Batting Craft

The trigger is a rhythm move timed to the bowler's release, so the batter is balanced and momentarily still as the ball is delivered.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Guard fixes the bat and body relative to the stumps, so the batter can judge which balls threaten the wicket and which can be safely left.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

A side-on base lines the front shoulder, hip and head down the pitch, giving a repeatable platform for driving and defending straight.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The eyes sit in the head, so head movement at delivery blurs the pick-up of line and length and pulls the body off balance.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

A backlift angled towards the slips lets the bat swing down through the line of a straight ball, squaring the face at impact for the drive.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Moving outside leg gives the batter room and a clear view of the off side to hit through, at the price of exposing the stumps if he misses.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · applied

"Back and across" takes the back foot towards off stump and slightly back, covering the line and giving time to then go forward or stay back.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Against pace the gap between release and arrival is tiny, so a compact pick-up and downswing is easier to time than a big, late one.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

An open stance gives a clear view of the ball and easy access to the leg side, but the shoulders are less aligned down the pitch, so straight driving and defence are harder to repeat.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The earlier the ball is seen, the more time the batter has to read its line, length and any swing, and to choose a stroke.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

A driveable ball is full enough to reach on the front foot and wide enough of off stump to swing the arms through the line towards cover.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Head over the front knee keeps weight moving into the shot and the eyes above the ball, which keeps the stroke down along the ground.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

Not moving fully to the pitch leaves the ball too far away, so the swing arrives early or late and the contact is not under the eyes.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The on drive is played close to the front pad, so the batter must keep the head still and swing straight without the leg side pulling the body over.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

A high front elbow squares the bat face to the line at impact and keeps the blade travelling straight, which controls direction and keeps it grounded.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

With weight back the head falls behind the ball and the bat face opens or closes at contact, so the ball goes up or off line rather than along the turf.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

In a check drive the follow-through is shortened deliberately, trading some power for control and a lower risk of the ball carrying to a fielder.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Driving away from the body at late outswing feeds the edge to the slips, so the safer drive is straight and near the body where the swing matters less.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · applied

A straight loft keeps the full face on the line of the ball, so a slight mistake still sends it down the ground; a lofted cover drive is played across the line, and any error finds the edge.

Source: General cricket coaching · applied

Reaching the pitch of a tossed-up ball takes the turn out of the equation, since the ball is hit before it can deviate off the surface.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

The cut needs width and bounce outside off so the batter can free the arms and hit square with a horizontal bat, well away from the body.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Cutting a ball near the stumps leaves a gap between bat and body and brings the wicket into play if the batter misses or gets an inside edge.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The pull is a back-foot shot to a short ball, so the batter rocks back and across to get inside the line and swing the bat through the pull arc.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Both are back-foot leg-side shots to short bowling, but the hook deals with the ball at or above head height while the pull handles it around chest height.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

A ball passing over the stumps at height threatens no dismissal if left, so a batter out of form or position can simply avoid it and wait.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · applied

Turning the wrists at impact points the bat face down at contact, sending the ball along the ground instead of in the air to a catcher.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

A ball a fraction short of driving length but too straight to cut is met off the back foot with a vertical bat, punched square or straight of point.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Moving the head to the off side puts the body inside the ball's line, so a missed pull passes the batter rather than hitting them or the stumps.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

When the bounce is low and variable, a horizontal-bat shot through the line is easy to top-edge or miss, so batters wait for balls they can hit straighter.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · applied

Pulling from outside off means hitting across the line over a long arc, so a slight misjudgement sends a top edge steepling behind square on the leg side.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The first decision is front foot or back foot, and that depends on how full or short the ball is; line is adjusted once the length is read.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Meeting the ball under the eyes and close to the body leaves the last possible moment to adjust for late movement, reducing edges.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · applied

A relaxed grip lets the bat recoil on impact, so an edge drops short of the slips rather than carrying at catching height.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

Advancing down the track turns a good length into a half-volley and a short ball into a drivable one, taking the turn out of play by hitting on the full.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · applied

If stranded, getting bat and pad together on the line kills the turn; leaving or wild hitting risks bowled, stumped or a leading edge.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · applied

Watching the ball off the surface lets the batter react to the actual amount and direction of turn instead of guessing and being wrong.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

Working with the turn, straight or to leg, uses the spin's direction; cutting or driving hard against it into the turn brings the leading edge and bat-pad catch.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Going back and deep buys length to play the ball later off the back foot, though it gives up the option of getting to the pitch on the drive.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

On a seaming pitch the edge is always in play when driving, so leaving wide balls and defending straight ones removes most of the risk until it settles.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · applied

Extra bounce lifts the ball above the chest, so the pull becomes a control shot near the shoulder or a hook, both riskier than a chest-high pull.

Source: General cricket coaching · applied

The sweep drops the back knee, brings the front leg across and swings a horizontal bat through the line, sending the ball fine or square on the leg side.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Sweeping across a straight ball means the pad is often in line with the stumps, so a missed sweep leaves the batter exposed to an lbw shout.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

The paddle is a soft glance off the sweep base, guiding the ball down to fine leg using its pace, while the slog sweep swings hard for distance to leg.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

The reverse sweep swaps the hands' roles to hit a ball on or outside off stump square on the off side, exploiting a field packed on the leg side.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · applied

A ball spinning wide of off can be cut, driven or left with lower risk, whereas sweeping it means hitting across a ball moving further away.

Source: General cricket coaching · applied

A back-of-a-length ball outside off passes over the stumps, so it can be left on length even if the line looks threatening early.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The batter with the ball in view calls: the striker for anything hit in front of the wicket, the non-striker for anything played behind square.

Source: ESPNcricinfo coaching glossary · recall

Sprinting the first run and turning ready to see the fielder's throw creates two-run chances and forces rushed, wild returns.

Source: General cricket coaching · applied

The Laws let the bowler run out a non-striker who leaves the crease before the ball would be delivered, so backing up early must be judged carefully.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · applied

Rotating so the in-form batter keeps most of the strike, especially against the dangerous bowler, protects the new batter while they play in.

Source: General cricket coaching · applied

Coaches commonly describe the Vs of both hands lining up between the splice and the outside edge.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

The top hand leads the bat and keeps its face where the batter wants it.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

The bottom hand supplies much of the power; too much of it pulls the bat across the line.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

A shorter lever is easier to control but generates less bat speed.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

A dominant bottom hand drags the bat across the line and turns the face over.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Relaxed hands let the bat swing freely and absorb the ball in defence.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Hands together let the top and bottom hand move the bat as one.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Picking the bat up from face down is a simple way to find a neutral grip.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Both hands hold the handle above the splice, the top hand nearer the end.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The splice is the V where the cane handle is fitted into the top of the blade.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Getting the front foot to the pitch smothers any movement off the pitch.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

A bat angled down beside the pad keeps the ball on the ground and leaves no gap.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

Going back gives more time to play a straight ball that bounces higher.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

Back and across puts the eyes in line with the ball and covers the stumps.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

A loose grip takes the pace off the ball so an edge falls short of the catchers.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

A high elbow keeps the bat coming down straight, so the ball goes back where it came from.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Defence is about surviving the balls that are too good to attack.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

The forward defence meets the ball near where it pitches and kills it.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Moving back and across buys a moment to judge the extra bounce.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

B is short of a length and straight; A is full and straight, C short and wide, D full and wide.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The batter gets under the ball and lifts it fine, over the wicket-keeper.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan made the shot famous at the 2009 World T20.

Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

The batter slashes up at a short, wide ball and uses its pace to clear the cordon.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

The need for quick runs in T20 pushed batters to invent new scoring areas.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

The batter puts his face in the line of a fast ball and relies on making contact.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Fields leave space behind the wicket, which these shots are designed to use.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The lap guides the ball round behind square on the leg side, to fine leg.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

The ramp relies on the bowler's pace, with the batter angling the face upwards.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The lap goes fine on the leg side, the ramp straight over the keeper and the upper cut over the slips to third man.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Straight over the keeper is behind the stumps; B is third man, C fine leg and D long-on.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

The early balls are for judging pace and bounce before taking risks.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

Being in means the batter has adjusted to the pitch and the bowling.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

Knowing his scoring areas helps a batter wait for the right ball.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

Patience until a ball comes into his scoring area is how good batters stay in.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Breaking an innings into smaller targets keeps concentration fresh.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Many wickets fall just after a fifty or a hundred, when concentration dips.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Each delivery is judged as it comes, not on what happened to the last one.

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A big innings grows from survival to control to scoring freely.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Timing and confidence build as the batter adjusts to the conditions.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Twelve balls, two runs and three plays-and-misses: he has not yet settled.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

A balanced base gives the swing something solid to work from.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

With the front leg out of the line, the bat can come through on a full arc.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Range hitting trains power and direction together.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · recall

Big hits need the body set and the swing started in time.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

A bat a batter can swing fast often hits further than a heavier one swung slowly.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Pre-meditation works only if the bowler delivers the ball the batter expected.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

A slow full toss arrives at a comfortable height with no bounce to judge.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

Power comes from a stable base, early judgement and a free swing.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

A slow waist-high full toss can be hit from anywhere, a half-volley still has to be met on the bounce, and the wide yorker is the hardest ball to get under and hit with power.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied

A leg break turns towards the off side, so hitting with the spin sends it towards long-off.

Source: Recognised cricket coaching material · applied