 years and at this stage have a circumference of over 4ft. The bulk of the Woodstock willow comes from willow specialists but each cleft is still selected by lead bat maker, John Newsome, individually. The cleft has already been split from the round using a wooden wedge, rough sawn and the ends waxed to stop splitting. The process of seasoning in the open air takes place to reduce moisture content and this takes between nine months and a year. When ready to be turned into bats the ends are cut and they pass through a five cutter milling machine to give the cleft a uniform shape.
The seasoning of the willow at various seasons is exposed to various conditions. The bats are exposed to sun rays, rain and snowfall and the wear and tear on these weather conditions makes the bat more seasoned and fit for use for making bats. The age of these willows are picked according to their age to make it a suitable one for the process of bat making. Both Kashmir willow and English willow are cut to size of bat and kept for exposure to weather and later the bat making process is undergone to make a balanced bat.
Each bat handle is spliced and fitted using a flexible wood glue making sure it is set slightly forward to ensure the perfect line of the bow. The handle is then gently tapped into place and left to dry in an upright position. Once the bat has been shaped and blended the sanding process begins. This is a time consuming process that uses several grades of paper working to a fine finish. Finally brush sanders are used to give a beautiful smooth finish. The stickers are then affixed to make it colourful and to provide the bat name of the Indian made bats are exported to other countries. An exclusive bat made in India is not available for sale in India but you can get the same across the sea when you visit Sri Lanka. In Srinagar and surrounding areas cricket bats are available on the streets and you can pick up the best piece at a cheaper price without stickers but you can buy from outside and stick on as per your own liking.
The art of making a cricket bat is lovely to watch and the youngsters should avail a chance to go through the quality of wood, a few craftsmen with serious skills, computer assisted design, and large machines in factories, which provide all about a cricket bat. A firm grip with different colours and design decorate your bat very much and show a classic look. The curve given to the bat is of advantage and attracts classy batsmen of the modern era. Once the bats get final shape then it is ready for labelling, gripping and knocking in.
Every bat also receives a final check-over to ensure that it has been finished to a high standard and that there are no previously unspotted imperfections. The present day bats provide you the feather touch if the shot is played from the middle of the bat with perfect timing. There lies the real pleasure of playing with a perfect bat.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
DO YOU KNOW
What causes albinism?
Albinism occurs if there is little or no melanin pigment in the body.
How is melanin produced in the body?
The skin has special cells called melanocytes. These cells start to produce melanin when stimulated. After the production is completed, melanin is sent to the melanosome. The melanosomes transport melanin to the skin. The more melanin is produced, the darker the skin gets.
Melanin is produced especially on sunny days because it absorbs harmful rays of the sun and protects the body. That's why we tan when the weather is sunny.
As people with albinism cannot produce melanin, they don't tan but they become red. They pay attention to the clothes they wear and use sunscreen to protect their skin.
The primary effect of the melanin deficiency can be seen in the eyes. Albinism causes many eye problems. These problems include crossed eyes, light sensitivity, blurred vision and involuntary eye movements.
Light sensitivity occurs as follows: The iris, the colored structure in the eye, shrinks when there is too much light and gets bigger when there is less light. The retina absorbs the excess light coming into the eye. The iris of people with albinism cannot shrink when there is too much light and more light enters the eye. The retina cannot absorb all of the light and as a result, light sensitivity occurs.
The eyes of people with albinism look red. It doesn't mean that they have red eyes! It is the reflection of the vessels in their eyes.
All organs of the people with albinism are healthy except the vision center of their brain.
Some animals only have melanin pigment in their skin. Others have different pigments besides melanin. Lack of melanin causes albinism in animals too.
Animals with albinism have white skin, hair and feathers. Unfortunately, the technology for people with albinism is not applicable for animals in nature. It is difficult for them to camouflage themselves because their skin is white.
For example, when crocodiles with albinism are born, they attract predators' attention and they are easily hunted.
It is believed that squirrels with albinism have the most comfortable life compared to other animals with albinism. This is because they move very quickly and hide between the trees!
Can plants have albinism? They can! The pigment named chlorophyll makes the plants green. The lack or absence of chlorophyll pigment in plants causes albinism. Plants that we are used to seeing green appear white.
Plants make their own food thanks to the chlorophyll. You may wonder about the relevance of food to our subject. Plants with albinism cannot make food without chlorophyll. For this reason, it's difficult for them to live. But plants help each other. They transfer food to other plants in need of food through their roots. Plants with albinism hold on to life in this way.
The best examples of them are redwoods. They reach a maximum height of about 20 meters. The location of many of them are kept secret because they are under protection.
Friday, September 20, 2024
HIDDEN BENEFITS OF COMPETITIONS
Thursday, September 19, 2024
DO YOU KNOW
If atoms make up everything, what makes up atoms?
Atoms are the basic building blocks of everything. They join, or bond, together to make larger molecules – be that the water you drink or the rocks that make up the Moon. Atoms are made up of three tiny particles: protons, neutrons and electrons.
The protons and neutrons clump together in a central nucleus, which is orbited by the electrons. The protons and neutrons together give the atom its mass (weight). Protons carry a positive charge and neutrons are neutral. This makes the nucleus positive and keeps the negatively charged electrons attracted to it.
All the elements (the different substances that make up the universe – hydrogen, carbon, oxygenor iron, for instance) are made up of these same three particles but each element has a unique “recipe”. An atom of the light element helium, for example, has two protons, two neutrons and two electrons. An atom of heavier gold, on the other hand, has 79 protons, 118 neutrons and 79 electrons.
Protons and neutrons are actually made up of even smaller particles called quarks. There doesn’t seem to be anything smaller inside electrons though, which makes sense as they are 1,800 times smaller than protons and neutrons.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
WORLD'S LARGEST BEAR
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
TOKYO'S RYOGUKU DISTRICT
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