Batting technique and strokeplay

Names of orthodox cricket shots and the directions in which they are hit for a right-
handed batter. The batsman is standing at the centre point facing south. The positions are
mirrored for left-handers.

Over time the development of cricket has led to a standard batting technique being used
by most players in the game. Technique in this case refers to the batsman's stance before
the ball is bowled as well as the movement of the hands, feet, head and body in the
execution of a cricket stroke. Good technique is characterised by quickly getting into the
correct position to play the shot, especially getting one's head and body in line with the
ball, one's feet placed next to where the ball would bounce and then swinging the bat at
the ball to make contact at the precise moment required for the particular stroke being
played.

The actual movement of the batsman for a particular delivery depends on the shot being
attempted. Front-foot shots are played with the weight on the front foot (left foot for a
right-hander) and are usually played when the ball is pitched up to the batsman, while
back-foot shots are played putting the weight onto the back foot, usually to bowling that
is pitched short. Shots may also be described as vertical bat shots, in which the bat is
swung vertically at the ball (e.g. when playing a drive or leg glance), or horizontal or
cross-bat shots, in which the bat is swung horizontally at the ball (e.g. when playing the
pull or cut shot).

While a batsman is not limited in where or how he may hit the ball, the development of
good technique has gone hand in hand with the development of standard or orthodox
cricket shots played to specific types of deliveries. These "textbook" shots are standard
material found in many coaching manuals.

The advent of limited overs cricket, with its emphasis on rapid run-scoring, has led to
increasing use of unorthodox shots to hit the ball into gaps where there are no fielders.
Unorthodox shots are typically—but not always— more high-risk than orthodox shots
due to some aspects of good batting technique being abandoned.
Bill Woodfull's stance.

[edit] Stance

The stance is the position in which a batsman stands in order to have the ball bowled to
him. An ideal stance is "comfortable relaxed and balanced," with the feet 20 cm apart,
parallel and astride the crease. Additionally, the front shoulder should be pointing down
the wicket, the head facing the bowler, the weight equally balanced and the bat near the
back toe.[1]

Although this text-book, side-on stance is the most common, a few international batsmen,
such as Shivnarine Chanderpaul, use an "open" or "square on" stance.

[edit] Leave and block

The leave. Note the batsman's head focussed on where the ball had bounced. The bat and
hands are held well out of the way of the ball.

The leave is sometimes considered a cricket shot, even though the batsman physically
does not play at or interfere with the ball as it passes him. The leave is likely to be used
by batsmen during the first few balls they receive, to give themselves time to judge the
conditions of the pitch and the bowling before attempting to play a shot. Leaving a
delivery is a matter of judgement and technique. The batsman still has to watch the ball
closely to ensure that it will not hit him or the wicket; he also has to ensure that his bat
and hands are kept out of the path of the ball so that it cannot make accidental contact and
possibly lead to him being out caught.

Having taken a long stride, a batter blocks the ball with a forward defensive shot.

A block stroke is usually a purely defensive stroke designed to stop the ball from hitting
the wicket or the batsman's body. This shot has no strength behind it and is usually
played with a light or "soft" bottom-hand grip and merely stops the ball moving towards
the wicket. A block played on the front foot is known as a forward defensive, while that
played on the back foot is known as a backward defensive. The application of these
strokes may be used to score runs, by manipulating the block to move the ball into vacant
portions of the infield, in which case a block becomes a "push". Pushing the ball is one of
the more common ways batter's manipulate the strike.

Leaving and blocking are employed much more often in first-class cricket, as there is no
requirement to score runs as quickly as possible, thus allowing the batsman to choose
which deliveries to play at.

A batsman plays a cover drive off the front foot. Notice the stance of the batsman and
position of his hands, legs, body and head

[edit] Drive

A drive is a straight-batted shot, played by swinging the bat in a vertical arc through the
line of the ball, hitting the ball in front of the batsman along the ground. Depending on
the direction the ball travels, a drive can be a cover drive (struck towards the cover
fielding position, an off drive (towards mid-off), straight drive (past the bowler and
sometimes mid on), on drive (towards wide mid-on and mid wicket) or square drive
(towards point). Drives can be played both off the front and the back foot, but back-foot
drives are harder to force through the line of the ball.

A batsman plays a cut off the back foot. Note the balance and weight of the batsman is
on his back (right) leg.

[edit] Cut

A cut is a cross-batted shot played at a short-pitched ball, placing it wide on the off side.
The batsman makes contact with the ball as it draws alongside or passes him and
therefore requires virtually no effort on his part as he uses the bowler's pace to divert the
ball. A square cut is a shot hit into the off side at near to 90 degrees from the wicket
(towards point). A late cut, is played as or after the ball passes the batsman's body and is
hit towards third man. The cut shot is typically played off the back foot, but is also
sometimes played off the front foot against slower bowling. Apart from defensive
technique, the cut is typically considered the most important stroke a batsman must
master. The cut should be played with the face of the bat rolling over the ball to face the
ground thus pushing the ball downwards. A mistimed cut with an open-faced bat (with
the face of the bat facing the bowler) will generally lead to the ball rising in the air,
giving a chance for the batsman to be caught. Though purists will generally go for the
drive, the perfectly hit square cut is arguably the most beautiful shot in cricket.

[edit] Pull and hook

Ricky Ponting playing a pull shot.

A pull is a cross-batted shot played to a ball bouncing around waist height by swinging
the bat in a horizontal arc in front of the body, pulling it around to the leg side towards
mid-wicket or square leg. The term hook shot is used when the shot is played against a
ball bouncing at or above chest high to the batsman, the batsman thus "hooking" the ball
around behind square leg, either along the ground or in the air. Pull and hook shots can be
played off front or back foot, with back foot being more typical.

[edit] Leg glance

A leg glance is a delicate straight-batted shot played at a ball aimed slightly on the leg
side, using the bat to flick the ball as it passes the batsman, and require some wrist work
as well, deflecting towards the square leg or fine leg area. The stroke involves deflecting
the bat-face towards the leg side at the last moment, head and body moving inside the
line of the ball. This shot is played "off the toes, shins or hip". It is played off the front
foot if the ball is pitched up at the toes or shin of the batsman, or off the back foot if the
ball bounces at waist/hip height to the batsman.

[edit] Sweep

A sweep is a cross-batted front foot shot played to a low bouncing ball, usually from a
slow bowler, by kneeling on one knee, bringing the head down in line with the ball and
swinging the bat around in a horizontal arc near the pitch as the ball arrives, sweeping it
around to the leg side, typically towards square leg or fine leg.
Since a batsman is free to play any shot to any type of delivery as he wishes, the above
list is by no means the only type of strokes that batsmen choose to play. Many
unorthodox, typically high-risk, shots have been used throughout the history of the game.
The advent of limited overs cricket has seen the increased use of unorthodox shots to hit
the ball into gaps where there are no fielders placed. Unorthodox shots are rarely used in
first-class cricket as there is commonly no need to score runs that quickly that would
justify the extra risks taken.
A left-handed batsman plays a sweep shot.

A few unorthodox shots have gained enough popularity or notoriety to have been given
their own names and entered common usage.

[edit] Reverse sweep

A reverse sweep is a cross-batted sweep shot played in the opposite direction to the
standard sweep, thus instead of sweeping the ball to the leg side, it is swept to the off
side, towards backward point or third man. The batsman may also swap his hands on the
bat handle to make the stroke easier to execute. The batsman may also bring his back foot
to the front therefore making it more like a traditional sweep. The advantage of a reverse
sweep is that it effectively reverses the fielding positions and thus is very difficult to set a
field to.

It was first regularly played in the 1970s by the Pakistani batsman Mushtaq Mohammad,
though Mushtaq's brother Hanif Mohammad is sometimes credited as the inventor.
Cricket coach Bob Woolmer has been credited with popularising the stroke.[2][3]

Andy Flower of Zimbabwe was a prolific and proficient executor of this stroke. Damien
Martyn of Australia has been said to have "the most brutal reverse-sweep in the game".
However now a days the finest stroke maker of reverse sweep is England's batsman Eoin
Morgan. [4]

The most famous example of a reverse sweep backfiring was in the case of Mike Gatting
of England against Allan Border of Australia in the 1987 Cricket World Cup final. With
England on course for victory Gatting attempted a reverse sweep off the first delivery
bowled by Border, top-edged the ball and was caught by wicket-keeper Greg Dyer.
England subsequently lost momentum and eventually lost the match.

[edit] Slog and slog sweep

A slog is a powerful pull shot played over mid-wicket, usually hit in the air in an attempt
to score a six. A shot would be described as a slog when it is typically played at a
delivery that would not ordinarily be pulled. A slog is also called a cow shot or "cow
corner". The slog is an effective shot because all the batsman's power and body weight
can be put into swinging the bat at the ball.

A slog sweep is a slog played from the kneeling position used to sweep. Slog sweeps are
usually directed over square-leg rather than to mid-wicket. It is almost exclusively used
against reasonably full-pitched balls from slow bowlers, as only then does the batsman
have time to sight the length and adopt the kneeling position required for the slog sweep.
The front leg of the shot is usually placed wider outside leg stump to allow for a full
swing of the bat.

[edit] Switch hit

A switch hit is a shot pioneered by Kevin Pietersen in 2008, and first used during the
New Zealand series in England in 2008. In this shot, a batsman changes his handedness
and posture to adopt a stance the mirror image of his traditional handedness while the
bowler is running in to bowl. As a fielding team cannot manoevre fielders while the
bowler is in his run-up, the fielding side is effectively wrong-footed with the fielders out
of position. The legality of such a ploy was questioned during the series but the shot was
cleared by the International Cricket Council as legal. The shot is risky because a batsman
is less proficient in the other handedness and is more likely to make a mistake in the
execution of his shot.

[edit] Scoop

A "scoop" shot (also known as Paddle scoop or Marillier shot or Dilscoop) has been used
by a number of first-class batsmen, the first being Douglas Marillier. Firstly used in
international match by Srilankan batsman Tillekartne Dilshan (with great success).

It is played to short pitched straight ball that would traditionally be defended or, more
aggressively, pulled to the leg side - both shots "off the back foot". To play a scoop shot,
the batsman is on the front foot and aims to get beneath the bounce of the ball and hit it
directly behind the stumps, up and over the wicket keeper. This shot, though risky in the
execution, has the advantage of being aimed at a section of the field where a fielder is
very rarely placed - particularly in Twenty20 and ODI cricket where the number of
outfielders is limited.

[edit] Straight bat

Straight bat is the position of the bat, after it is driven and when the bat is perpendicular
to the ground at the point of impact with the ball so that the batsmen can play the ball
along the ground. The upper hand is used to achieve this.[5]
[edit] Strategy of batting
Strategies vary between the three forms of international cricket, T20, Test cricket and
One Day International cricket.

[edit] One-day international cricket

As One Day International matches have a limited set of overs, batsmen try to score
quickly. Scoring quickly means trying to score at least one run per ball bowled. Most
batsmen manage to score at an average of four runs an over (i.e. four runs in the six ball
over).

Before the ball reaches a batsman (left) the bat is held in a high backlift, before stepping
forward and swinging through for a forward drive (right).

When a team goes out to bat, the best players bat first. The first three batsmen (number 1,
2, 3) are known as the top order; the next four (numbers 4, 5, 6 and possibly 7) form the
middle order, and the last four (numbers 8, 9, 10 and 11) are the lower order or tail.

The specialist batsmen of a team usually bat near the top of the order, so as to score more
runs. The openers or opening batsmen are the first two batsmen to take the crease. They
are not necessarily the best batsmen, but are expected to negotiate the new ball and not
lose wickets until the shine on the ball is considerably diminished (a hard and shiny ball
bounces and swings more and is more difficult for the batsmen to face). In addition, they
are supposed to play a quick innings (more runs in fewer balls), reflecting the fact that the
fielding side is subject to restrictions on the placement of fielders in the first 15 overs
which makes it easier to score runs. In a recent amendment [1] to the rules of ODI
cricket, fielding captains are given mandatory fielding restrictions for the first 10 overs
and then two chunks of 5 overs each, also known as power-play overs, which they may
impose at any stage of their choice within the stipulated 50 overs.

Following the openers is the No. 3 or one-drop batsman. His job is to take over from the
openers and typically play a careful and prolonged innings, effectively tying up one end
of the batting. This brings in some stability in the batting, as new batsmen find it difficult
to settle down and it helps to have a settled batsman at the other end. The best batsman of
the team is usually put at number 3 or 4, to protect him from the difficulties of batting
against the best bowlers on a fresh pitch and to allow him to play a long innings.

The middle order is often considered the most valuable asset of a batting line-up in One-
Day Internationals, because its members are responsible for consolidating the batting
team's position through the middle part of the 50 overs. Characteristic of middle-order
batting is the practice of taking many singles (or ones) and 'twos', with only the
occasional boundary (a four or a six), as opposed to the more flamboyant openers who
score primarily in boundaries.

This is because the fielding restrictions on the opposition are lifted in the middle overs, so
that the percentage of boundaries scored decreases. Middle-order batsmen are often
chosen for the ability to run hard and fast between the wickets (to maximise the number
of runs not scored from boundaries) and for their endurance and patience. The middle
order typically sets the stage for an aggressive assault on the bowling in the final 10 overs
of the match. To achieve this assault, two things are necessary - a number of hard-hitting
batsmen yet to bat or not out and a number of wickets in hand (since aggression means a
greater likelihood of losing wickets). The last 10 overs of a one-day cricket match innings
is often the most exciting part of the innings, because of the large number of boundaries
scored and wickets taken. During the last ten overs of an ODI, batsmen often use shots
that are riskier than shots played at the beginning of the innings.

Examples of risky shots include the reverse sweep and the paddle-scoop. These shots are
used to achieve a boundary which would not be possible when playing a safer, more
orthodox shot. Finally, the lower order consists of the bowlers of the team, who are not
known for their batting prowess and so bat as low down the order as possible.

However, there are no real restrictions to the batting positions. Captains have been known
to experiment with the batting line-up to gain specific advantages. For example, a lower-
order batsman is sometimes sent in at number 3 with instructions to pinch-hit (playing
aggressively in an attempt to score more runs in fewer balls - a term borrowed from
baseball) to score quick runs and shield better players, as his wicket (as a less
accomplished lower-order batsman) is less valuable anyway.

[edit] Test cricket

In Test cricket, the usual aim is to score as high a total as possible. As the overs are
unlimited, a batsman can take his time to score runs. In general, 90 overs have to be
bowled per day in Test match cricket. The openers or the starting batsmen in Test cricket
are often chosen for their sound technique and ability to defend their wicket, because the
first 1–2 hours of an innings, especially if it begins in the morning, are usually
characterised by good conditions for bowling, specifically in terms of the pace and
bounce of the pitch and the lateral movement of the ball in the air.
The one-drop batsman is usually also chosen for his sound technique, so as to stabilise his
end in case an opener gets out. The middle order of a batting team in Test matches
usually includes its most skilled batsmen in terms of shot-playing ability, because during
the middle overs of a day batting is relatively easier than in the initial stages of the
innings. If the batting innings of a team begins after the last half hour of the day, the team
might employ a nightwatchman to bat after a batsman gets out.

The nightwatchman is usually a lower-order batsman, able to protect his wicket primarily
by defending dangerous balls and leaving non-dangerous ones rather than looking to
produce a large number of runs for his team, but not a complete rabbit, liable to expose
other batsmen late in a day. This move prevents a regular batsman from having to face
the last few overs left in the day or bat early the following morning; however, some
teams do not employ a nightwatchmen for various reasons, including a belief that middle-
order batsmen should be able to protect their wicket in poor conditions as well as good,
or a lack of defensively minded lower-order batsmen.

In the third innings, the batting team may score quickly to set a large target to the
opposition. This scenario usually occurs on the fourth day's play. The batting captain
decides how many overs he is prepared to allow the opposition to chase his total in their
fourth innings. He usually declares his team's innings at a predetermined time on the
fourth day so that the he can bowl at least 20 overs on that day and 90 overs on the last
day. A good number of overs to bowl at the opposition team in the fourth innings is
essential because usually on the fourth and fifth days of a Test match conditions are good
for bowling (especially slow bowling), with the pitch having experienced a fair degree of
wear and tear. Thus, to make the target as difficult as possible, the batting side speeds up
the run rate (runs per over) till the captain declares.

If, however, a batting team is significantly behind the opposition in terms of runs going
into the fourth day of a Test match, typical strategy by the batting team involves playing
defensively to avoid losing their wickets. This ensures that they occupy the most time
until the match draws to a close on the fifth day, because if a team's innings does not end
on the fifth day then the match is drawn, or a stalemate is reached. However, in trying to
do so, if the said batting team manages to overhaul its deficit and gain a substantial lead
(an excess of runs) over the opposition, the captain may consider declaring the innings so
that he can "force" a victory on the final day, depending on the size of his lead, the
readiness of his bowlers, and the state of the pitch.

The term "grip" is used for how a batsman holds his bat with his hands. It's actually one
of the most important factors in being a good batsman, as a correct and more
importantly comfortably viable grip can help him exploit a wide range of shots, with full
flair.

There are essentially two types of grips: (i) 'V' shaped grip and (ii) 'O' shaped grip, the
former being the more widely used. For the 'V' shaped grip, both hands are placed close
together, with the left hand on the top for a right-hander, and vice versa. Ideally, the top
hand should be held tighter than the bottom hand, whose back of the palm should face
the stumps or the wicket-keeper. Both the palms should create a 'V' shape in the straight
line running down the centre line of the back of the bat. This grip gives an easier
opportunity of pouncing on straight and vertical-batted strokes. The 'O' shaped grip on
the other hand helps in fluency of cross-batted shots, but as mentioned before isn't used
as proficiently as the 'V' shaped grip.

The positioning of the hands on the handle of the bat depends largely on batsman's
choice, however, leaving too much of the handle on the top, may hamper playing certain
drives, or cause wrist injuries in the long run.

Stance:

An ideal stance is one in which the entire weight of the batsman is distributed evenly on
the two legs. Often batsmen develop foot, knees and back injuries because of a faulty
stance, because of excessive load on either of those.

Starting with the leg position, the feet should be comfortably apart, neither too far nor too
close, with the weight distributed evenly on each, and no pressure on the heels or the
toes. The knees should be slightly bent, such that the weight is distributed uniformly
throughout the legs.

Moving up, the back position of critical importance, since bending it too much might
cause the weight to shift to it, and cause injurious troubles in the long run. The back
position thus should be such that it doesn't have to carry unnecessary load. The front
shoulder should be pointing straight down the pitch in the line of the stumps at the
opposite end, or Mid On, and the elbow not too stiff. The head should be still, and not tilt
on either side, with the eyes focusing straight and leveled.

The top hand should be resting on the front thigh, while the bat should be grounded
around the toes of the back foot. Alternatively though, modern-day Australian batsmen
ground their bats around the center of the space between the two feet, and from the
looks of how they have performed, it can be said that that method is definitely viable.

Back-Lift:

Like the grip and the stance, the back-lift has a few basics that need to be followed, but
minute adjustments should be made by the batsman, as per what suits him the best. A
major mistake that beginners especially make is lifting the bat either too late or with the
wrong orientation.

The bat should be lifted when the bowler is in action. A little delay and it become too late
to judge with what speed to bring it down to play the ball as per its speed. The bat
shouldn't be lifted either too straight, or pointing as far as the gully. It should slant
towards between the first and third slips, to get the best resultant balance. However,
when the bat is brought down to impact with the ball, it should come in a straight line.

The position of the hands is also of utmost importance. The bat should be lifted with the
top hand, while the elbow should bend, and not be positioned too far from the body.
Even while lifting the bat, the position of the eyes and head shouldn't alter, and should
be maintained in the straight line with the incoming bowler's hand.