Basic of Batting

PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES OF BATTING
The primary aim of batting is to score runs and to do this, a batsman must be able to:
1. Protect their wicket
2. Rotate the strike and run singles
3. Build momentum and compile an innings
4. Expert pressure on the fielding team

To achieve these goals, a batsman needs to understand the following technical aspects of batting.

STANCE
The player should stand astride the batting crease, with feet comfortably apart (up to shoulder-width part) and weight evenly distributed on the front and back feet. In the 'ready position', the eyes should be level and the hands should hold the bat resting on top of the pads.

GRIP

The grip of the bat needs to be comfortable and relaxed so the player can respond to the fast-moving ball. Most successful players use a grip with the hands together in the middle of the grip, with the 'V' shapes formed by the thumb and forefinger of each hand pointing generally towards the forward edge of the splice of the bat.

BACKLIFT

The backlift should occur in preparation for the bowler's release or as the ball is released, to ensure fluency of movement. The backlift should be reasonably straight (between the wicketkeeper and second slip).

TRACKING THE BALL

The batsmen should be watching the ball in the bowler's hand during the run-up and begin to focus at the moment the ball is released. Former Australian captain, Bob Simpson, used to say to himself ' now', as the ball was released, in order to maximize his focus on the ball. When the batsman is concentrating well, these early visual cues enable quick-decision making so the feet can move either forward or back to play the ball. The batsman movie is feet to adjust the length of the ball, to be in the best position to hit the ball and protect the stumps. The movement of the feet should be coordinated with the downswing of the bat to produce smooth and continues motion to meet the ball.

BATTING EQUIPMENT

1. Bat

2. Pads

3. Gloves

4. Protector

5. Helmet

6. Thigh pad

7. Inner thigh pad

8. Chestguard

9. Armguard

TOP HAND DOMINANCE (Vertical bat strokes)

Vertical bat strokes are most important as they are used to play balls that well-pitched. These deliver that are pitched in the general direction of the stumps and or about a 'good length', where the batsman may be uncertain whether to play forward or back, are more likely to dismiss the batsman bowled or caught through missing or misjudging the ball.

The vertical bat is used against these threating deliveries because it provides more surface area of the bat, to help deal with the uncertainty of the pitch and bounce. By applying with a vertical bat, the batsman also ensures that his eyes are positioned more in line with the ball and can, therefore guide the bat to meet the fast-approaching ball.

The top hand plays a very important role in steering the backswing and the downswing to meet well-pitched balls. There are numerous top-hand drills to channel the swing of the bat through the line of the ball. It is important to ensure these activities don't become too mechanical and detract from the natural flow of the bat to meet the ball.

HITTING THE BALL

A good way of developing the swing of the bat through the line of the well-directed delivery is to practice the vertical-bat front-foot drive. Stationary-ball activities such as this, using low batting tees, also reinforce the guiding role of the top hand. This tee-ball drive can then be repeated with a cricket bat.

The next step is to repeat the stroke with a lobbed ball and then with balls that are thrown and bowled. Targets should be used to ensure the balls that are lobbed, thrown or bowled are appropriate for the stroke development.

It is worthwhile to introduce the check-drive follow-through, which is used for well-pitched deliveries on a good length. This allows the batsman to keep the hands in front of the ball through impact-  checking the drive- so the ball is played along the ground rather than being launched in the air, where it may be caught.