Friday, May 22, 2009

The Mongoose Debuts

Last week on facebook, I mentioned that Well Pitched had received an invitation to Lord's for the launch of a new innovative bat.

We couldn't make it to Lord's since none of us are based in the UK. The launch event, however, was in the UK and it took place at Lord's this morning.

Thanks to Performance PR, who sent us the invite, we have all the information about this new bat - what its all about, where its going to be used first, and who all is going to be using it.

When we received the invite we were told that the bat was called the "Mongoose".

At the time, I thought that it was the new double sided bat, which was recently approved by the ICC.

However, it was not that.

The Mongoose is an innovation that truly changes the way we know cricket bats.

Here is the fact sheet:
  1. The Mongoose bat has been designed specifically for Twenty20

  2. The Mongoose is the most radical change to cricket bat design since 1771


  3. The MCC Laws sub-committee has confirmed that the Mongoose bats are legal and allowed to be used in all levels of cricket. They conform to the new version of Law 6 and Appendix E, which came into force on 1st October 2008


  4. The Mongoose has been scientifically proven by Imperial College to offer batsmen 20% more power and 15% more bat speed than a conventional bat


  5. The Mongoose allows you to hit harder & further without changing the way you play


  6. The Mongoose’s blade is 33% shorter and its handle 43% longer than a conventional bat


  7. The splice, usually located in the blade of the bat, is incorporated in the handle, which ensures there is no dead spot in the hitting area of the bat


  8. The Mongoose also reconfigures the shoulders of the bat by dropping them down nine inches. The weight taken from the shoulders – about 20 per cent of the blade weight – is redistributed to the back of the new, shorter blade


  9. The Mongoose is the invention of Marcus Codrington Fernandez, former Global Creative Director for one of the biggest advertising networks in the world


  10. The Mongoose will make its first class debut in the Twenty20 Cup (England's domestic competition)


  11. The players using the Mongoose bat in first class cricket will include:
    Stuart Law – Derbyshire and Australia
    Ebony Rainford-Brent – Surrey and England
    Laura Marsh – Sussex and England
So then, what do you reckon - will the Mongoose help batsmen hit harder, faster, and further?

What do you make of the shorter blade thats supposed to have a larger sweet spot than a conventional bat?

Will Stuart Law make heaps of runs with the Mongoose?

If its successful, how much longer before it comes into international cricket?

If you want to know more about the Mongoose, see some more pics of Stuart Law posing with the Mongoose, or even buy the Mongoose (£159), hop on over to Mongoose Cricket.

Press Release, Facts courtesy of Performance PR.
Pictures courtesy Mat Hale.
Science stats provided by Professor Anthony Bull, Imperial College, London.

Make your pitch on this post...



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27 Pitched:

  1. Jrod said...
     

    Dude, You should have sent me.

  2. Q said...
     

    Buddy I did mention u to them..

    Check ur email.

  3. life_in_binary said...
     

    i dont know...i think the brain will take some time adjusting to the long handle...initially it will feel like batting with a hockey stick..

  4. Q said...
     

    LIB: It does look a bit odd.. but we'll have to wait and see how it goes..

    Long handle - definitely helpful.
    Short Blade - not too sure. Though the larger sweet spot helps. Wud work great for batsmen who play ONLY from the middle. For others, they would get beat more often.

    One thing for sure - no getting out due to a rising delivery getting the shoulder or upper part of the bat!

  5. life_in_binary said...
     

    not to forget more bowled outs with the ball finding it easy to squeeze past the bat and pad or the handle and pad...

  6. Q said...
     

    LIB: thats true.. I think a lot of adjustment will be required initially..

  7. Nasir said...
     

    "20% more power and 15% more bat speed than a conventional bat".....can't wait to see how far the likes of Gilchrist and Afridi will hit the ball now.

  8. Anonymous said...
     

    I was at the launch and had a go in the nets at Lords. If you don't look at the bat but just assume it's a regular bat the pick-up and swing is identical to my Woodworm. The only difference is that when I connected it took off like a rocket and nearly killed one of the press photographers at the end of the net. Even the edges were definite 4s because the blade is so thick.. Stuart Law was demonstrating it and didn't have much problem with short balls but then he was a bit better than me. :)
    As ever, people will make their own minds up but it's worth a look at.
    Dan

  9. Q said...
     

    Nasir: true that. If it works in domestic cricket, it wont be long before it comes into int'l cricket and the IPL.

  10. Q said...
     

    Dan: thanks for sharing and welcome to Well Pitched.

    Thats awesome what u say abt the ball flying off like a rocket. So I take it its true abt the bat hitting it harder, faster, and further.

  11. Anonymous said...
     

    Hi Q

    Yes it is. They have all sorts of scienceology on the website about why it works (www.mongoosecricket.com) but you don't need a degree in astro-biomechanics to know when you see it that it works. The blade is solid and the long handle gives it a bit of whip - like a Big Bertha wood in golf. They had one of the England Women's team using it in the net. When she came out she said had never hit the ball harder. Even though she's about 5 foot four and 110 pounds she was giving it some real stick.

    Dan

  12. Q said...
     

    Dan,

    I read the scientology stuff.. pretty neat. Just didn't know if it would actually work. Would love to get my hands on one and use it. I can see how the longer handle and larger sweet spot work!

  13. Anonymous said...
     

    does anyone know who will use it in top grade cricket? will it be used in the World Cup? Or even in the domestic T2o in England?

  14. jnash said...
     

    It looks awesome. i'd love to have a crack with one. my team plays more 2020 than anything else these days, and i really fancy giving that the long-handle at the end of the game. Fireworks time.

    but are they available yet?

  15. Q said...
     

    Anonymous: from what we know the bat will debut in the domestic T20 cup in England. Stuart Law will be using it.

    I've heard Lou Vincent might be using it as well.

    Not sure about any other cricketers yet. But if its successful in domestic cricket, it won't take long before it comes into international cricket.

  16. Q said...
     

    jnash: Welcome to Well Pitched.

    Yes they are available. You can find out on www.mongoosecricket.com on how and from where to avail one. The bat costs £159.

    I also can't wait to try one out.

  17. Unknown said...
     

    To answer the last two posts - Stuart Law (Derbyshire) is using one on Tuesday against Durham and is signed up for the season as are Ebony Rainford-Brent the England Women's middle-order batsman. Mongoose are also in negotiations with two big names ahead of the upcoming 20/20 internationals. You can buy the bats on the website ad they are starting to roll them out to specialist cricket retailers over the next month or so.

    Dan

  18. Q said...
     

    Thanks for that Dan.

    Are u saying that there is a possibility that the Mongoose could be used by a couple of players during the Twenty20 World Cup?

  19. Anonymous said...
     

    Hi Q - all I know is that Mongoose are talking to some players ahead of it, with a view to them using the bat.

    I also heard that Mongoose are planning a series of indoor nets around the country so that T20 club players can have a go with the bat. When I called and asked about it, they said that details will be on the website in the next couple of weeks.

    Dan

  20. Q said...
     

    Dan: thanks for sharing this information.

    I would like to see how Stuart Law did with the bat today.

    Btw, u mentioned u used the bat in the nets at the launch - do u think u will now use it regularly?

  21. Unknown said...
     

    Can you give me the email id from which they sent you the press release and the facts about the bats? Also, there are two types of Mongoose, isn't it?

    [i]There are two Mongeese, so to speak, one a bat of conventional dimensions with the crucial difference that its splice is built into the handle. The other has a longer handle, a shorter blade and it has been designed by Marcus Codrington Fernandez specifically for use in Twenty20.[/i]

    - From the telegraph website.

    Can you please post the email ids of the PR company/forward me the press release/pics at the following email id:

    jaideepdave at gmail dot com

    Thanks in advance!

    It really sounds revolutionary, and if the stated claims are true, it's yet-another addition to the bowlers' woes. I am wondering if the players who play with long-handle grip - Gilchrist and Warner, for example - will readily embrace the bat as compared to ones who don't (use the long handle.

    Also, has ICC approved the bat? And, when will it hit the international T20 scene?

    - Jaideep Dave

  22. Unknown said...
     

    Correction:

    [i]There are two Mongeese, so to speak, one a bat of conventional dimensions with the crucial difference that its splice is built into the handle. The other has a longer handle, a shorter blade and it has been designed by Marcus Codrington Fernandez specifically for use in Twenty20.[/i]

    ...is from the independent website, and not telegraph.

  23. Q said...
     

    Jaideep: From what I understand, it is just 1 bat. The difference is the longer handle and shorter blade, and the weight and wood from the shoulder of a conventional bat re-distributed into the back of the shorter blade.

    The Mongoose website also explains that.

    Point number 3 in post confirms that the bat has been approved by MCC laws. Under some law 6, appendix E.

    The ICC has approved it.

    Stuart Law debuts with the bat today in England's 20-20 competition.

    As Dan tells us, the Mongoose are in talks with some international players to use the bat. Lets see how far that goes.

    I'll email you shortly, though Im not sure if I can share the press release and pics with you over email as they came with a password and were exclusive for Well Pitched. Will give you the contacts details of the PR agency however.

  24. Anonymous said...
     

    Hi all,

    I'm on the train back from Durham where Stuart Law just debuted the Mongooses ( short and long blades) in the same innings . He started with the Mongoose COR and then with two overs left switched to the short blade. He hit some hard singles and then a massive six over midwicket before running himself out on the second to last ball. All in all a great debut. 43 runs and Derbyshire won. The bat looked great and worked exactly as planned.

    Dan

  25. Q said...
     

    Hi Dan,

    Thanks for the that..I heard abt that from Performance PR.. they've set a press release regarding Law's debut innings with the bat and will be putting it up shortly..

    I hear he hit a huge 6 with it..

  26. Teddy the Tippler said...
     

    I've seen it, I've held it, I've swung it and I've seen it used in trial village matches - this is a mighty little weapon. You are gonna love this, trust me! :)

  27. Q said...
     

    Teddy the Tippler: I'm sure I would. I'm trying to get my hands on one.

    Welcome to Well Pitched and thank you for your comment!

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