The willow used in making cricket bats was brought in by the British, who ruled India, during the 1920s. The villages nestled high in the mountains which were abundant with willow; specifically Kashmir, and accounted for the majority of the world's cricket bats during the 1970s when its manufacturing started. English willow bats are lighter than Kashmir willow bats therefore they are used mostly in test matches and the kashmir willow bat is used in the twenty20s. These bats are not only popular in India, but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The bats cost from $10 to $200. Generally considered to be heavier than English willow bats. Traditional methods are still used by the industry established in Kashmir, whereby bats are shaped by hand and eye measurements, combining traditional tools with modern technology.[citation needed] Some of the districts were these bats are made in Kashmir are Anantnag, Baramula, and Pahalgam.
