a good grip of the bat is essential

8/6/2019 A Good Grip of the Bat is Essential

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A good grip of the bat is essential. The hands control the swing of the bat and deliver the final hit.

1. Take the bat in the right hand with the hand behind thehandle the bat making sure the face of the bat is square on.

2. Back view, right hand grip. The hand behind the handle of the

bat, thumb and fingers giving a firm grip.

3.The left hand placed on the handle of the bat, palm of the handthumb and fingers gripping. The back of the hand towards the mThe face of the right towards the bowler.



3. The hands are forward, angling the bat with the left hand close up to the left leg. The toe of the bat is by thetoe of the back foot and just behind it.

4. Close up of the position of the hands. The left hand isagainst the left leg, the right arm slightly bent.



1. The bat commences the pickup both hands taking the bat

back towards the stumps, both wrists cocking and armsbeginning to bend. The head and shoulders do not move.The balance of the body is retained.

2. The left arm is only slightly bent. The bent right arm beginsto go past the right side of the body. The right hand is nowslightly open. The cocking of the wrist movement isbeginning to turn the blade of the bat from the square onposition. Both legs slightly bent to hold the balance.

3. The bat has gone up to the normal pick up position, left armstill slightly bent. Both wrists cocked, the right arm sliding pastthe right hand side of the body.

4. The head is steady. The eye line is past the left shoulder lookingfor the ball in the air from the bowler’s hand.



5.The high pick up for the attacking shot when a full swing of thebat is necessary. The hands have continued to take the bat up.Both wrists are cocked. Both arms are bent, right arm sliding pastthe right side. The face of the bat square on to the off side. Headsteady, eyes looking for the ball in the bowler’s hand.

The forward defensive shot is played to the ball just short of the half volley, which is pitchedin line with the stumps, or ball pitching off the line of the stumps and deviating towards them.

1. For any front foot shot, the foot goes forward to the ball pitching inline with the stumps. The left foot goes forward and alongside the line of the on coming ball.Come up on thetoes of the right foot, let the body balance go forward on to the frontleg. Both legs areslightly bent. The head does not move. The eyes follow the ball in itsflight down the pitch

for as long as possible.

2. From the normal pick up, the eyes watch theball coming down. Both wrists and arms arebent.



3. The left foot has gone forward simultaneously, the bat starts its downswing towards the ball. The left shoulder faces the line of the ball. Bothwrists are fully cocked, the right hand opening slightly but gripped firmlywith fingers and thumb. Up on the toes of the back foot, which assists theweight to go forward on to the left leg.

4. The bat is half way in the down swing

towards the ball. The face of the bat has come square on tomeet the ball.Both arms are slightly bent. The head steady.Eyes lookover the hands towards the pitch of the ball.

5. The ball is played. The left hand has gone well in front of the right. The trunk learning forward and over the front leg. The righthand isbehind the handle and relaxed. The left leg is slightly bent.The eyesfollow the ball, past the hands.

6. Back view of the same position. The righthand isrelaxed. A firm grip with the left hand. Theanglingof the bat is plainly seen.



7. Now the view from the front. The body weight goes well forwardover the left leg. The left hand in front of the right. Right handbehind the handle of the bat.

8. The finish of the shot. The ball is pushed away with thebat in theupright position. The left hand is still in front position. The lefthand is

still in front of the right hand. The head is steady, the eyeswatchingthe ball past the hands. The ball goes off the bat, which isfollowingthrough after it has played the ball. The follow through willbe short, amatter of inches, the bat staying upright. The eyes follow theball off the bat.

When the ball pitches short of a length and is on the wicket, the batsman must walk backwards to

give himself more time and room to play the shot. By walking backwards, say a couple of feet,

he makes the ball relatively that much shorter. The aim of the defensive shot is to keep the

ball out by bringing the face of the bat square on to play the ball.

1.The eyes watch the ball about to pitch. The right foot goes back towards the middle stumpthe right let is braced to take the weight. The left side is towards the ball. Up on the toes of the front foot which is about to come back towards the right foot.



2. The left foot comes back towards the braced right let, andsimultaneously the bat begins it down swing. The leftshoulder is still sideways on. The eyes watch the ballcoming down the pitch. The wrists are still cocked and thearms bent. The face of the bat is to the off side.

3. The hands bring the bat down to meet the ball with the face in the square on positiontowards the ball. The right arm hugs the right side. The right hand is behind the bat handle.The shoulders are beginning to open. The forehead about to face the ball.

4. The completed shot. Weight on the braced right let. The right armslides past the right side. The right hand relaxed behind the handle of the bat. Up on the toes of the front foot. The left shoulder and left elbowhigh. The left hand in front of the right, angling the bat to play the balldown. The ball is played as close to the body and as late in its flight aspossible. The head is steady, the eyes follow the ball for as long as theycan towards the face of the bat.

5. Don’t look down at the back of the bat when playing the ball, otherwise the right shoulderwill drop and the flight of the ball towards the bat will be lost.



6. Don’t go back with both feet pointing up the wicket, if the bat is notto come down across the line of the ball resulting in either an edgedshot to the slips or a complete miss.

7. Don’t play back and take the hands away from the body in an attempt to play the ball, otherwise agap is left between bat and pads through which the ball can pass to hit the stumps.

The shot is played to the ball pitching short of a length in the line of the stumps and swing away towards the off side

1. The first move must be made with the object of getting the face of the bat behind the line of thestumps. The right foot goes back towards the off stump. The shoulders sideways on. The weight is onthe back leg. The bat goes up to the higher pick up position, travelling up to a line over middle and legstumps. The eye line goes past the left shoulder, following the on coming ball.



2. Same as No. 1 from the back view. The head is steady. Th4 eyes is past

left shoulder. Both arms are bent. The right arm slides past the right side.Both wrists are cocked. The bat goes over a line of the middle and legstumps. Right leg is braced.

3. The ball is about to be played. The left foot has travelled back to the right foot simultaneouslywith the commencement of the down swing of the bat. The left foot points towards extra cover position, opening the stance. The hips open slightly, but the left shoulder stays sideways on. Theright arm well in to the right side, both wrists uncocking. The left elbow is bent. Balance of the bodyon the right leg. Eyes watch the ball coming up off the pitch past the left elbow.

4.The ball is played. Hips and shoulders open as the hands take the bat outto meet the ball with the face of the bat, which is square on to the out swingline of the ball. The right arm hugs the right side. The lips have openedmore than the shoulders, the forward thrust of the right arm close to thebody opens the shoulders, but the left hand leading the bat to keep itangled down stops the shoulders from opening as much as the hips. Thebalance of the body is retained on the braced right leg. Eyes follow the ballas far as possible off the pitch towards the bat.



5. Finish of the shot. The ball goes off the face of the bat towards the off side. The bat goes out asthe ball is pushed away. Eyes follow the ball off the bat.

6. Do not go back with the back foot towards middle and leg stumps. A gapis left between bat an pads, the bat going well away from the body in aneffort to reach the ball. The bat face has not been brought down behind theline of the ball and the ball hits the outside edge of the bat.

7. Wrong the bat has been brought down from the line well outside the off stump. The left hand andarm cannot lead the bat towards the ball outside the off stump. The right elbow comes away from thebody. The right hand takes control. The ball hits the outside edge of the bat.

The shot is played to the inswinging ball pitching short of a length and swinging in towards the batsman



1. Adopt the open stance when facing the inswinger, left foot pointing in the direction of extra cover.

2. The open stance. The left foot points to extra cover, while the hipsand shoulders open up.

3. The right foot has gone back towards the middle and off stump and the left is taken back as thehands begin to swing the bat down from outside the off stump. The pick up of the bat at the stanceposition will have gone over the off stump. The hands go out as the trunk begins to turn at thecommencement of the down swing of the bat.

4. Back view, same stage. The wrists are cocked as the bat begins thedown swing. The right arm is behind the right side in the bent position.The right leg is braced.



5. The ball pitches. The eyes watch the ball over the left arm. The weight is well over the braced right

leg. The hands bring the bat down, the left hand leading. The left elbow is still fully bent. The face of the bat about to come square on to the ball. The bat held high with bent arms at this stage, inreadiness to play the ball bouncing up off the pitch.

6. The ball is played. The weight of the body on the right leg. Up off the heel of

the left foot. The bat held high with left elbow bent. The left hand in front of theright angles the bat to keep the ball down. The face of the bat has turnedtowards the on side to meet the ball just in front of the right leg. The right hand isrelaxed. The trunk and shoulders run. The eyes watch the ball for as far aspossible, looking past the hands

This is played to the ball which is moving in towards the batsman, turning towards thestumps, to which a shot must be played.

1.First move. The right foot goes back in the line of the off-stump. The foot is placed in this position to begin the coveringup of the stumps with the legs.



2.The bat commences the down swing simultaneously with the left leg

coming back towards the right leg. The left foot points towards cover pointan thehips being to open up.

3.The ball is about to be played at a point opposite the left leg. The hips open up. The rightarm hugs the right side with the right hand behind the bat, and the left hand takes the batout towards the ball on the off side.

.

4.The ball is played. Up on the toes of the left foot to bring the leftshoulder high and left arm and elbow well up. The left hand in front of the right at the moment of playing the ball, angling the bat to keep theball down. The right arm comes past the right side. The relaxed righthand is behind the handle of the bat. The weight of the body is one thebraced right leg. The eye line is over the hands as the eyes watch theball turn off the pitch and on to the bat.



The shot is played to the leg spinner pitching just short of the half volley which is not drivable onthe half valley.

1.The front foot goes out alongside the line of the ball and as close to the half volley as possible.

2.The left foot comes out towards the ball simultaneously with the down swing of thebat. The weight is coming forward and over the left leg. The trunk is sideways on.The bat is coming from the line of the middle and leg stump, the turn of theshoulders going with the left foot across to the off-side line. The wrists are cocked.The right arm well into the side. The bent left arm leads the bat. The bat fare beginsto turn square on towards the ball. The bat face begins to turn square on towardsthe ball. The eye line is towards the ball about to pitch.

3.The ball is about to be played. The weight has gone well over the bent front leg. Up onthe toes of the back foot, assisting the weight forward. Right leg is slightly bent. The batcoming down from the line of the middle and leg stump. The shoulder points towards theline of the ball assisting the left (forward) hand to lead the bat towards the ball. The eyeline is over the left elbow at this stage.



4.The ball is played. The weight well over the bent front leg. The ballhas been watched as far as possible towards the bat. The left arm isunhinging. The left hand in front of the right hand angles the batbackwards to keep the ball down. Right hand relaxed behind the handleof the bat. Up on the toes of the back foot, assisting the weight forward.

5.The finish of the shot. The bat face goes square on towards the off side withaway spin of the ball. The left hand still leads the right hand with the elbow stillbent behind the handle of the bat. The left arm has unhinged. The eyes watch theball go off the face of the bat.

1. The eyes watch the ball coming down the pitch. The weight goes forward. The front footgoes out. The bat commences the down swing. The front foot goes alongside the line of theball and as close to the pitch of the ball as possible.



2. From the back, same stage. The hands go away from the body. The batface is coming round to the square on position. The right wrist is clocked. Theright elbow into the right side.

3. Upon the toes of the back foot. The bat face swings down past theright side.

4. The left hand leads, angling the bat with the handle forward of the toe of thebat. The right hand, wrist uuncocking, stays behind the handle. Both arms arebent. The eyes watch the ball pitching over the left hand.

5. The bat turns to play the ball towards the on side and is square on to meet theball. The weight well forward over the left leg, assisting the left arm, left hand stillwell forward of the right hand, angling the bat to meet the ball.



6. The finish of the shot. The ball is played away towards the on side. The lefthand is still well in front of the right and the weight over the left leg. The eyeswatch the ball over the left hand.

Play this shot to the ball pitching just short of a length and coming about knee-high on or just outside the off

stump.

1. First take the bat up high with a full cocking of the wrists, and the right foot back as far aspossible towards the middle stump. The right foot square, pointing to the off side, to keep the leftside towards the ball.

2.From the back, same state. Note the full cocking of the wrists with the right armsliding past the right side.



3.the bat commences the down swing at the ball. The left foot comes back towards the right foot,and points towards cover, opening up the hips. The left shoulder still points towards the ball line,the blade coming down from the line of the leg stump.

4. The hit is about to be made. The weight on the back foot. The wrists uncock asthey accelerate the swing of the bat at the ball. The right arm still hugs the rightside. The right hand behind the handle, keeps the face of the bat towards the ball,and is about to put the hit into the shot.

5. Same stage from the front. The ball is coming up off the pitch. The bat can beseen to have come down from the line of the leg stump. The left arm is still bent.The left arm is still bent. The eyes watch the ball in its bounce off the pitch. Theleft shoulder still points towards the ball.

6. The hit is made. Weight well on the back foot,coming up on the toes of the frontfoot assist the hands at waist height, as they punch the ball away. The left hand isfirm, controlling the swing towards the direction of the shot. The right handadministers the hit. The eyes watch tthe ball over the hand but, ofcourse, do notsee the ball hit the bat.



3.The ball is played away. The eyes watch the ball over the left hand. The left hand still leads the batThe right hand behind the handle. The weight well over the left leg.

1. The bat goes up to the high pickup and the shoulders remain side-ways on to the bowler.

2.The left foot goes out towards the line of the on-coming ball, the bathaving started the down swings simultaneously. The left knee bends,taking the weight of the body, both arms bent. The right wrist fullycocked. The face of the bat has come round square on to the ground.



6.The ball is played away. The face of the bat goes through towardsthe off side in the upright position. The left hand is in front of the bat,maintaining the bat’s upright position as the right hand behind thehandle pushes the ball away. The eyes watch the ball go off the bat.The trunk opens up. The right elbow stays close to the side.

This action can be used against the slower bowler when the flight of the ball is high enough to give sufficient time to

go out of the crease and get to the pitch of the ball. It should not be attempted against the ball pitching wide of the stump

but only to he ball coming down in a line towards the stumps

.

1.First move. The bat is raised to the higher position, ready for an attacking shot. The first stride ismade up the wicket. The trunk is sideways on. Watch for the ball as it leaves the bowler’s hand.The batsman will notice the movement to the hand when imparting spin. If he fails to do this hemight miss the ’googly’.

2.Second stage. The weight is on the left leg. The right foot comes upbehind the left foot.



3.Third stage. The left foot goes forward. The bat starts swinging at the ball. The trunk is stisideways on. The wrists are fully cocked, accelerating the swing of the bat. The eye watchesthe ball about to pitch.

4.The finish of the shot. This being a full attacking shot, a full swing of the bat and high follow through should be the aim

Play the off drive to the ball pitched well up that is a half that is a half volley, on or outside the off stump.The aim of the shot is to get the face of the bat well behind the ball at the moment of hitting, and keepingit square on in the direction of the shot.

1.Put the left foot up to and alongside the line of the ball. The weight goes forward over the leftleg.



2.Go to the high pick up and, simultaneously with the left foot going out,the bat commences the down swing. Point the left shoulder towards theline of the on-coming ball; this will take the bat over the leg stump. Thehead is steady. Watch the ball in its flight down the wicket.

3.The bat commences its down swing coming form the lien of the leg stump towardsthe ball outside the off stump. Keep the wrist cocked. At this stage the left hand hasthe major part in swinging the bat towards the ball and the left shoulder is still pointedtowards the line of the ball. The eye line will be over the left elbow.

4.Keep the wrist cocked and the bat swinging with the left arm.The weight is going forward over the left leg. The left arm isbeginning to unhinge. The right elbow brushes the right side withthe right hand behind the handle of the bat. The bat face is nowsquare on to the ball.



5.The hit is about to be made. The left hand still swinging the bat.The right hand grip is firmer at this stage. It is the right hand thatwill put the power into the shot. The eye line is now over the lefthand, following the ball as far as possible towards the bat.

6.Front view of he hit being made. The face of the bat is square on in the direction of the shot,towards the off side. Both hands are working together. The bat has been accelerated with theunlocking of the wrist in its down swing towards the ball. The left arm is almost fully unhinged.The left hand grip is firm. The right hand is behind the handle and still slightly cocked, puttingthe power into the shot. The ball has been followed as far as possible on to the face of the bat.The bat is slightly angled to keep the ball down. The left hand is in front of the right hand.

7a &b. The first stage of the follow through. The left arm is fully unhinged, the battraveling on in the upright position.



8. The complete follow through. Up on the toes of the right foot. The bathas swung out and away; following through in the direction of the shotand he wrists have turned over in a natural movement, following thepunch through with the right hand when the hit was made. Theshoulders and hips open up as the right hand comes through. The batfinishes over the left shoulder.

The stroke is played to the ball pitching just short of the half volley, just on or outside the off stump

1. The bat goes up. The eyes see the ball in the air.



2.The bat goes on to the higher pick up ready for the attacking shot. Theweight of the body is beginning to come forward. The eyes watch the ball, asit is about to pitch.

3.The bat and left leg to towards the ball simultaneously. The left hand leads the swingof the bat, the right hand behind the handle. The right elbow hugs the right side. The eyesfollow the ball about to pitch.

4.The hit is madam the right hand swinging past the left, angling the bat tohit the ball into the air. The thrust of the right hand and the acceleration of the bat to the ball put the power into the shot. The right arm is almoststraight. The left leg bends at the knee and the weight of the body is rockingback with the upward hit.

5.The complete follow through. The right arm is straight, carrying on in thedirection of the hit. The weight goes back on to the right leg. The eyes lookpast the right arm at the flight of the hit. The hips turn and the trunk opensup with the full follow through of the bat.



A defensive shot played to the ball pitching short of a half volley as it comes up off the pitch.

1. The weight has gone well forward, balanced on the left leg. Up on the toes of the back foot,pushing the body weight forward. Both arm bent the right arm coming past the right side, theleft hand well in front angling the bat to keep the ball down. The right hand is relaxed behindthe handle of he bat. The eyes watch the ball bouncing off the pitch.

2.Front view from the bowler’s end. The ball has bounced up off the pitch.The left hand leads in taking the bat out to meet the ball, which is playedwhen it is either just opposite the left leg or, a little earlier, in front of thebatsman. The trunk opens up at the hips as the right arm comes out pastthe right side. The left hand having a longer distance to travel than thebottom hand, reaches forward at the ball. The left arm unhinges to analmost straight position. The forehead is towards the ball. The eyes watchthe ball go off the face of the bat. The face of the bat is square on towardsthe off side when the ball is played.

Played to the ball pitching on thehalf volley length, on or justoutside the leg stump.

1. The left foot goes out alongside the line of the ball and up to the half volley. Simultanthe bat is brought down from a line outside the off stump. Head in the upright position, square to the line of the ball.



2. The weight is over the left leg. Both wrists are cocked. Both elbowsbent and the left hand leads the swing of the bat. The eyes watch theball as for as possible to the pitch. The right knee is bent inwards,turning the right hip round.

3. The ball is about to be hit. The bat continues its line from outsidethe off stump towards the on side ball. The trunk is almost square ontowards the ball. The right elbow brushes the right side. The righthand begins to uncock, ready to put the hit into the shot.

4. The front-on position, the same stage. The bat face is comingsquare on to the ball. The left arm is unhinging. Right armstraightening as the right hand uncocks to put the power into the shot.The balance of the body well over the front leg. The right heel off theground. Helping the body balance to go forward. The eyes watch theball as far as possible on to the bat.



5. The follow through. Well up on the toes of the back foot, the weightgoing forward over the front leg. The shoulders turn with the followthrough of thee power right hand. The head is steady. The eyes watchthe ball on its way. The right shoulder dips slightly with the hit andfollow through of the right hand.

Played to the ball pitching on the half volley length, on or just outside the leg stump.

1.The front foot goes forward simultaneously with the commencement of the down

swing of the bat.

The eyes watch the ball, as it is about to pitch. The weight is over the front leg.maintained. The arms go away from the body. The left foot is alongside the lien



3. The ball is about to be hit as it bounces up form the half volley. The weight o

because the right arm is extending as the right hand goes past the left to put thside has turned from the hips when the bat goes past the left foot to meet the bthe bat.

4. Close-up of the hands and bat position when the ball is behind the handle of the bat puts the power into the shot. The bat is angled baarm freely swings on with a firm left hand grip. The body weight goes back on tbackwards as the right hand goes out with an extended right arm to hit the ball

5. The finish of the shot. The right arm is extended. The bat blade faces upwardip. The trunk leans backwards from the hips.

Played to the ball pitching short, well outside the off stump .

1. The right foot, back and across the batting crease, points sqside. Go up on the toes on the left foot, helping the body pivotshoulder pointing up the wicket and balance the body on he rigbat goes back ready to swing down on to the ball. The eyes wcoming ball past the left shoulder.



2.Back view. Both wrists are cocked. The right handis flexible. The right elbow is down. The right handabove the left stays there throughout the shot.

3. About to hit the high bouncing ball. The hands andarms have swung the bat down, flattening the arc,accelerating the swing of the ball to the ball. Thetrunk still faces square on to the off side. The headturns with the flight of the ball. The hands are inposition to whip the ball away.

4. The hit is made. The right hand has turned theface of the bat over to hit the ball down. Both armshave unhinged at the elbow. The head turns. Theeyes watch the ball on the bat. The weight of thebody rocks back as the arms straighten and power isput into the shot. The trunk has stayed square on tothe off side.



5. The right wrist rolls over the left to complete the hitand keep the ball down.

6.Finish of the shot. The right hand, having turnedthe bat blade over, continues in the follow throughover the left shoulder. Both arms bend. The trunkturns with the swing of the follow through

Played to the ball pitching at half-volley length wide of the off stump, too wide for the orthodox off drive to be attempted.

1.The left foot goes out and up the wicket. The left shoulder points towards theline of the ball. The wrist is still cocked in the down swing of the bat.



2.He right arm hugs he right side of the body. The lefthand is well in front of the right hand. The knees are

bending to bring the hands down. With the balance of the body on the haunches. The eyes watch the ballabout to pitch, around the area in line with the front footcrease.

3. The hit is made with the left hand well in front of theright hand, angling the bat. The bat blade is square onof the moment of impact.

4a 4b. The hit has been made. The eyes follow the balloff the bat. The wrists have not rolled over. The bothhands and arms swing on with the left hand still leading.



5. The complete follow through, still sitting down on the

haunches, the eyes watch the ball in the direction of theshot; past square point. The hands swing on to a highfinish.

The stroke is played to the short of a length ball when it is going pas thebatsman’s right leg in the direction of the direction of third man. It should

never be played to the inswinger or the off spinner.

1. The right foot has gone back and outside the off stump. Up on the toesof the foot, giving a full pivot with the left shoulder pointing up the wicket.

The eyes watch the ball bouncing of the pitch.

2. Back view, same position. The wrists are cocked.The right wrist is flexible. The right hand is above theleft. The right elbow has gone back round the right sideenabling the hands to bring the bat back over theshoulder. The balance of the body’s on the right leg.



7.Close up of the wrist action rolling the bat at the hit.The right hand rolls over the left.

8.Immediately after the hit, the right hand goes onturning the face of the bat completely over.

9.The eyes watch the ball on its way. The right hand,still over the left, takes the bat on to complete thefollow through. The swing of the bat has started fromthe right shoulder and continues going downacceleration in its whipping movement across thebody. The shoulders turn with the complete followthrough. The head remains steady.



Played to the short of a length ball pitching outside the off stump, which isnot wide enoughto permit a full swing of the bat. It should not be played to the deliver

coming in towardsthe stumps, i.e. an off spinner or inswinger.

1. The right foot goes back, on or outside the off stump, depending on the width of the ball.The weight of the body is over the bent right leg. The left arm is unhinging. The right arm isbent. The right wrist is cocked.

2.The eyes follow the ball on to the bat.

3.Finish of the shot. The ball is patted down. Thewrists uncock. Both arm unhinge. The right wristdoes not roll over. The bat face is square on tothe ball, pushing it away.

An attacking shot played to the ball pitched up form the off stump line towards the leg side, speciallygood against the off spinner or inswinger and hit on the turn or swing. It can be used against thestraight delivery but is not advisable against the leg spinner or away swinger.



1.The left foot goes up the wicket in line with, or just outside, the off stump, depending on the lineof the oncoming ball. The left foot points squarishtowards cover point because the eventual hit willbe against the left side.

2. First take the bat to the high pick up.

3. The bat comes down in line from outside the off stump. The left side is towards the line of the ball.The wrists are fully cocked. Both arms are bent.

4. The hands accelerate the bat in its downswing. Both arms bent. Right heelcoming off the ground, weight of the body against the left leg. The height ismaintained. The right knee turned inwards.



5.Close up of the hands in stage 4. The wrists

fully cocked, left arm slightly bent. The Rightknee turning in. the left side braced ready totake the hit.

6. Close up of the hands in stage 4. The wrists fullycocked, left arm slightly bent. The Right kneeturning in. the left side braced ready to take the hit.

7.Close up of the hands and arms in the followthrough. The left wrist and forearm straighten. Theright hand goes on with the impetus of the shot.



8. The high follow through. The height from thestart position has been maintained. The left side is

braced. The right knee turns into the left leg, as theright hand brings the right side round with thefollow through of the right hand. The head is stillsteady. The eyes watch the result of the shot.

Play the hook shot against the fast bowlers when the ball is pitched very short an coming down in a linetowards the middle or leg stump, arriving at chest height or above.

1.The bat goes high with the wrist dropping back and the right foot well across to take the head andupper part of the body away from the line of the oncoming

2.The stroke has commenced. The left foot comes off the ground, helping the pivot of the shoulders sideways on. Theright elbow close to the side. The right wrist fully cocked.



3.The left heel comes down. The left leg is braced the bat has commenced its cross bat swing at theball. The balance is still on the right leg keeping the trunk out of the line of the fire. The hands and arms accelerate theswing of the bat.

4.T

he hit is about to be made. The left arm is high. The right wrist is cocked. The right elbow bent. The right hand is aboutto turn the face of the bat over to meet the ball.

5.The hit is made. The hands are high. The head and shoulders are still out of the line of fire. The righthand puts the power in the shot. The left arm still bent and high. The eyes follow the ball onto the bat.



6. The finish of the shot. The bat has followed through after the hit has been made and thebody turns with the follow through of the bat. The left elbow is bent and coming in towards the left side. The head hasnot yet moved.

7. The complete finish. The bat follows through in a complete arc around the left side. The right elbow has come up asthe right hand turned over when it put the power into the shot. The body balance rocks back with the bat’s followthrough. The head is steady, the eyes watching the result of the shot.

Played to the short of a length ball pitching in line round the off stump.

1. The first move. The right foot goes back well outside the off stump. The bat is taken tothe high pick-up position. The left shoulder faces towards the oncoming ball. The rightfoot points in the direction of extra cover. The balance of the body is on the right leg.



2. Front view. The eyes watch the ball over the leftshoulder. The left arm is bent.

3. The hands are accelerating the swing of the bat at the ball. The wrists are stillcocked, right arm into the right side; left shoulder still pointing towards the ball, headsteady.

4.Close up of thewrist at state 3.They are fullycocked. The face of the bat is towardsthe off side.

5. The hit is about to be made. The arms go away from he body. The right wrist is stillcocked. The shoulders come square on with the swing of the bat. The right foot pointsup the wicket with the shoulder movement. The eyes watch the ball over the hands.



6. The hit is made, the right wrist turning the face of the bat over to hit the ball down. The right hand hitsthe ball. The left arm maintains the swing of thebat. The eyes watch the ball on to the bat. Thetrunk is square on.

7. Finishing the shot. The right hand having fetched the ball from the off side towardsthe on side continues swinging on around the body. There is a full pivot as the eyeswatch the result of the shot.

Played to the ball pitching on or just outside the off stump, hitting the ball towards the on side.

Not to be played against the ball moving away, i.e. leg spin or away swing.

1.The front foot goes out behind the line of the ball, just outside the off stump. The body balancegoes forward towards the line of the ball. The hands start the swing of the bat towards the ball,going out and away from the body. The weight is over the left leg. The eyes watch the ball about to pitch.



2. Back view, same position. The right wrist is fully cocked. The hands can be seen awayfrom the body. The left shoulder is still towards the line of the ball.

3.The hand continues to swing the hat out from the body as they accelerate the swing of

the bat towards the ball. The right arm is still bent. The left arm is unhinging.

4. The accelerating the bat continues its swing. The right hand,behind the handle, begins to uncock, ready to hit the ball.



5.The hit is about o be made. The left hand swings the bat across and out to meet the ball. Theright hand puts the hit into the shot. With the right hand now playing the major part, the balance of the body begins to rock back. The left arm straightens, the right hand going past the left as thebat blade meets the ball.

6. The complete follow through. The body weight has rocked back. The bat completes itsswing in its line from outside the off stump out to the ball and across the front leg. The trunkturns with the swing of the bat from the off side. The eyes watch the ball on its way. The frontfoot has not moved since going forward towards the ball.

Played to the ball pitching short of the half volley or outside the leg stump. It can beused against either the off spinner, hitting with the turn towards the on side, or theleg spinner, hitting against the turn.



1. The bat starts the down swing. At the same time, the left foot goes out inside the line of the ball,keeping it on the left-hand side. At this stage the shoulders are sideways on to the on-coming ball.

2. Both knees are bent, allowing the balance to occur over the haunches. The shoulders begin to open slightly.

Both wrists are fully cocked. The hands are dropping the bat in order to flatten the arc of the cross swing at theball. The eyes watch the ball about to pitch.

3.Same stage from the back. The right arm bent. The right arm bent. The face of the bat is towards theoff side.



4. The arc of the bat has been flattened. The wrists still bent. The left hand is firm. The left armcontrols the swing of the bat. Both arms slightly bent.

5.the hit is about to be made. The sitting-down position is helping the flat arc of the swing of the bat. The left hand leadsthe swing. The right hand is about to hit the ball. The shoulders and trunk swivel on the hips. The right side comesround as the right wrist uncocks. The eyes watch the ball on to the bat.

6. The hit is made. The right hand punches the ball away. The balance is maintained. The headis steady, the body pivot at the hips.



7. The ball goes off the bat. Both arms now swing on in the follow through. The trunk continues the pivot. The eyes watchthe ball off the bat.

8. The complete follow through. The trunk has completed almost a full turn, but the bodybalance is still constant on the haunches. The left arm bends, allowing the swing of the right hand and arm to finish itimpetus. The eyes follow the direction of the shot.

When the leg spinner pitches outside the line of the leg stump and the sweep shot is

intended, the left foot must be placed wider up the wicket to prevent the ball going round the legs to hit the stumps. Hetechnique will to the same as for the ordinary sweep shot.



The shot is played o the ball pitched further up than the length required for thesweep shot. It would be difficult to hit this length ball with a cross bat. The shotshould not be attempted against the ball turning or swinging towards the off side.

1. The left foot goes up the wicket just inside the line of the ball. The hands go out and away form the body, with

the wrists still cocked. The eyes follow the ball ass far as possible. Up on the toes of the back foot. The trunkbegins to turn from the hips

2. The hand brings the bat down. The right hand is turning the face of the bat towards the on side.The left arm is almost straight. The right shoulder is dipped so that the right hand can get at the ball. The balance of thebody is over the front leg. Well up on the toes of the back foot. The head is steady. The eyes follow the ball on to thebat.

3.The shot is made. Well up on the toes of the back foot, pushing the weight forward. Theright knee turns into the front leg. He chin is down. The head turns with the trunk pivot, watching the ball go off the bat.The right hand goes past the left, to take the bat through the pitch of the ball, which has gone in the direction of backward.



4. The completed shot. The right foot turns. The trunk pivots round in the follow through of the right hand. The bodyweight still forward, head turning to watch the ball go on its way.

Played to the ball pitching short of a length on or just outside the leg stump.

1. The first move is right foot back towards the middle and off stumps. This foot movement is made tokeep the ball on the batsman’s left-hand side.

2. The left foot comes back towards the right foot, pointing towards extra cover, opening the trunk and hips. The

hands bring the bat down and are high. The left elbow is up. The left hand is in front of the right, angling the bat.The eyes watch the ball about to pitch.



3.Just before contact with the ball. The right elbow is bent, right arm into the side, the trunk turning

4.The ball is about to be played. The left elbow is high and bent. The right hand is behind the handle blade of thebat, turning towards the ball. Balance of the body on the braced left leg, eyes watching the ball past the hands.

5. The ball meets the bat. The left elbow and shoulders are high to maintain theangling of the bat and to bring it up to the required height of the bounce. The right arm slides past the right side. Theright hand is behind the handle. Both hands turn the blade of the bat.



6. The bat blade completes its turn and the ball slides off the bat face towards fine leg.

Played to the ball coming down on or just outside the line of the leg stump and pitchingeither on a length or closer to the batsman.

1.Firstly, he left foot goes out inside the line of the ball, which will arrive on the left-hand side of thebatsman. The bat blade comes down from a line just outside the off stump. The forehand faces square on to the lineof he ball.

2. Half way toward the ball in the down swing, the bat is kept in its line and the right arm with wrist cocked hugs the

right side. The heel of the back foot is coming off the ground and the body is beginning to turn to face the ball.



3. The ball is about to pitch. The weight of the body is on the left leg. The left arm is slightly bent.

4. The ball is about to be played. The left hand leads, angling the bat to keep the ball down. The right hand isbehind the handle, and doing the major part in turning the blade of the bat.

5. The bat blade continues its turn just before meeting the ball.



6. Immediately prior to the ball meeting the bat blade. The hands continue to turn. The head with weight well over the left leg, is forward, following the ball almost on to the bat blade.

7. The ball slides off the face of the turning bat

8. The follow through. This is a reflex action, the hands going on with the turn of the bat as the trunk tunes whenthe eyes follow the ball behind the wicket.

The shot isplayed to the good length ball, or one jus short of a length, coming down in a line towards the middle and legstumps



1.Th

e bat has gone high and he hands are going away from the body. The weight of the body has gone onto the backfoot. The eyes watch the ball which is about to pitch. The wrists are fully cocked

2.From the back, same stage. The wrists are fully cocked. The bend elbow of the right arm has moved awayform the body. The right foot had moved across to cover the middle and off stumps

3

. The hands are accelerating the bat down towards the ball, ready to make the hit towards the on side. The rightwrist is still fully cocked.



4.The hit is made. The left arm high elbow bent. The right hand goes past the left hand in the execution of theshot. The eyes watch the ball on to the bat.

5.Finish of the hit. The balance of the body is maintained on the back leg. The trunk turnsas the right hand follows though in the direction of the hit. The eyes follow the ball

Played to the ball, which is beyond the half volley length and pitching very close to the feetand in line with the stumps

1. The hands go out and away form the body as soon as the shot is decided upon the weight is on

the back foot.



2. The bat has started its down swing from outside the off stump and the hands are away from the body. The

wrists are still cocked. The weight of the body is still on the right foot. The eyes watch the ball about to pitch

3 .The bat continues it’s down swing with the hands beginning to drop; the ball being well

over –pitched will have to be dug out. The left foot has been brought back, allowing the batsman to open up thehips. The weight of the body still on the back. Foot. The right wrist is still cocked. Both arms are bent.

4. The hit is about to be made. The right hand takes the major part in the shot. The right

shoulder drops as the right hand hurries the bat towards the ball. The balance of the body is still on the right foot.The eyes watch the ball as it hits the pitch.



5. Finish of the shot. The right hand having delivered the punch, takes the bat through in the

direction of the hit. The body has turned, the right side coming into the shot when the right hand swung the batthrough the pitch of the ball. The left foot goes back as the body completes its turn, with the swinging follow throughThe eyes watch the ball go off in the direction of the hit.

The shot is played to the ball pitching on a length, which unexpectedly bounces high towards the batsman’s body.

1. The ball is being played for the normal bounce in the orthodox back foot defensive way.

2

. The ball kicks up and the bat is brought up to protect the body, left elbow and shoulder high. The right hand is

relaxed, to get the effect of a dead bat shot. The head is steady. The eyes watch the ball past the right hand.



The slower the bowler the easier it is to hit the short-pitched ball

1. The right foot goes back and across outside the off stump. The bat goes to the high pick up.

The wrists are fully cocked. The right elbow is bent. The weight on the braced right leg. The eyeswatch the ball about to pitch. The right foot goes back and across outside the off stump. The batgoes to the high pick up. The wrists are fully cocked. The right elbow is bent. The weight on thebraced right leg. The eyes watch the ball about to pitch.

2. The bat is swing towards the ball. The left arm is unhinging. The right wrist is fully cocked. The right elbow fully

bent. The left foot comes back square, and parallel with the right foot, bringing the trunk and head round to face theball.

3. The hit is about to be made. The left hand leads the swing of the bat in a flat arc.

The right hand is behind the handle, about to administer the hit. The trunk and headcome round to face the ball, with the swing of the bat across the body.



4 .The follow through. The trunk and head do a complete turn. The right heel is off the ground with the right knee

turned inwards. The right hand has turned the bat over to keep the ball down. The extended right arm in the followthrough brings the right side round

The shot is played to the ball pitching short of the half volley, usually to the medium pace or quicker bowler when the ball is coming quickly off the pitch towards the batsman and arrivingabout shin high.

1. The bat has gone up to the high pick up and the left leg and bat are moving out together. The wristsare fully cocked. The left shoulder points towards the oncoming ball. The eyes watch the ball, which is

about to pitch.



2The left shoulder is still towards the ball, the bat coming down with the wrists still cocked. The right arm close to theside. The both elbows bent. The right leg is turning in and towards the line of the ball

3. The ball is about to be struck. The trunk is turning form the hips and opening up.

The right arm still close to the right side. The firm left hand leads the swing of the bat,the eyes watching the ball bounce off the pitch.

4Just before the actual hit. The hips have opened up to allow the right hand behind the handle of the bat to put the powerinto the shot. Both arms still slightly bent. The hands are accelerating the swing of the bat.



5. The finish of the shot. The ball is going off the blade of the bat. The right hand has put thehit into the stroke. The right knee turns in with the turning of the hips, as the right hand begins to follow through. In thefollow through, which is short, the bat is kept in the upright position.

6

.The follow through. Immediately after the hi, the left elbow bends and both hands go higher. The ball is played awayand down.The eyes watch the ball go off the blade of the bat in the direction of the shot.

If the hook short cannot be mastered, take evasive action and duck, but never take the eyes

off the ball.

The ball is hit behind the half volley and just as it is bouncing off the pitch. There must be a high pick up andcomplete follow through..



1. The bat goes o the high pick up. The left shoulder points to the line of the oncoming ball.

2. The bat face is still towards the off side. The wrists still fully cocked as the bat starts thedown swing towards the ball. The left shoulder is still towards the ball. The right arm slidespast the right side, right knee slightly bent.

3 .The bit is about to be made. The right hand, well in front of the left, ensuresa lofted hit. Both arms are swinging the bat. The weight is rocking back ontothe right leg. The eyes watch the ball as far as possible on to the bat.

4. The complete follow through. The bat has gone a ninety-degree arc from the initial pickup. It is swung with both arms. The hit with the right hand takes the bat through. Theshoulder dips when the weight rocks back onto the right leg.



This shot is played when the medium pace bowler pitches short andthe ball bounces towards the batsman about waist high.

1. The hands have taken the bat high with the wrists cocked.The right foot goes back and across just outside the off stump. Up on the toes of the left foot,pivoting to assist the turn of the body, the left shoulder coming round to point towards the bowler.The eyes watch the ball on to the pitch.

2. The left heel goes down as the trunk unwinds to face the bowler. At the same timethe hands, with wrists still cocked, have dropped down to allow the bat to be swung in aflat are at the ball.

3. Just before the hit was made the left foot was taken back in a parallel line

a good grip of the bat is essential

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