One of cricket’s major problems has been solved by a Suffolk business – which has developed the world’s first left-handed cricket bat.
Using technology loosely based on America’s left-handed baseball bats, the new product will allow left-handed batsmen to have proper equipment for the first time.
No longer will famous left handers like West Indian legend Brian Lara or England’s David Gower have to make do with right-handed bats, which means they have to use the back of the bat when they play.
Mr Joe King, chief executive of Stowmarket-based Iffy Products, explained: “We saw how they developed a baseball bat for left handers in the United States, and realised the same hush-hush technology could be used in cricket bats.
“We developed the bat over many years and have finally come up with the perfect solution.
“Some may say it looks exactly like a right-handed bat. But that is deliberate, so that left handers do not feel different to the right-handed majority.”
Mr King explained that the bats would come with a reasonable price tag of £899, or £1,500 for two. “It’s a brilliant deal, and one that could make England world beaters if they sign up as our exclusive endorser,” he said.
He added it was a shame former England captain David Gower had retired from cricket. “I am confident Gower would have been a keen fan of our left-handed bat,” Mr King said.
However, the product was called into question by Suffolk’s Trading Standards department.
A spokesman said: “These left-handed bats look remarkably like normal cricket bats. In fact, we struggle to find any difference, and as far as we know left-handed batsmen use normal bats like everyone else.”
