70 YEARS YOUNG

Bringing History Back to Life: The Restoration of a 70-Year-Old Lindsay Hassett Cricket Bat

There’s something truly special about a vintage cricket bat. It’s more than just willow and rubber — it’s a time capsule. It holds echoes of dusty summer afternoons, big innings, bitter losses, backyard rivalries, and treasured memories. And when a bat like this one finds its way into the Cooper Cricket workshop, we know we’re not just fixing a piece of wood… we’re breathing life back into someone’s past.

Recently, we had the privilege of restoring an RK Crockett Lindsay Hassett autographed cricket bat, believed to be around 70 years old. And when we say it needed love — we mean it.

The bat arrived in a condition only a true cricket hero could still admire. The back was almost entirely blackened from age, moisture, and decades of wear. The grip had melted. The binding had disintegrated entirely. The handle was damaged and required sections to be rebuilt. A significant graft was needed down at the toe to return to its original shape. It was tired. It was battered. But it was far from done.

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A Labour of Love by Malakai

Our resident restoration wizard, Malakai, took on the challenge — what a job he did.

With care and patience, he rebuilt the handle, seamlessly blending in new sections to retain its original feel. The melted grip and broken binding were replaced with fresh materials, keeping the traditional style accurate. Down at the toe, a graft was masterfully added to rebuild the shape and strength where decades had taken their toll.

The sanding and polishing process revealed the hidden beauty beneath the surface—the original grain, the character of the willow, and the soul of the bat. It was a transformation that genuinely gave us goosebumps.

Reproducing the Artwork

But the job didn’t stop there. One of the most iconic features of this bat was its autographed artwork — Lindsay Hassett’s signature stamped proudly on the blade. Time had faded it almost completely, so we had to step in.

Using original references, Rod Grey carefully recreated the artwork in stunning detail. Once the design was ready, we laser-engraved it back into the bat — restoring the piece’s identity and giving it the recognition it so richly deserved. The final result was something we were all deeply proud of.

Why We Love Restoring Vintage Bats

At Cooper Cricket, we have a soft spot for these old bats. Sure, we love making brand-new ones, but restoring history is uniquely rewarding. These bats have been through it all — schoolboy centuries, backyard chaos, club rivalries, maybe even a tear or two. They’re full of emotion, stories, and nostalgia.

Refurbishing a bat like this is our way of saying, "Your memories still matter." Whether for display, sentimental value, or to hand down to future generations, we treat every vintage restoration like a little piece of cricket history. And Malakai, once again, proved that we’ve got the right hands on the job.

The Final Result

From almost blackened and forgotten to a beautifully revived classic, this RK Crockett Lindsay Hassett bat is now something to behold. The handle is solid. The toe is rebuilt. The grain is glowing. And the signature? It is etched perfectly, right where it belongs.

We’re honoured to have played a small part in preserving its legacy.

If you’ve got an old bat tucked away — maybe it belonged to your dad, your grandad, or it was your first-ever century stick — let us know. We’d love to bring it back to life, just like we did with this one.

Because at Cooper Cricket, we don’t just make bats.
We honour stories.