Cricket Basics: Cricket Shots
Leave and block – A simple defensive stroke where the batsman believes the ball is clearly missing the stumps. No stroke is played, and a defensive stance is taken normally aiming the bat downward.
Drive – A drive is when the batsman plays through the line of the ball with a horizontal bat.
Cut - A cut is a cross batted shot at a short ball aiming it into the offside.
Pull – A pull is a horizontal bat shot at a short ball, pulling the ball leg side in the direction of square leg.
Hook – A hook is a shot played behind leg against a bounce of the ball.
Leg glance – a leg glance is a shot where the ball is glided down the leg side with a slight edge or glance to move the ball outside the keepers line.
Sweep – A sweep is a cross batted shit played across the line of a slower, normally spinning ball, played by moving onto one knee, and sweeping across the line of the ball on the leg side.
Reverse sweep – A reverse sweep is the opposite to the standard sweep playing the ball onto the off side behind the wicket.
Slog – The slog or though common in cricket for a while, has become much more regular in 20Twenty cricket. The slog is a a powerful pull shot hit in the sit over mid wicket, normally in an attempt to hit a six.
Slog sweep – A slog sweet, is a slog played from the knee. It is normally hot much squarer than a regular slog.
Switch hit - A switch shot is where the batsman changes hands to put the bowler off his line. I.e. a right handed batsman switch to the stance of a left handed batsman. This has the advantage of opening the field as it won’t be set for a batsman in that stance. It is risky though. Below is an image showing the areas of the field in which each shit is aimed in.
Bowling: The slower ball
The slower ball is a technique used by faster bowler to confuse the batman into playing through a shot too early, by delivering a ball much slower than their regular speed. Using the slower ball is particularly effective in limited overs cricket (One Dayers, or Twenty20) as batman are looking to score fast and s slower ball is not only a great wicket taker, but the ball travels much more slowly to the boundary if hit. As a result it is used regulary in the last 10 over of a one day match, and during batting power-plays. A slower ball in only effective in the bolwer’s action appears as normal, and the ball needs to be directed at the stumps forcing the batsmen to play a shot.
There are few typical ways to for fast bowlers to take the pace off their delivery. The first is to bowl the ball out of the back of the hand. The second is to split the fingers either side of the seem as shown in the image below. Using the split finger technique a bowler needs to pitch the ball full; if perfected the ball will appear to be a full toss, however it will dip at the last minute, hopefully deceiving the batsman.
Another technique for balling the slower ball is to fit the ball in-between the index and middle finger, right against the webbing. This slows the ball, and leads to a loopy delivery. There is the Palm ball delivery where the ball is held in the palm instead of the fingers. This is effective at slowing the ball, however, it is much harder to hide. Less extreme than the palm ball, is simply holding the ball deeper in the fingers. Typically very fast bowlers hold the ball right on their tips. Holding the ball deeper will take some pace off the ball. Australian great Brett Lee used this method regularly. Bowlers can also slow the ball just by reducing the speed of their action. This is effective at slowing the ball, however, once again isn’t a well hidden delivery. The last method commonly used is the cross seem delivery, where the ball is held across the seem. The ball slows when it hits the ground if it hits on the seem instead of the shinny part of the ball. This technique has been used regularly by New Zealand bowlers at international level.
Image: Brett Lee – 2nd Test against New Zealand 2008
Batting: The Grip
The Grip
The grip is how a batsman holds the bay, and learning the correct way to hold a bat is a very important starting point for a young batsman. Starting out with the proper comfortable grip allows a batsman the flexibility and power to pull of a full range of shots.
A right-handed batsman should have the left hand at the top of the bat handle, and the left hander should have their right hand. Both hands should be fairly close together, towards the top. Your hands should form a V, by pointing both your thumb and forefinger down between the outside edge of the bat and the center of back of the bat. Your top hand should rest on the inside of the front left thigh for a right hander, the back of the top hand should face towards extra cover.
How far a player has their hands apart is a personal decision, however, it is important for the player to have a good balance between attacking and defensive shots. Having slightly more space between the hands allows more control of the bat with the bottom hand. Defensive players, or players in a defensive mood will often hold the bat lower, this allows more control over defensive strokes, however, as it limit leverage, it isn’t ideal for aggressive stroke play.
Coaching tip:
A way to get a player to find their natural grip is to asked them to lay the bat face down on the ground with the handle facing toward them. Ask them to pick the bat up with both hands around the middle of the handle.
Image: Mahela Jayawardene using the forward defense stroke in cricket.
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