"Almost all new cricket bats require knocking in before use. Knocking in, is the process of hardening and conditioning of the blades' surface. There are two reasons for knocking in; Protecting the bat from cracking and increase its usable life Improving the middle of the bat so the middle is bigger and better The nature of the game of cricket is that a hard ball is propelled at high speed toward the batsman who swings the bat hitting the ball. This contact will cause a bat that is not prepared correctly to crack up very quickly, and have a short life." -By James Laver - World’s foremost cricket bat crafstman Cricket Haven strongly recommends to have your bat knocked in professionally when you purchase it. This helps to get a better performance and generally extends the life of the bat. It also relieves you and your family members of a time consuming, noisy and monotonous process. Disclaimer: Damage can never be totally eliminated due to the hard nature of the ball and the speed of contact with the bat. Cricket Haven will not be responsible for any damage to the bat as as a result of carelessness.