 On the national highway, as one drives from Srinagar to Jammu, suddenly the willow and popular trees give way to cricket bats on both sides of the road. Bats of every size and make dot the landscape like mushrooms. For we are now in Halmula, where every family is involved in making cricket bats. The willow trees, which grow around them, provide the wood in abundance. So obviously then, the making and selling of cricket bats is everyone's business. But it was not always like this. Halmula became the hub of the Indian bat industry by default. Just after partition, a sports good manufacturer of Jalandhar was deep in trouble. All his suppliers were suddenly across the border in Pakistan. He needed the willow for his products and fast. His search brought him to Halmula, the home of the willow of Veer as it is known locally. A willow tree takes 15 years to mature and the best quality wood is used for making bats. As the seasoned wood goes through various stages, its ultimate destination is to reach well-known hands across the world and create magic. It receives the final finishing touch with a flourish when the handle is fixed by hand on the bat. The handle is made from cane, brought especially all the way from Kerala and the Andamans. As only that can provide the batsman the strength and flexibility to strike the ball hard. And thus, a truly national product for a national obsession is born. Some the World Cup are an important series and Halmula are rejoices as it means more business, more work. Free time if any is spent, well obviously doing what else but playing cricket.