CRICKET: BATTING

Batting is one of the most exciting parts of cricket for cricket fans. A good batsman is one who can
protect his wicket but at the same time score runs. The bigger the shot selection together with fast 
reflexes & free-flowing shots, one can become an excellent batsman.

Shots in batting range from the square cut, hook, off-drive, pull to the sweep and the leg-glance.

The Cover Drive

One of the most elegant shots in the game, but one you don't see that  often in Test cricket because fast
bowlers don't pitch full enough that often.' 

'The important things are to get your foot across to the pitch of the ball and to stroke the shot, rather
than hit it too hard.'  Mark says, 'I would play this shot more to spinners, when when you can make a
little room for yourself.'

The On Drive
A very tough shot because it is hard to open your foot to point straight down the pitch, bring the bat
down nice and straight and still hit the ball hard enough to go down the ground.' 'I tend to hit this one
wide of mid-on against pace bowlers, whereas David Boon hit his straight back past the bowlder. Boonie
used this shot to great effect against fast bowlers whenever they over-pitched.  I do hit spinners in the
air over mid-on and quicks there on the ground in one-dayers.'

The Cover Drive The On Drive

Off the Pads through the On-side

My trademark shot I suppose. The key is to let the ball come to you and then turn your wrists at the last
instant. I can play this to balls on off-stump when I'm seeing them well.'

'In one-day games I sometimes hit it harder and in the air, but in Tests I just turn the wrists and let the
pace of the ball do the work. A shot that often goes for four because
there are plenty of gaps in the field

Square Cut

A shot I really like.   As long as you have enough width outside off-stump, you can hit the square cut
quite hard, sometimes in the air as well as on the ground.'

'It is an important shot in Test cricket because pace bowlders usually bowl short of a length and you
need the cut to score runs. Against spinners I sometimes play it off the stumps on a slow pitch.'

Backfoot Defence

A basic bread and butter shot against pace bowlers. The keys are decisive footwork, a straight bat and
soft  hands which allow you to adjust up or down depending on the bounce, and to pull your hands and
bat inside the line if you decide late to let the ball go.' 'The key is to stay on line, not follow the ball if it
leaves you late. One of those shots you must be able to play to keep your wicket intact.'

Off the Pads through the On-side Square Cut Backfoot Defence
Forward Defence

Mark says, 'Soft hands are important here too, especially against spinners where you might have 
close-in fielders waiting for a catch.  It's important to keep your bat and pad close together and your
head over the ball.'

'Again, a key shot in that it allows you to keep good balls out of your stumps.'