![](https://i0.wp.com/napierinframe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_20221202_144627_816.webp?resize=584%2C438&ssl=1)
Last year I was very fortunate to win a Gray-Nicolls cricket bat autographed by NZ Cricket captain Kane Williamson from Players Sports.
![](https://i0.wp.com/napierinframe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20221230_145630.jpg?resize=584%2C997&ssl=1)
I’ve been reasonably crafty and creative recently, so decided I would make a special case for this special bat.
After much planning, sketching, measuring and staring into the void I settled on a design I was happy with and headed to Mitre 10 to get the plywood that would make up the majority of the case.
![](https://i0.wp.com/napierinframe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20230729_100132-scaled-e1700865796202-792x1024.jpg?resize=584%2C755&ssl=1)
I took it over to my father-in-law’s workshop and cut it to length, put grooves in the sides for the Perspex top I intended to slide in and, not having a router, I used the saw bench to make the ends plug in, while seamlessly continuing the lid groove.
![](https://i0.wp.com/napierinframe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20230805_125642.jpg?resize=584%2C329&ssl=1)
I was pretty damn chuffed with the result:
![](https://i0.wp.com/napierinframe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20230805_121951.jpg?resize=584%2C329&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/napierinframe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20230805_121949.jpg?resize=584%2C329&ssl=1)
We glued three out of four sides to the base and left it to dry.
![](https://i0.wp.com/napierinframe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20230805_125735.jpg?resize=576%2C1024&ssl=1)
The next weekend I cut and drilled out some spare pieces of ply that would hold the bat in place.
![](https://i0.wp.com/napierinframe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20230903_114719.jpg?resize=584%2C329&ssl=1)
A few months passed and I was finally able to get out to Spotlight in Hastings to buy some adhesive-backed green felt to go into the case to resemble the green grass of a cricket pitch and protect the bat from knocks and scrapes.
It was like Durasealing the inside of the exercise book from hell, but I managed to get it done, with the worst of only a few ripples hidden by the bat when it was set in place.
![](https://i0.wp.com/napierinframe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20230909_164533.jpg?resize=584%2C329&ssl=1)
Last was the Perspex lid. This would keep the case sealed and the bat dust free.
Once again I went to Classique Plastics in Napier who had the clear tube for my Top Gun diorama, and they cut a piece of thin, clear plastic to fit perfectly!
![](https://i0.wp.com/napierinframe.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20231124_192331.jpg?resize=584%2C329&ssl=1)
The result looks pretty professional if I do say so myself!
Now I just need an office, or regal study / leather armchair furnished library to mount it in…