The Skills Ay is oymt) 4) Ea g Law 18 The whole idea of cricket is to score more runs than the opposition. But, you cant do that if you are back in the pavilion Itis important that a batsman's game is built around a solid defence and technical proficiency. No player has all the shots, but he should be able to handle deliveries that test his weaker ‘areas safely. And, a good technique will give him a greater chance of survival on difficult or deteriorating pitches. Abatsman must also develop the ability to identity and remember the gaps in the field so thet he can work the ball for a single. This rotates the strike, particularly for a more talented or in-form pariner, and keeps the scoreboard ticking. Good batting does not require immense power. Indeed, most of history's greatest batsmen have been smail of stature. Balls are hit most effectively with exquisite timing based around good footwork. The following pages address conventional shot-making, but a player is encouraged to improvise as this can upset bowlers’ lines, and prove most effective in the shorter forms of the game. However, even in 720, you have fo keep ihe good balls out, and a sound technique provides the right foundation for success The aimis to hit the ball with the meat (sweet spots) located in the area 10 cm below the splice to 10 cm from the toe of the bat. So, thisis an area approximately 20 to 23 cm by Sem, and it pays to practise often to sharpen the eye. Introduction 3 30,000 runs at international level: Sachin Tendulkar Even failenders should be encouraged to improve their batting. You may consider employing a "buddy" system in which they are paired with a specialist batsman for one-on-one attention at practice and other times. +, you can't make runs in the pavilion3. THE SKILLS - Batting Grip A proper gtip is essential tor power and control on both sides of the wicket, and is not unlike that used to wield an axe. The simplest way to discover the correct grip is to lay the bat on the ground with the handle pointing towards the fee, then pick it up with both hands. The Vs formed by the thumb and forefinger of each hand should be aligned towards the outside edge of the splice of the bat. The knuckle of the index finger of the lop hand will be aligned with the outside edge of the bat, and the back of the hand will foce extra cover. The hands should be close together in the middle of the handle so they act as a single pivot point. ... dlign the Vees Guard A baisman takes guard when he arrives at the crease so that he will know where the stumps are, and can protect them while bating. Most players lake cenire. The batsman should place his bat vertically on the Popping crease, side-on with the face pointing away from him. The umpire will direct him te shift the bat until it is cligned between the middle stumps at both ends. The batsman will then mark the spot with his sprigs, or chalk in the case of an artificial pitch. Two other popular guards are leg stump (the line between the umpire’s middle stump and the batsman's leg stump) and two legs (the line from the umpire’s middle stump to between the batsman's middie and leg stumps}. Some batsmen are more comfortable with these | ios one Team quards as they know that a ball hitfing their pads in oe cont their normal stance will miss leg stump. Cricket Coaching Indiamn 4) Sieg Law 35 Bopaing cease Stance The batsman must start in the best position to play his strokes efficiently with minimal movement. He should stand side-on in a comfortable, upright position with his head and front shoulder facing the bower for optimal vision. is feet should be shouler-width apart, paral! to, and either side of, the popping crease. [He should tum his body approximately five degrees to the left if the bowler goes around the wicket or for a left- ‘orm bowler over the wicket.) His knees should be slightly flexed, with the weight evenly balanced on the balls of his feet. His head should be still and eyes level ina line vertically above the toes. His top hand will rest comfortably against the inside of his front thigh, and the bottom of the bot behind the little toe of his back foot. Some players prefer to be "pre-loadec"’ with the bat raised into the backlift as it helps them to keep their eyes level ‘The rear knee should not impede tne backlift, and his shirt should be tucked in so thot it does not get caught in the hondie. ... a side-on game Cricket Coaching India Qo i lhRM fey cme Pests Phases Backiift ye As the bowler reaches the bowling crease, the bat is lifted in ’ re preparation for the backswing, The hands are kept in close to the body, with the grip of the bottom hand relaxed As the bowler delivers the ball, the bat is taken back above the height of the stumps in a direction between wicketkeeper and second sip. The wrists are cocked, wilh the !op hand gripping the handle firmly. The last three fingers and palm of the bottom hand come off the handle by the top of the backswing. The front shoulder is dipped during the backift in such a way that both shoulders and the bat handle are in ine with the anticipated contact point for maximum control, force and stability Foot, shoulders, arms and bat move simultaneously as a unit, in the same plane, the body balances, with the weight on the ball of the foot. Downswing Whether playing forward (to a full delivery) or back to a short ball the step must be completed before the downswing starts. This establishes ai stable base for efficient transfer of weight, facilitating greater control and power. The batsman's centre of gravity is inside this base. The body parts move from largest (hips, shoulders) to smallest (arms, hands) in the direction of the target (the ball). The shoulders rotate, then stabilise, and the wrists un-cock, Bat speed increases just prior to impact for an attacking shot, and decreases for a defensive shot. Impact Feet remain stable, and bat makes contact at an angle of 90 degrees to the target, swinging in that direction for as long as possible [attacking shot). The ball should be struck with the {ull face of the bat which, at 10.8 cm, is half as wide again as the ball, whose diameter is 7 cm. Follow-through After impact, the hands release anc the bat continues along the line of the target, sometimes finishing over the shoulder for an attacking shot. The fee! should remain grounded to stabilise the body through the stroke, Cricket Coaching India a dA a i3. THE SKILLS - Batting FRONT-FOOT Front-foot shots are played to deliveries that arrive on the full, the half-volley or on ¢ good length. By moving forward, the batsman is able te negate unpredictable bounce and lateral movement. All shots bar the sweep are played with a vertical bat. This ensures that the batsman gives himself every chance of being able to make contact with a ball that either keeps low. or bounces higher than expected. This is particularly important when {he ball is on the stumps. The blade of a standard, full-sized bat measures approximately 86 cm. So, in effect, itis eight times the height (diameter) of the ball (7 cm.) Forward Defence This shot is generally played to a good-length delivery on the stumps, particularly early in a batsman's innings, or on ‘an unpredictable pitch The phases of batting descrioed previously are observed. and the batsman moves his front foot forward to a position slightly inside the line of the ball. The body weight is transferred into the front foot through a bent front knee which also brings the head down over the ball. At the top of the backswing, the shoulders rotate vertically, ‘and the bat accelerates before decelerating just prior to contact under the eyes. The head should be stil, eyes on the ball. The ball makes contact with the full face of an angled bat which is kept close to andiin front of the pad. While the hands are forward of the pad, it isimportant to let the ball come to you, not push at it. The heel of the back foot wil lif to allow the bady weight to move forward. Bul, the back foot liself should not move as the back leg straightens Ahigh top elbow. the bat, and a relaxed botiom hand will form a figure 9 os the top hand controls the shot. ... Close the gate Cricket Coaching india © A a AuL 3. THE SKILLS - Batting Drives + Shaight bactlt + Front foo These shots are an extension of frontfoot defence, and are played to fulength deliveries in on arc between mid-on and cover. depending on their line. A batsman is advised to play in the Vee between mid-on and mid-off early in his innings. For the drive, the bat accelerates through the point of contact, and the player follows through in the intended direction of the ball. The drive to succeed: Rehul Dravid © inside line of ball * Follow through with full face of bat The arms are fully extended, and the front elbow, hands and bat usually finish high, although a “check” follow-through is often employed. The step towards the line of the ball is crucial, and there is a subtle difference where the on-crive Is concerned. This is played to a fulHength delivery on or around leg stump, and the stride is shorter. The toes paint to mid-off, and the front foot remains in a line with leg stump. As with all drives, itis important that the batsman “stands tall", and that the back leg does not collapse Drives may be lofted to clear the infield or the boundary, in which case the ball is struck slightly earlier. with the body weight remaining just behind the point of contact. Cricket Coaching India3. THE SKILLS - Batting Moving Out to Drive rE pene = Crossover step, When batting against slower bowling, a player may decide to leave his crease and advance towards the deiivery to create a different length. This will open up more scoring opportunities But, it must be planned in advance ond movement loft until the last moment so that the bowler cannot adjust his delivery. Using either a crossover step (back foot behind the front foot] or “click” (where the two feet meet in the same plane), the Down the track: Virender Sehwag, pas * To the pitch of the ball ne * Head steady throughout batsman makes two quick, long strides towards the delivery its vital that the head remain steady and the eyes level throughout, as the batsman advances towards the appropriate line. He should also be prepared to defend {even get back in his crease] should the bowler see him coming and make effective adjustments to the delivery. Cricket Coaching India e‘= Contact in line with front leg '* Wrists turned on contact ‘+ Body remains upright This shot is an extension of the on-drive, played in ine with the front leg, to a similar delivery. By luring the face of ihe bat at point of impact, the batsman uses the pace of the ball to tun it behind square leg. by memorising the gaps in the field, and turning the wris's appropriately, the batsman is able to open up more scoring opportunities from this mis-directed, full delivery. But, itis vital he remain upright, head steady and eyes level, and not fall inside the line of the ball Itis clso important to meet the delivery with the full face of the bat, and not turn the wrists prematurely. ‘+ Bat comes from high to low © Bat horizontal ct contact + Wrists rolled The sweep shot is played most safely and effectively to off-spin bowling, and opens up scoring opportunities from a good-lengih delivery. The front foot will move in line with middle and leg stumps. with the bat coming from high to low, and horizontal at impect. The wrists are rolled, and the ball is played into a gap behind square leg. The sweep is a risky shot when played against the spin and / or on a wearing pitch with variable bounce. & Cricket Coaching IndiaPME sc Men Pen BACK-FOOT Back-foot shots are played fo deliveries that are short of a good length. They are played with either a vertical or horizontal bat, depending on the fine There is only one movement for all back-foot shots - back foot back and across fowards off- stump - although the direction in which the toes point will vary according fo the shot. Law 35 Defence This stroke is played to a delivery short of a good length, bouncing usually above the knee and below the chest, and in line with the stumps. The back foot is usually parallel with the crease to allow the body to remain side-on, although the important thing is that the shoulders do not open too much. When the back foot is stable, the body weight is transforred onto the balls of the foot, and the front foot acts merely as a balancing agent. The head remains steady, slighily in front of the back leg, eyes level and fixed on the ball. As with forward defence, the bal decelerates in the downswing beside the rear hip just before the ball arrives. + Level eyes fixed on ball The ball should contact the full face of an angied bal just in front of the body beneath the eyes. Again, the grip is soft, with the top hand in control, and a side-on view of the stroke reveals a figure 9 formation similer to that made in forward defence. Good use of the crease will cllow the batsman to counter a sharply rising ball, but he should be careful not to disturb the stumps with either his bat or back foot. ... use the crease + Contact beneath the eyes Cricket Coaching India ©+ Back foot towards off.stump ‘© Fyos behind line of ball ‘¢ Follow through with full face of bat This is the attacking version of back-foot defence, played to a short delivery pitched on the stumps (or just outside off-stump) and bouncing between knee and waist-high. This time, the bat accelerates through the point of contact, and stays on line with the shot, finishing high. The shot can be played anywhere in an arc between mid-on and cover. Leg Glance + Back foot points down pitch + Frontfoot withdraws Wrists tuned on contact This shot will be played to a delivery short of a good length pitched on middle and / or leg stump, with the body chest-on. Instead of being parallel to the crease, the back foot points down the pitch, and the front foot. rather than sliding back, actually withdraws to “access” the shot. The wrists are turned as the ball meets the full face of the bat, and the back foot pivots slightly as the ballis directed into a gap behind square lea @ Cricket Coaching India3. THE SKILLS - Batting Square cut ‘Follow through above shoulder This is an altacking horizontal siroke played fo a short delivery bauncing between knee uni a cy iF My Hy pa ls Cut above the rest: Sourav Gonguly Cricket Coaching India * Arms fully extended * Back foot to off.stump. ‘and chest height outside the off stump. Alarge step is taken, and the back leg flexed. The back foot stabilises parallel to the crease, and the body weight transfered onto it The hands and front elbow are high and kept close to the body as the bat is taken back above the anticipated height of the bounce. The wrists are cocked, and the front shoulder tumed towards point. As the ball draws level with the back leg, the shoulders are rotated powerfully away from the ball The bat accelerates down horizontally, ond contact is made with the arms fully extended. The wrists are rolled as balance is maintained over the back foot, and the ball Is struck towards point. The hands and bat follow through to finish ‘above the front shoulderTHE SKILLS - Batting Pull is an attacking horizontal stroke played 0 a full loss or short delivery pitched on or around leg stump and reaching the batsman between knee and chest height. Again, a decisive step is taken back and acres towards the off slump, but the back foot points straight down the pitch. The front leg withdraws to the leg side as the back foot pivots, and the head remains slightly forward of the base and in line with the boll. The bat has been taken back above the: ‘* Head in line with the ball * Body pivots in follow through anticipated height of the bounce, the hands in close to the body and the wrists cocked. The shoulders are now rotated, and the bat accelerated horizontally down and across. As always, the eyes remain fixed on the ball throughout, and contact is made in front of the body with the arms fully extended. The wrists are rolled as the ballis struck in the direction of mid-wicket, and the bai follows through naturally. Hook to control. + Body inside ine of ball This shot is similar to the pull, but is played to a delivery bouncing between chest and head, Itinvolves striking the ball close to its opex and is, therefore, harder The hook is played with the body inside the line of the ball which is usually struck towards fine leg Cricket Coaching India