Global warming may make cricket-bats history!

LONDON - Cricket is facing a bizarre threat following a European Union (EU) directive, which could lead to a world shortage of bats.

The crisis is looming after a law came into force last month banning the use of ‘methyl bromide’, citing that it damages the ozone layer.

The chemical is traditionally used in the cricket-bat manufacturing industry to treat willow, the wood from which bats are made, before export.

The chemical ensures that there are no bugs and beetles in the wood.

Meanwhile, people involved in the industry claim that the decision will severely effect the 10 million pound-a-year industry, and it will go bust within three months unless a solution is found.

“We have just been following procedures introduced many years ago by the Ministry of Agriculture. Now our entire future is under threat because of an EU directive,” The Daily Express quoted Geoff Watling, of Anglian Willow Services, as saying.

“We were told a form of heat treatment can be used as an alternative, but it just doesn’t work. It was not a helpful solution.”Unfortunately the Indian Government cannot allow our willow to be imported without a treatment certificate. On that basis it give our industry 12 weeks to survive. We alone have 1,400 prepared trees ready to go,” he added.

He further said that unless something is done, the world is going to run out of cricket bats.

“The worldwide supply of Test standard and Twenty20 bats for the national and county sides could dry up within two years,” Watling said. (ANI)