Cricket’s lawmakers are set to give players a more affordable option at the crease. 

The Marylebone Cricket Club has approved changes that will allow certain bats, once ruled illegal, back into the game, easing the financial pressure caused by the rising price of English willow.

Under a new edition of the Laws of Cricket taking effect on October 1, 2026, laminated bats made from up to three pieces of wood will be allowed in open-age recreational cricket. These Type D bats were previously restricted to junior levels, but the MCC says the update aims to help amateur players who struggle with the cost of traditional equipment.

The bats typically feature an English willow face backed by cheaper wood, such as Kashmir willow, while elite cricket is expected to stick with single-piece willow blades. Manufacturers will also be permitted to use non-willow materials behind the bat’s face, with the MCC saying extensive testing found little to no added advantage from the redesigned bats.