The Concrete Cricket Bat Competition will be a highlight of the Concrete NZ 1-day Conference, on 14 November at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre.

Team of students from the Universities of Auckland and Canterbury will demonstrate the versatility of concrete by designing and building functional cricket bats made from this robust material.

Teams of 2-4 members are required to craft two cricket bats according to specific design Rules, with a focus on innovation and structural integrity. The bats must adhere to Law 5 of cricket, with constraints on length, width, and blade depth. They must also be composed of at least 50% concrete or mortar by volume and be reinforced with materials such as fibres. Each team must also submit a standard concrete cylinder (100 mm in diameter, 200 mm in length) for compressive strength testing at the conference.

The competition is divided into two main components. First, the concrete bats will be evaluated based on design, construction quality, sustainability, and compressive strength of the concrete cylinder. Prior to the evaluation, teams will give a brief oral presentation explaining their bat’s design, construction process, and any innovative approaches used. Points will be awarded for creativity, craftsmanship, and the compressive strength-to-mass ratio of the concrete used.

Sustainability is a key focus, with teams encouraged to use low-carbon materials in their designs. A 10% bonus will be awarded to the team with the lowest embodied carbon mix or binder.

The second part of the competition will be a friendly cricket match, where the teams will use their concrete bats to compete in an 8-12 over game, using a soft rubber or indoor ball. The final score will combine points from the bat evaluation (75%) and the cricket match (25%), making it a fun, dynamic event that celebrates both creativity and the practical applications of concrete.

So, don your whites (or coloured pyjamas) and join us at the Concrete NZ 1-day Conference at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on 14 November to see which university delivers a solid performance.

Time and location details of the competition to be announcement soon!