Supreme Love: Salix Edition

Cranking up the polish, Salix—known as the crème de la crème of bat making—is spicing up their game with an exciting venture into uncharted markets. With fresh anarchy stirring the pot and the clink of wedding bells resonating in the workshop, longtime enthusiast Phil Walker embarked on a journey to the heart of this legendary workshop.

Pulling up to the rustic abode, we couldn't help but notice the semi-hidden sign, its iconic letters barely peeking through tufts of luscious greenery. To our left stood the dazzling showroom, brimming with top-tier bats ready for snatch-n-go, while straight ahead was the smoky inside of the Salix lair—King Andrew Kember's alchemy chamber.

Stepping through the threshold, we were greeted by a cube of cleft-worked wonders arranged akin to Jenga building blocks, leading to a veritable spree of lathes, presses, and woodchippin' chaos. To our left loomed a shelf of fresh clefts and a tower of wooden trunks sprouting unbound bats, like the limbs of an ancient tree. In the far corner, a burgeoning apprentice was busy binding the handles fashioned for the day. Hanging on the opposing wall, esteemed classic models marked time, while the storage house next door boasted mountains of stamped boxes waiting to be dispersed. Hustling over for a hug, the man behind this madness, Andrew Kember, raised a cloud of dust and wood shavings from his battered sweater. The place was pure perfection.

In high spirits, Kember revealed a thriving business, orders being satisfied left and right, and a recent wedding with his beloved Kel, who they claim has reinvigorated the entire enterprise following the pandemic. Delving deeper, we found that the young apprentice, knee-deep in bat handles, was the wedding's fruit: Kel's son, Sam. A true family affair, the four stand tall and strong, ready to take on the bat-making world.

"We've got a joint crew of four full-time," Kember explained, "Kel, me, Sam, and Luke, with Hugh joining us once a week to focus on attachin' handles. When we tried to manage alone a couple years back, it was a complete nightmare. We somehow managed, but the operations are more fluid now."

Anticipated by many for his move, Kember endeavors to maintain the lineage of traditional bat making. "Rarely do you find individuals offering apprenticeships to forge cricket bats these days. While self-taught players are not wrong, there's a palpable distinction between that and learning from experienced masters who've been in the arena for years."

Fast-forwarding to the workshop, Kember rundowns the day-to-day: "After the handles are fitted, Luke takes up the initial shaping. When Sam gets a call, he's assigned to begin the rasping process, tailoring and refining the handle. Finally, Kel polishes, handles the binding, and oversees the final stages. The systematic rotation ensures that Salix can produce a record-breaking number of bats yearly."

ACID: The New Face of Salix

For decades, Salix bats graced the sacred English cricket pitch. Now, the company is revealing its boldest project yet—the ACID range, a game-changer in the cricket world, made to electrify a fresh segment of the market.

All About ACID..."We've played up the Asian look—flat, bold, focused—and fashioned it in our unique style," Kember declared. An industry veteran, Kember couldn't resist a chuckle when asked about their intentions. "We're seducing the boisterous North American market and the youth here. Just five years ago, catering to domestic and foreign cricket markets would've been unimaginable, but today, demand in North America is through the roof! If players want big and bold, we've got just the bats for them!"

The Art of Transformation...Transitioning from traditional Salix bats to these extravagant ACID creations is challenging, but Kember isn't one to shy away from a challenge. "The traditional bats simply couldn't accommodate the increased weight of the new design, setting Salix and ACID apart from one another."

Keeping it Real..."Once we knew how to make a classical bat, the skillset translated to crafting the ACID models," Kel shared. "And though ACID is brash and bold, it boasts the same power and effectiveness. Meanwhile, Salix is the epitome of sophistication."

In the Zone: The Modern Cricket Market

With the diverse cricket market today, standing out among the masses is a necessity. Salix continues to mesmerize its audience with exquisite bats, peddling exclusivity while subtly evolving with the trends. The introduction of the ACID range demonstrates a company riding the wave of modernity and embracing the booming cricket market one swing at a time. Long live the kings.

Closing Thoughts:

ACID represents Salix's efforts to diversify its offerings, attracting a new generation of players in tune with the fast-paced world of modern cricket.
The ACID line is specifically crafted for aggressive players, seeking explosive power typical of the shorter format T20 game.
By establishing a distinct product line, Salix aims to cater to a broader, youth-centric audience while butting heads with the mass-producing competitors encroaching on the cricketing world.
The sophisticated workshop of Salix, renowned bat makers, revealed a hidden sign as we pulled up to their rustic abode.
In the heart of the Salix lair, Andrew Kember, the man behind the madness, outlined their new venture - the ACID range, designed to electrify the cricket world with its Asian-inspired, bold and focused design.
The ACID line, a game-changer, marks Salix's efforts to diversify its offerings, catering to a new generation of players in the fast-paced world of modern cricket, and appealing to the boisterous North American market.