Professional cricketers usually choose English willow bats, however, over the last few years, Kashmiri willow tree has been attracting global attention after its appearance in international cricket tournaments.
- The vir, or willow, grows in every village of Kashmir where there is water or moisture, and its reproduction is very simple.
- The willow wood, which goes by the scientific name of Salix alba var. caerulea, is sourced in bulk, usually from areas surrounding Anantnag. It is then cut into blocks called clefts and left in stacks to dry under the sun for up to six months.
- Both Kashmiri willow bats and English willow bats are made from the same willow tree, Salix alba.
