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- 1Bamboo bats proposed as cricket's answer to climate strain on willow●The Hotspot | Stumped for wood, bamboo bats offer cricket a substitute to leather on willow By Tanya Aldred Traditional
The Guardian's cricket discussion, led by journalist Tanya Aldred, examines bamboo as a replacement material for cricket bats. Traditional English willow, used for centuries to make bats, is under pressure from rising temperatures and changing growing conditions. Researchers and manufacturers are testing whether bamboo can offer a durable, sustainable substitute, sparking debate among players and purists about whether the sound and feel of the game would change.
- 2Bamboo bats floated as cricket's answer to willow shortage▼The Hotspot | Stumped for wood, bamboo bats offer cricket a substitute to leather on willow
Cricket is weighing a switch from traditional willow bats to bamboo, as the game looks for a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to a timber supply that is increasingly under strain. A new discussion piece examines how bamboo could work, what it means for bat-makers, and whether the sport's laws would need to change to allow it.
- 3Analysts Argue WILLOW Trial Endpoint, Not Enpatoran, Failed●The WILLOW Trial Didn’t Fail Enpatoran. The Endpoint Did.
Commentary around Merck KGaA's enpatoran is challenging the framing of the WILLOW trial results, arguing the drug was not proven ineffective but that the trial's chosen endpoint failed to capture the treatment effect. The piece says the outcome measure, not the therapy itself, is what fell short, reigniting debate over how lupus clinical trials are designed and judged.
- 4Bamboo Bats Could Spark South African Cricket Debate▼Bamboo Bats Could Start SA Cricket’s Next Great Argument
Discussion is building around bamboo bats and their potential place in South African cricket, with the suggestion they could become the sport's next big talking point in the country. Bamboo bats have previously been promoted as a cheaper, more sustainable alternative to traditional willow, and any move toward them would raise questions about equipment rules, playing conditions, and fairness at club and professional levels.