Welcome to Batting
Key Essentials : Hall marks of good batsmen : Excellent Footwork - Getting to the pitch of the delivery, excellent transfer of weight into the shots. Good Judgement - Pick the delivery from the Hand of the Bowler and not after pitching, judging the line and length of the delivery as early as possible giving that extra bit of time to play their shots. Great batsmen are seldom hurried to in their shot making and have at least more than a shot for a particular delivery. Further their shot selection is excellent and they seldom play a fault stroke.
Block : Played with soft bottom hand grip, the intent is to keep the ball from popping up while play a defensive shot. Played either on front foot as a forward defensive or back foot as a backward defensive shot. Played initially by a batsman to get his eye in, judge the nature and pace of the wicket and get a feel of the conditions.
Cover Drive: This shot is played between point and cover region to a delivery pitched up, just fuller than good length, or a half volley. Leading with the front shoulder towards the line of the delivery, the front foot should reach the pitch of the delivery followed by leaning in to the drive, by bringing in the bat down, all the time watching the bat hit the sweet spot of the bat with the front elbow as straight as possible. Key is to keep the bat straight and not angled on the follow thru and keeping the ball grounded at all times. Playing the shot early leads to hitting the ball in the air. The timing needs to be perfect. Be careful with the bottom hand as too much use of bottom hand tends to angling of the bat. Observe Mahela Jayawardene play this shot. When the same shot is played with and open stance and open shoulder position between the Cover and Extra Cover it is termed as Extra Cover Drive.
Square Drive: This shot is played between the Point and Gully area to a delivery pitched up around or slightly wide of off stump. With a high back lift and balanced head lean forward to get to the pitch of delivery, meet the ball with the sweet spot of the bat and follow through square of the wicket on the off side towards the point region. Keep the elbow straight and watch the delivery at all times particularly as it meets the bat. If the delivery is much fuller the same shot could be played of the back foot. If the ball is pitched in short its better to play a cut rather than drive.
Straight Drive: This shot is played back at the bowler to a full length delivery pitched up on and around the off stump. Key is to watch the delivery from the bowlers hand, positioning the front foot in line of the delivery meeting the pitch of the delivery as close as possible (proper weight transfer to front foot), leaning in to the drive watching the ball making contact with the bat and follow through with full face of the bat with elbow straight. Head should be level and still at the time of contact and on follow thru. Focus should be on timing and not hitting the ball too hard. Top hand is used for the control of the shot while the bottom hand guides the straightness of the shot. Watch and keenly Observe Sachin Tendulkar playing Straight Drive.
Off Drive: This shot is played towards the Mid Off region to a ball pitched on and around off stump. Key is to launch yourself into the drive, proper transfer of weight to the front foot reaching the pitch of the delivery with a high backlift meeting the delivery with full face of the bat, watching the ball all the times and follow thru with straight elbow in the direction of the shot played -Mid Off region. Always keep the head and the eyes steady and bat straight all times, avoid too much bottom hand to prevent the ball lobbing up. If you are a left hander watch Ganguly play the Off Drive.
On Drive: One of the most difficult shots to perfect in Cricket. Played towards Mid On to a ball pitched around middle and leg. One of the high risk shots as missing the shot invariably would assure a leg before decision most of the times. Key is to lean into the drive, proper transfer of weight while reaching the pitch of the delivery, keeping the head still at time of contact and follow through with straight face of the bat towards the mid on region. Many wristy players have a tendency to whip the ball even from around the off stump relying on hand eye co-ordination, but success in seaming conditions with quality bowlers is limited while indulging in risky shot making.Exponents: Dravid, Kevin Peterson.
Square Cut: Played to a rising delivery towards point, gully region. When the delivery is short and pitched wide of off stump good batsmen have a tendency to free their arms and play ferocious cut shots square of the wicket. Key is to roll the wrists at the point of contact to keep the ball down and avoid being caught in the point, gully region. Meet the ball alongside as it passes through, early movement back and across to get into proper position, good bat speed is generated by the free swing of the arms. Quality back foot players are extremely proficient at this shot. Graham Thorpe, Vishy (G.Vishwanath), Sehwag.
Sweep : Played to full length delivery bowled by spinners behind square leg, deep midwicket. Key is bending the front leg to meet the pitch of the delivery, while the hind leg is positioned on the floor, keeping the head and eyes steady and with a high backswing directing the ball towards the square leg, midwicket region always watching the delivery from the bowlers hand, to the time of contact and on follow through after the shot. Prior to getting in to the shot proper judgement of spin, flight and length of delivery is essential. Key Exponent: Graham Gooch.
Hook shot : Played to a rising delivery on/ around middle / leg stump at shoulder height. Key essentials to play this shot properly are knowing the field placement, back and across shuffle to get into proper position, change of stance to open chested, excellent contact near the chest region watching the delivery at time of contact, excellent swing of the bat, follow thru in direction of deep mid wicket. Key is not to get into the trap and get carried away in playing this shot when both Deep Midwicket and Fine Leg is in position. Key Exponents: Viv Richards, Sobers, Mohinder Amarnath.
Pull Shot : One of the few cross batted shots in cricket. Played to deep midwicket and deep square leg region to deliveries pitched around middle and leg and rising to waist high. This shot is much easier to control when compared to hook shot. Shot is played with an extended free swing in front of square. Key prerequisites are to get in to position quickly with the initial shuffle back and across (see lara in action), still head at point of contact, excellent hand eye coordination, good judgement of bounce of the pitch. Key Exponents : Brain Lara, Sehwag.
