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The Scoop is one of the most instantly recognisable bats out there and is back for 2012 in the hands of many pro players including England’s own Monty Panesar. But who invented it and why?

In 1972 Arthur Garner and Barrie Wheeler submitted the patent for the original Scoop. Garner, a South African, who had earlier invented a heel-and-toe-weighted golf putter noted that the same principal could be applied to cricket bats. Conventional bats, with weight concentrated in the middle of the bat (6″ from the toe and centered across the with) had a sweetspot in the middle of the bat which ensured the most effective hit by way of distance and direction. However off centre hits provided sub optimum performance by providing weak and misdirected shots.  To combat this AG and BW developed the Scoop. By removing the wood from the centre of the bat and concentrating it around the periphery of the back of the bat they could combat the bat turning in players hands and provided stronger and more accurate shots for those off centre hits effectively widening the bats middle. Ingenious right?

The original Scoop was launched in 1975 and was notably used by Ian Chappel. For retailers it was a great success, Gray Nicolls couldn’t fulfil demand and had to turn away orders for over 8,000 bats in it’s first year. In 1977 Gray Nicolls  followed it up with a wider range of Scoop style bats, pictured below. This time the bats were designed by John Newbery, who later went on to form Newbery, and Arthur Garner.