BACKGROUND For decades, there have been many cricket bats manufactured and sized to suit the individual cricket player. At a junior level, the ball may fall short of the boundary line, even if the ball is hit at the right spot (the so-called"sweet spot"on the bat).

There have been many proposals for cricket bats but there has never been an added feature that is so enhancing to the cricket bat such that it will deliver shots at a substantially faster speed.

For example, GB 2008414 discloses a system incorporated into the interior of a cricket bat which does not result in substantially faster speed for shots.

It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a cricket bat booster/accelerator material

comprising a resilient metal inserted material which is glued onto the back or heel of the cricket bat.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a cricket bat having a booster accelerator material comprising a resilient metal material positioned and placed by way of adhesive, onto the back or heel of the bat, without altering the timber composition of the bat.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a cricket bat to which has been non-releasably applied a layer of material to a lower rear surface thereof thereby to impart greater striking force to a ball when struck by a lower rear face of said bat.

Preferably said layer of material comprises a metal or metal alloy.

Preferably said layer of material comprises a plastics material.

Preferably said layer of material has a thickness in the range 1-3mm.

Preferably said layer of material has a total weight in range 100-200 grams.

Preferably said layer of material is applied to a surface of said lower portion of said bat.

Preferably said layer of material is inlaid into said lower portion of said rear face of said bat.

Preferably said layer of material is profiled to conform to the shape of said lower portion of said rear face of said bat.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of enhancing performance of a cricket bat; said cricket bat having an elongate blade portion attached to a handle portion ; said cricket bat having a front face and a rear face; said method comprising positioning a layer of material on a lower portion of said rear face which is substantially opposite a lower portion of said front face; said lower portion of said front face adapted for driving contact with a ball.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided the above described method applied to the above described bat.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of enhancing performance of a cricket bat utilising a layer of material as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to what is shown in the accompanying drawings.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a cricket bat having a layer of material applied to it as hereinbefore particularly described with reference to what is shown in Figs. 1-3 or Figs. 4-6.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a layer of material for application to a lower rear surface of a cricket bat thereby to enhance the performance of said bat when striking a ball with a lower portion of a front face of said bat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFDRMtINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cricket bat to which a first embodiment of the present invention has been applied ; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bat of Fig. 1 viewing the face ; Fig. 3 is a side section view of the bat of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective rear view of a cricket bat to which a second embodiment of the present invention is applied ; Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of the bat of Fig.

4 ; Fig. 6 is a side section view of the bat of Fig. 4 in operation; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an example of a bat to which embodiments of the invention have been applied in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figs. 1,2 and 3, a cricket bat booster/accelerator is disclosed. The insert/inlay 2 is a metal material (Fig. 1 No. 2), which is glued 3 to the back or the heel 1 of the cricket bat (Fig. 1 No. 3).

The purpose of this insert/inlay 2 (Fig. 1, No. 2) being glued to the back or the heel 1 of the cricket bat, is to improve acceleration or increase the speed and impact to the cricket ball when the ball is struck by face 5 of the cricket bat 6.

This insert/inlay (Fig. 1, No. 2) may be glued (Fig.

1, No. 3) to any cricket bat 6 of any size.

By way of restatement of the arrangement of the above described first embodiment there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a cricket bat 6 having an elongate blade portion 7 to which is attached a handle 8. The elongate blade portion 7 includes a front face 5 and a rear face 1 as generally illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Applied to or positioned on the rear face 1 at a lower portion 9 of rear face 1 is a layer of material 2. The

layer of material 2 is positioned so as to be opposite a lower portion 10 of front face 5, again as generally illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In a particularly preferred arrangement the lower portion 10 of front face 5 comprises an area of a cricket bat commonly know as the"sweet spot".

As best seen in Fig. 3 the layer of material 2 is shaped so as to conform to the profile of lower portion 9 of rear face 1.

In a particular preferred form the layer of material 2 is glued by means of glue 3 to the rear face 1 of bat 6.

In an alternate form the layer of material 2 is inlaid into rear face 1 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3.

In particular preferred forms the layer of material 2 comprises a relatively thin sheet of plastics or metallic material. Suitable materials can include aluminium, copper, PVC. Laminates and mixtures thereof may also be used.

In particular forms the total weight of the layer of material 2 is in the range 100-300 grams, more preferably 100-200 grams and even more preferably around 180 to 200 grams when applied to a regulation cricket bat made from timber.

Preferred thicknesses of the layer of material 2 lie in the range l-3mm, more preferably 1-2mm and, even more preferably, around 1. 3mm.

In one form the layer of material 2 is simply glued or otherwise mechanically attached to the surface of rear face 1. In alternative forms it is inlaid such that top surface 11 of layer of material 2 lies substantially flush with the surrounding rear face of bat 6.

With reference to Figs. 4,5 and 6 a second embodiment of the system of the present invention is illustrated applied to a cricket bat 6 and wherein like components are numbered as for the first embodiment.

In this instance the timber from which the elongate blade portion 7 is constructed is willow timber as is typically found in a regulation bat. As previously, the layer of material 2 is glued or otherwise non-releasably attached to rear face 1 of bat 6. Suitable glues can include rubber glue. The layer of material 2 is profiled or shaped to conform to the relevant portion of bat 6. It is located so as to be on an opposite side of bat 6 to lower portion 10 of front face 5 and located at a lower portion 9 of rear face 1 near to toe 4 of bat 6.

Fig. 6 illustrates the behaviour and force directions (via arrows) of bat 6 when it strikes ball 12 at or near "sweet spot"or strike zone 13.

In use, as best seen in Fig. 7, a player grasps the bat 6 in the usual fashion and uses the bat 6 in the usual fashion whereby lower portion 10 of front face 5 is utilised to strike ball 12.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.