Batting!
The more runs the team scores, the more chance you have of winning. More often than not, everyone in the team will be required to bat in a game. Often it isn't enough to be able to 'slog' the ball a long way, you need to have a high amount of skill and patience to become a good batsman. Generally you only get one chance as a batsman... , so don't throw it away. It's much more fun out at the wicket scoring a hundred than sitting back in the pavilion watching somebody else do it.
There are many tactics involved in forming a good score:
• Knowing which ball to play - sometimes you have to accept the bowler has bowled a good ball.
• Having a good understanding with your batting partner.
• Being able to run well between the wickets.
• Playing positive, good cricket stokes with excellent technique.
These techniques are described below. You will see that all the batting images show a right-handed batsman. If you are a left-handed batsman you will adjust grip and stance accordingly. If you need help with this then please ask one of the coaching team to demonstrate for you.
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• Batting Grip
• Batting Stance
• Backswing
• The Straight Drive
• The Forward Defensive
• The Back-Foot Drive
• The Backward Defensive
• The Pull Shot
• The Square Cut
• Hitting Full Pitch to Leg
1. Batting Grip
Introduction :
All successful stokes start with an effective grip. To be able to play all the batting strokes you need to be holding the bat correctly.
Coaching Points:
• With your Top Hand wrap your fingers and thumb around the top of the bat as shown in the picture. Your thumb and fore-finger should make a "V" shape pointing down the back of the bat, roughly between the centre ('splice') and the outside edge of the bat.
• Next, place your Bottom Hand on the bat underneath the top Hand. Both hands should be next to each other on the bat.
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2. Batting Stance
Introduction :
Your stance at the batting crease will enable you to play an effective cricket shot.
Coaching Points:
• Your stance should be relaxed. Start with your feet, They should be around a shoulder width apart and parallel to the batting crease.
• Your top hand should rest gently against the inside thigh of your front leg.
• Your knees should be slightly flexed and the weight evenly distributed. Therefore you should not have the weight going either backwards or forwards at this time.
• Notice the relaxed balanced stance of the batsman in the picture. His eyes are level and over the line of his toes.
3. Backswing
Introduction :
These images show you again how you should stand in the crease. You may find it comfortable to 'tap' your bat in the crease as you prepare for the ball to be delivered.
Coaching Points:
• Stance and Bat Tap - The bat 'tap' should only mean that your wrists and arms move.
• Stance and Bat Tap - When in your stance you should always ensure that it is your Top Hand that is in control of the bat.
• Stance and Bat Tap - Your bat handle should remain close to the body, in line with the underneath of your shoulders.
• Backswing - When you take your backswing your front shoulder should roll downwards.
• Backswing - As with other stokes that you'll play, a figure "9" is created with the bat and arms of the batsman in the middle image on the left. Do you see? If you are unsure, please ask one of the coaches.
• Backswing - Your hands should be close to your back hip with the bat handle still close to your body.
• Backswing and Step - Your backswing and step should be a co-ordinated movement.
• Backswing and Step - Whether you are playing a 'back-foot' shot or a 'front-foot' stroke, your stride should be comfortable and balanced.
• Backswing and Step - The movement in your stride should be smooth and your head should be in line with the ball that is bowled.
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4. The Straight Drive
Introduction :
This shot is an attacking stoke played to a full length straight delivery. While executing the stroke the ball should be played back past the bowler.
Coaching Points:
• As with all the shots described here, this shot starts with a relaxed balanced stance. Your head should be still and your eyes level.
• Take your backswing and step forward in one motion as described above. Your front shoulder should dip as you take the backswing.
• Take a comfortable stride forward, creating a firm base with the front knee bent.
• You will notice from these images that the batsman's elbow is bent, pointing towards where the ball is being delivered from, and remains bent through the shot. Also, on impact with the ball, his head is over the ball, giving him the best possible chance of hitting the ball correctly.
• Look carefully at the 4th image on the left. The shoulders have rotated vertically as the batsman accelerates the bat towards the ball. He has created a figure "9" with his bat and arms by keeping the front elbow nice and high through out the shot.
• On playing the shot, follow through line of the ball with the bat and maintain your balance throughout. This will ensure both a good technique is sustained and that the ball travels in the direction intended.
• The bat should finish as illustrated, around the side of your head.
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5. The Forward Defensive
Introduction :
This shot is played to a ball of a good length or slightly fuller. If this defensive stoke is not played the ball would otherwise hit, or pass very close to the stumps.
Coaching Points:
• Remember to start with a relaxed balanced stance. Your head should be still and your eyes level.
• Take your backswing and step forward in one motion as described above. Your front shoulder should dip as you take the backswing.
• Take a comfortable stride forward, creating a firm base with the front knee bent.
• You will notice from these images that the batsman's elbow is bent, pointing towards where the ball is being delivered from, and remains bent through the shot. Also, on impact with the ball, his head is over the ball, giving him the best possible chance of hitting the ball correctly.
• The shoulders should rotate vertically as the batsman begins the downswing and the bat decelerates the bat towards the ball.
• Look carefully at the 4th image on the left, the batsman has created a figure "9" with his bat and arms by keeping the front elbow nice and high through out the shot.
• The finishing position shows the back heel raised and the Bottom Hand should be relaxed. You should also still be balanced.
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6. The Back-Foot Drive
Introduction :
This is an attacking stroke played to a shorter-pitched ball that would reach above stump high. You would aim to play this shot between the areas of Mid-on and Cover.
Coaching Points:
• Remember to start with a relaxed balanced stance. Your head should be still and your eyes level.
• Take your backswing and a comfortable step backward, with your back leg, in one motion. Your front shoulder should dip as you take the backswing.
• Create a firm base. Whilst this is a back foot shot, your weight should still be going slightly forward.
• You will notice from these images that the batsman's elbow is bent, pointing towards where the ball is being delivered from, and remains bent through the shot. Also, on impact with the ball, his head remains in line with the ball, giving him the best possible chance of hitting the ball correctly.
• Look carefully at the 4th image on the left. The shoulders have rotated vertically as the batsman accelerates the bat towards the ball. He has created a figure "9" with his bat and arms by keeping the front elbow nice and high through out the shot.
• On playing the shot, follow through line of the ball with the bat and maintain your balance throughout. This will ensure both a good technique is sustained and that the ball travels in the direction intended.
• The bat should finish as illustrated, with a high finish, out in front of your body.
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7. The Backward Defensive
Introduction :
This shot is played to a ball of a good length or slightly shorter. If this defensive stoke is not played the ball would otherwise hit, or pass over the top of the stumps.
Coaching Points:
• Remember to start with a relaxed balanced stance. Your head should be still and your eyes level.
• Take your backswing and step backwards in one motion as described above. Your front shoulder should dip as you take the backswing.
• Take a comfortable stride backwards; creating a firm base, your weight should be slightly forward.
• You will notice from these images that the batsman's elbow is bent, pointing towards where the ball is being delivered from, and remains bent through the shot. Also, on impact with the ball, his head is in line with the ball, giving him the best possible chance of hitting the ball correctly.
• The shoulders should rotate vertically as the batsman begins the downswing and the bat decelerates towards the ball.
• Look carefully at the 4th image on the left, the batsman has created a figure "9" with his bat and arms by keeping the front elbow nice and high through out the shot.
• Contact with the ball is made with the full face of the bat under the eyes of the batsman. You should maintain a relaxed bottom hand with this shot and finish the shot as illustrated.
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8. The Pull Shot
Introduction :
This is a cross-batted, attacking back-foot stoke played to a short delivery which is usually passing above the leg stump. The version shown in these illustrations would be played against slow bowing - for faster bowling you may not have enough time to incorporate all the foot movements shown, but the position of the bat should be achievable.
Coaching Points:
• Remember to start with a relaxed balanced stance. Your head should be still and your eyes level
• Take your backswing and step backwards.
• Your back foot should go towards the slips and your front foot back towards the leg side of the stumps.
• Your body should now be in a front-on position, facing back down towards the bowler.
• In playing the shot you should have a firm base. The shoulders rotate horizontally accelerating to contact with the ball.
• You should make contact with the ball out in front of you body and hit the ball from a high position to a low position. This will ensure the ball travels along the ground, rather than in the air, giving the fielding side a possible catching opportunity.
• Your bat should follow through a natural line, but ensure you maintain your balance.
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9. The Square Cut
Introduction :
This shot is an attacking back foot stroke, usually played to a short pitched ball and should be hit square of the wicket on the off-side.
Coaching Points:
• Remember to start with a relaxed balanced stance. Your head should be still and your eyes level.
• Take your backswing and a comfortable step backwards, with your back leg, in one motion.
• You should establish a firm base with your weight on your back leg.
• With this shot your shoulders should rotate towards the offside.
• Your shoulders then rotate horizontally as you accelerate the bat towards the ball.
• As with the Pull Shot, this is a cross-batted shot. You should therefore hit with a high to low action, ensuring that the ball is hit downwards to prevent a possible catching opportunity.
• Your bat should follow through a natural line, but ensure you maintain your balance.
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10. Hitting Full Pitch to Leg
Introduction :
This is a popular shot in junior cricket due to the varying line and length of the bowling you may face. This shot is again a cross batted attacking front foot stroke, played to a high full-pitched delivery.
Coaching Points:
• Remember to start with a relaxed balanced stance. Your head should be still and your eyes level.
• Take your backswing and a comfortable step forwards, with your front leg, in one motion. Your front leg should go towards the line of the ball.
• You should establish a firm base with your weight on your front leg.
• You should take a reasonably high backswing.
• Your shoulders then rotate horizontally as you accelerate the bat towards the ball. The ball should be played out in front of the body.
• As with the Pull Shot, this is a cross-batted shot. You should therefore hit with a high to low action, ensuring that the ball is hit downwards to prevent a possible catching opportunity.
• Your bat should follow through a natural line, but ensure you maintain your balance.
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Buzz Words to Remember
• Top Hand: Your top hand is the hand placed on the bat at the top of the bat handle. If you are right-handed, this will be your LEFT hand. If you are left-handed, then your RIGHT hand will be at the top of the bat.
• Bottom Hand: Your bottom hand is the hand placed on the bat underneath your top hand on the bat handle. If you are right-handed, this will be your RIGHT hand. If you are left-handed, then your LEFT hand will be on the bottom.
• Line of the Ball: You will hear the expression hit through the line of the ball - this usually applies to a shot hit in the arc between mid-on and cover point. It applies to the shots played with a vertical bat, where the shoulders rotate vertically.
• Batting Crease: This is also known as the popping crease. It is the line from which you bat from in front of the stumps.
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