Cricket Bat Warranty & Care Guide

At SJ Sports, we want you to walk out to the crease with complete confidence. Cricket bats are crafted from willow — a natural, relatively soft timber designed to repeatedly strike a hard leather ball. Because of this, natural wear, tear, and superficial surface cracking are a normal part of a bat's lifecycle.

All cricket bats purchased from SJ Sports come with a 12-month warranty covering manufacturing faults, in line with the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

The Golden Rule: Bat Preparation

Before your new bat ever faces a hard leather ball, it must be properly prepared. Proper preparation protects the willow and extends the life of your bat.

Warranty claims will not be approved if the bat has not been adequately prepared.

• Knocking-in: Your bat requires a thorough knocking-in process to compress the wood fibres before match use.
• Protection: We highly recommend applying Extratec facing, edge tape, and toe protection (toe guard or Shoe Goo) to protect the vulnerable areas of your bat.

What's Covered vs. What's Not

Every claim is assessed case-by-case by SJ Sports and the manufacturer's craftsmen to confirm whether a genuine defect is present.

✅ Covered (Manufacturing Faults)
If a fault arises within 12 months of purchase due to a manufacturing defect:

• A broken or completely dislodged handle
• A major split through the core cleft of the wood under normal playing conditions
• Significant, deep cracking at the shoulder unrelated to impact or misuse

❌ Not Covered (Wear, Tear & Misuse)
Because willow is a natural material, the warranty does not cover:

• Yorker damage — cracking or splitting at the toe from digging out yorkers or striking the ground
• Insufficient knocking-in — surface cracking from match play before the willow is fully compressed
• Machine damage — fractures from aggressive commercial machine knocking, or use against a bowling machine
• Improper maintenance — over-oiling (rotting the wood) or under-oiling (brittleness)
• Moisture & heat damage — swelling from wet-weather use, or warping/cracking from being left in hot environments (e.g. a car boot or direct sun)
• Non-leather or composite balls, including bowling machine balls
• Tampered or removed manufacturer stickers
• Third-party repair attempts

Small, superficial surface cracks on the face and edges are expected and don't affect performance — they can usually be gently sanded out.

Assessment & Remedy Process

Most bat claims can't be resolved instantly, as the bat must be physically examined.

• Timeframe: Assessments and structural repairs (e.g. handle replacement, minor binding) take an average of 10–14 working days, in conjunction with the manufacturer.
• Remedies: Depending on the severity of the fault (per ACL guidelines), this may be a professional repair, replacement, or refund. Minor faults are typically resolved with a structural repair as the industry-standard remedy.

How to Make a Claim

Please don't send your bat back or bring it in-store without contacting us first — this saves you time.

1. Get in touch — Call 0423 240 478 or email support@sjsports.com.au to discuss the issue.
2. Provide proof of purchase — your receipt, order confirmation email, or bank statement. Registered customers can have this pulled from their purchase history.
3. Present the bat — bring it into store or securely mail it in for professional assessment, per our team's instructions.

Note: Custom-built bats are not eligible for change-of-mind returns due to their personalised nature, but remain fully covered by the 12-month manufacturing warranty above.

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Returns & Exchanges (All Other Products)

All returns must be discussed and approved with our team prior to sending the item back.

• Return postage is the customer's responsibility, unless otherwise agreed with us in advance.
• Items must be returned in original, unused condition, in their original packaging, along with proof of purchase.
• SJ Sports is not liable for goods lost or damaged in transit.
• If confirmed faulty, you'll have the choice of a full refund or replacement.
• Processing time for returns/exchanges is up to 7 business days.
• Exchanges incur an additional return postage charge, plus any price difference between items.

Send returns to:
60 Deshon Street, Woolloongabba QLD 4102
(include your full name, invoice number, and mobile number on the package)