Not cricket? Scientists suggest bamboo bats are a match for willow

Researchers create bat with similar performance from what they say is cheap and sustainable material

Cricket has been bowled a googly by scientists who have suggested the traditional willow used to make bats could be replaced by bamboo to increase their sustainability and boost the sport's reach.

Willow has been the principal material for cricket bats for centuries," said Dr Darshil Shah at the University of Cambridge, who co-authored the study.