Batting is the act of defending one’s wicket with the cricket bat while attempting to score runs. The batsman’s act of hitting the ball is called a shot or stroke. To master the stroke:
Hold the Bat, Have the Perfect Grip and Stand.
- Start with your feet; they should be almost your shoulder-width apart.
- For a right-handed batsman, the left hand should be on the top of the handle and the right hand should be at the bottom, and vice versa.
- Each foot should be on the either side of the batting crease.
- Your feet should be in-line, in reference to each other and parallel to the batting crease.
- Your knees should be slightly bent. You now have a solid base to execute your strokes.
- Your head should always be in the center of your feet from side-on and over your toes from front-on.
- Your bat should be just less than half up for the back lift.
- Your eyes should always be leveled. Recent studies have found that a tilt head may result in late reaction time, so keeping your eyes level is important.
- Make a line in the sand where the middle wicket is, this is known as making a guard and will give you some awareness to where the wicks are positioned as you are batting.
- If you are practicing inside or on turf, you can use a piece of tape to make your guard line.
Play your Shots through the Ground. This is always very productive because the majority of dismissals are caught out. This can be achieved through playing as late as possible for straight-batted shots. For cross-batted shots, you should always roll your wrists in the point of contact with the ball. Picking singles can help you improve your scoring rate and it will help to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Be Patient. Always remember that you cannot be as good as Sachin Tendulkar over-night. This requires a lot of determination and hard-work, as far as perfection is concerned.
“People throw stones at you and you convert them into milestones.” (Sachin Tendulkar)
Diet is Important. Staying fit will improve your endurance and will improve your over-all performance.
Always have the Right Attitude on the Field. You can only enjoy the game when you are loyal to it and ready to enjoy the challenge.
“Compromise for your dreams but never compromise on your dream.” (Imran Khan)
“Don’t stop chasing your dreams, because dreams do come true.”(Sachin Tendulkar)
How to Refine your Batting Skills
Follow Through With Your Swing. A good follow-through is critical, especially if you want to hit the ball far. Follow through the entire swing, even if you miss the ball.
Stay Calm While You Bat. Nervous energy can throw you off your game and cause you to make mistakes. Try to block out any excited or nervous energy from the crowd and team members by concentrating on the ball.
“I think he is marvellous. I think he will fit in whatever category of cricket that has been played or will be played, from the first ball that has ever been bowled to the last ball that’s going to be. He can play in any era and at any level. I would say he’s 99.5% perfect.” (Vivian Richards)
Perfect Your Swing. Before you practice with a ball, you should try to perfect your swing in front of a mirror or with a teammate. Analyzing your swing will let you know what adjustments you need to make to improve your stance and swing.
Practice Batting by Yourself with a Tennis Ball. Throw a tennis ball down on the ground and hit it after it bounces. This will emulate a full pitch, or a pitch that lands right in front of you, and will help you practice swinging. Practicing this drill will help improve your bottom hand grip.
“I was always fiercely determined and driven to succeed.” (Ricky Ponting)
Practice as much as Possible. The best way to get better at being a batsman is practice, practice and practice. Ask and implement. Turn your coach’s advice and ask your team members for suggestions into practice.
“There’s nothing more impressive than a great attitude, which you can wear on your sleeve. But you have to remember the difference between being rude and being confident.”(Virat Kohli)
Article by Hasseb Paracha