A GOOD workman never blames his tools – and neither does a good batsman.

For Somerset cricketer Alex Barrow, this saying rings all too true, as he sets about mastering the art and craftsmanship of bat making, with a little help from the guys at Taunton’s Millichamp and Hall factory.

In an effort to get players thinking about careers outside of the game, wicketkeeper/batsman Barrow has been lending a hand in the workshop, next door to the County Ground – and so far, the 22-year-old believes his time there has been productive.

He said: “We are encouraged to try and do things outside of cricket, although it is involved in cricket, it's not cricket.

“M&H are my sponsor and I've used their bats for as long as I can remember playing.

“So for me to get the chance to work there for four weeks was brilliant - as an experience in working for someone else's business, being responsible for their products, learning new skills both practically with the wood and with customers. “Working from 9-5 is different from being a sportsman, more structure although there were lots of things cropping up.

“But I was working with people who are outstanding at what they do.

“Having to help, learn and solve problems as I went along was really valuable to me and I'm very grateful to Rob, Tim, Graham and Steve for helping me and giving me the chance to do something I have a keen interest in.

“And hopefully I helped M&H out with some input from a player’s perspective and working in this industry does interest me and excite me as well.”

It’s a move endorsed by Millichamp’s Rob Chambers, who believes it is vitally important for a player to understand what makes a good cricket bat.

He said: “Alex is what we like to call an equipment badger so he’s very much into his equipment and it’s a good thing to learn them to learn what makes a good cricket bat because ultimately that’s the difference between getting singles and boundaries – so he’s been in learning the finishing processes, the knocking in and the sort of how we go about doing things and they’ve actually been encouraged to go out and find work experience by the club.

“You tend to find the batsman are interested in how bats are made, what makes the best bat, the processes – whereas the all-rounders and the bowlers maybe aren’t quite as bothered to be honest.”

A major revamp of the bat-making business means world-famous Millichamp and Hall are one of only a handful of handmade bat makers remaining.

With clamps and saws replaced by heavy machinery in many factories, Chambers admits bat making is a dying art – but insists their handmade methods are going nowhere.

“We’re one of the few handmade bat makers left now - a lot of brands seem to use big factory machinery now, so it’s a dying art.”

Millichamp and Hall have crafted bats for some of the game’s greatest players, including Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid – and with awards for their work an annual occurrence, Chambers is pleased with how things are progressing.

He said: “We’re expanding gradually into world markets, that’s a good sign and as a brand we’re reasonably well reserved – every year we seem to pick up awards for our equipment.”

Alex Barrow, Craig Kieswetter and Tom Abell are three of the current Somerset players on the books of Millichamp and Hall – and while it remains to be seen if they’ll reach the same lofty heights as messrs Dravid and Tendulkar, it is hoped they will be flying the Millichamp and Hall flag across the world for many years to come.