The further away you place your hands on the handle, the more awkward maneuvering the bat will become.
Once you’re in a basic side-on stance, angle your feet or upper body to get into a position that feels more natural. [3] X Research source There’s no single best batting stance for cricket. The important thing is that you choose a stance that offers maximum stability and leverage so you can hit with more force. Be prepared to tweak your stance during games to adapt to different shots. If the bowler delivers a bouncer just in front of your feet, for instance, you’ll need to be ready to shift your weight and play a cut off your back foot.
Make sure you’re holding the bat with the flat side facing the bowler. Since most bowls tend to be delivered closer to ground level, a cricket bat shouldn’t be held as high as a baseball bat.
If you wait until the bowler releases the ball to start pulling back, you won’t be able to reverse the motion of the bat in time to make contact at the optimal distance. Avoid raising the bat at too much of an angle, as this can throw off the accuracy of your swing.
Watch the ball closely as it crosses the pitch to determine which type of shot you’ll need to play. The batting action in cricket has more in common with a tight, controlled golf swing than the wide, horizontal arc of a baseball bat.
An exaggerated follow through is most useful for hitting drives, and may not be necessary when you’re just trying to prevent the ball from making it to the wicket.
For example, a bowler may modify their grip when they’re planning on delivering a Yorker, or lean slightly when bowling wide on the leg side. A elite-level batsman puts just as much thought into the bowler’s game as his own.
Most bowls tend to move very quickly, so try not to take your eyes off the ball for even a second.
Staying behind the ball also cuts down on your chances of stopping it with your body rather than your bat (a leg-before-wicket foul). [10] X Research source
If hitting a ball requires you to get into an awkward position or alter your stance or technique dramatically, it’s usually best to just let it go.
By hurrying back and forth across the pitch repeatedly (a strategy sometimes referred to as “running between wickets”), you stand to score as many as 4 runs off a single ball. Always check to make sure you and your fellow batsman are in the clear before attempting multiple runs. If a fielder gets hold of the ball while you’re still in motion, there’s a chance they could hit the wicket and score a run-out. [13] X Research source
Make better use of your practice time by choosing 1 or 2 specific skills to work on. You might drill off-drives one session, then focus on hooks or sweeps the next. [14] X Research source Swinging a heavy cricket bat repeatedly can place a lot of strain on your shoulders, so be sure to take a day off to rest here and there when you start to feel sore or achy.
If you don’t have access to free weights, you can still get an effective workout by performing bodyweight exercises like push ups, pull ups, dips, and crunches. [16] X Research source Batting isn’t just done with the upper body. In order to put your full power into a swing, you also need a stable base and a strong core, so be sure to incorporate some lower body and abdominal exercises, such as squats, lunges, sit ups, and planks.
Regular practice will help bring up the weak parts of your game, but it’s just as crucial to use what you’re good at. Continue sharpening your strongest skills until you can execute them consistently under pressure. The most capable batsmen are the usually the ones who know how to take advantage of the skills that come most naturally to them.
Try not to let 1 or 2 bad innings shake your confidence. When you’re coming off a disappointing play, take a few slow, deep breaths to calm and recenter yourself. Don’t forget to have fun! After all, you wouldn’t be playing cricket if you didn’t enjoy it.
