About Us

Governor Cricket Bats

It all started with a small hobby business called ‘Second Innings Bats’ around 35 years ago while I was playing for Old Collegians in the Christchurch senior cricket competition. I carried out blade repairs, re-handling, and developed a process for coating blades with a special resin that gave the bats a “second innings”.

A few years later I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to purchase a bat press from the closed down Wade cricket bat business which gave me the capability to start making my own brand of bat. This also coincided with my move to the beautiful Governors Bay, Banks Peninsula, NZ hence the name “Governor” cricket bats.

In the early stages I travelled to England to meet both my willow supplier JS Wright and Sons Ltd of Great Leigh’s near Chelmsford and spent some time with a local bat craftsman where I learnt the skills required to make quality cricket bats. 30 years after making that first bat for a friend to try out, I’ve been very proud of the quality I achieved making numerous bespoke cricket bats for my customers and providing them with the specifications they require.

 

Netting Systems

Over the last 20 or so years I branched out into supplying and installing cricket netting systems. For the larger systems I work with Gabba Sporting Products from Brisbane, Australia helping them to bring their top-quality product to New Zealand.

I also import my own range of nets for backyard requirements not only for cricket but Hockey, Base/Soft Ball and Golf.

As I would like to focus on growing and developing the netting system side of the business nearing retirement, I have decided now is the right time to retire from making Governor cricket bats which have been such a big part of my life.

 

 

Graham Sercombe