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Batting Tips [Merged]

Noman

ODI Debutant
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Runs
8,549
Well im an opener batsman and very good when in full flow.....
I can play all the shots, but im a very bad starter...
I often play very leg sidish at the start and tend to get lbw and my foot work against off side bowling is also very bad. i dont use my foot work so much at the start and I tend to open the face of the bat and many times gets out to the keeper or the slips



Guys need tips to How to play at the start of the inning and how to put the bad bowl to the boundry rope in the start.. I forget to put the bad ball away in the start of the inning...


tips needed..
 
I suggest before you go out to bat spend some time in the nets to get your eye in and footwork going then you should be ok, and smacking the bad balls away to the rope in the match.
 
When you start an innings it is very important to concentrate hard and try to play as straight as you can (show the full face of your bat). Once you play a few balls and get your footwork going then the runs will flow.
 
like rob n hitman have suggested do them 2 bits.......n too add some a few more let the ball come to u ....in other words play it as late as u can ...dont play away frm ur body for the first few overs or until u get ur eye in ........in my gud old days i used to look for quick singles frm ball 1 of the innings ......that used to get me going ......so i would reccomend try to take sone singles first that would help settling ur nerves as an opener i always found out if u can kill the nerves ur a million dollors so take quick singles, that more times then not helps the feet movement as well n even if u play a bad shot or therz an LBW apeal or u have missed a juicy fulltoss or cant find the gap dont worry about , forget about it n think about the positives while ur in the middle......hope this lil bit helps u in the future!
 
another way to get the footwork going early is to do a little jump rope before the start of your innings.

some other things you can try if you don't already do these

1. take a middle-leg stump guard

2. mark out your off-stump and mentally extend that line to the pitch so you have a good idea of the area on which if the ball pitches you can leave - could be that you are getting you caught behind on balls you should be leaving.

3. just try to play in the mid-on to mid-off arc early in the innings.
 
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well floatingslip if he's getting out LBW then i wouldn't recommend the middle stump guard.....seems to me that your looking to whip balls away from off and middle stump to the legside......maybe you need to be more careful of which balls you need to whip and which balls you need to on drive, it also helps if you can understand your opening partner...if he's aggressive enough, then you don't need to be, unless your aggressive naturally, otherwise backyourself, spend hours in the nets, and you'll succeed with the grace of god :)

good luck!
 
Tupac said:
well floatingslip if he's getting out LBW then i wouldn't recommend the middle stump guard

well, he's also not getting his feet across to play on the off-side so if he can take the middle-leg stump guard and play straight in the mid-on to mid-off arc he should be ok.
 
Noman said:
Should u play with soft or hard hand in the start of the inning??
depends............but too make it short n simple.......on seaming wickets where the ball bounces a bit..always play with soft hands !!! if u fancy a bowler u reckon u can hit all day long then u can play with hard hands (thats in aggressive mode if u know he will be bowling u half trackers that u can smash all day long ;-)
 
you tried batting outside of your crease ? helps me not get lbw, as long as you make sure the umpire knows that you are well outside of it.
 
I usually play with soft hands and try to guide the ball into the gaps rather than smack the ball . It gives you less of a chance of getting an edge if you play a tentative shot early in your innings.
 
floatingslip said:
well, he's also not getting his feet across to play on the off-side so if he can take the middle-leg stump guard and play straight in the mid-on to mid-off arc he should be ok.

yes but he can also play straight using the leg stump guard right? as for the playing on the offside, here's a simple remedy for it.

Basically noman (how old are you?), I had kind of the same problem as you very early on....there was a major over emphasis in my leg side play....that's probably because i used bats that my coach, and basically all my teammates that were way too heavy for me....I still do, lol, it's brought me runs from a young age, so I thought why change it? So I used to pick the length and then play on the legside. I had a couple of offside strokes...but because my mind was on the legside, invariably i'd get a lot of runs on the legside. Then I started training...vigorously. Four, maybe 5 hours a day...sometimes with Amir (we were very young then...so we didn't really know what we were doing..lol), sometimes with my coach...and mostly by myself on my driveway..just throwing a tennis ball against concrete and playing the strokes. I realized that my gut instincts would invariably tell me which stroke to play....and I learned to trust it. Practice hard by yourself, and teach yourself....learn to adjust to everything. Throw the ball at a surface and then play it back off a driveway or something like that...practice the stroke for the muscles to remember, and it'll be natural in the games.

Second thing...what worries me is that your asking whether I should play with soft hands or hard hands at the start of your innings.....some people take a good, hard grip on the bat..some people a very soft one. Either way, your left hand (top hand, assuming ur a rightie), should be firmly gripped...and your right hand should be a little softer, flexible, so you can guide the ball around on the offside. Maybe your holding them too tightly so your not finding the positioning. You need to be a thinking cricketer...do whatever is best for you, and above all things, trust yourself. If you don't, there will be hesitation, and you'll nick it. Back yourself to the end and you will never fail. Wish you all the best, and hope you get plenty of runs!
 
also, being an opener I understand what your going through. Everyone's nervous at the start of the innings...and you've got a big responsibility to see off the best bowlers. Take God's name before you start, loosen up, and focus hard. It's very important that between deliveries you unwind...take a walk, think about your girlfriend...maybe what your gonna do for dinner after the game, and then return, focus again, and bang, there you go
 
About grip... I use soft grip..... I dont use my buttion hand at all...I only use 3 fingegs ad the bat<<button hand..
im very good playing with soft hands.
 
Go out, take middle stump guard and block 1st ball, there after go and try and lash ball out of the park every ball!
 
Noman said:
Amjid bhai im not afridi or Dhoni...

Niether am i, but it works for me :))

Just kidding.

best way to resolve your problem?

Number one make sure you get someone to bowl to you before you go out and also try to move your feet whilst doing so.

If your playing thru leg side alot then take a leg stump guard. when standing to face practice a few forward defensives and make sure ur bat covers up off-stick, gain confidence from maybe leaving ball and letting it go thru to keeper and just getting an idea on the pace of the wicket.

Early on always try to play straight early on and dont play to many expansive strokes. Only play thru legside if ball is on leg stump or short is there to be pulled.

Always make sure your footmovement is forward and across if ball is on off stick so your transfering weight into blocks and strokes. If ball is on leg stump make sure your movement is back and then across.
 
If I was you....Then my advice would be to follwo one point that has been mentioned....

Take a Leg Stick Guard.... That way you will be prone to playing more balls on off stump and thereabouts..

You make no mention of height, and your stance/grip...Thats quite important....It may mean to me that you are all bottom hand....And hence you play the way you do. Without seeing you, you also sound to me that you have no grip evenly across both hands.......

One tip, I used to have when I played and had a bad patch, was ask a bowler to just lob some full tosses before a game, so I could get my hand/eye and feet moving, nothing more than 10/15 and I woudl be able to hit the ball straight and get over the top of the ball....It looks like you are falling over a lot....

Also this is a top Miandad gave me many years ago, and it has NEVER left me or ever will...I found it great advice...always try and score your 1st ten runs in singles..no big shots unless you got something juicy... It happens when i play in club cricket even now...1st 10...simple....get in gain confidence...

Your thinking is wrong also...As an opener...you will face more on/outside off then middle/middle leg// Ur stance needs sorting out. Have a look at urself standign in the mirror....
 
Noddy said:
If I was you....Then my advice would be to follwo one point that has been mentioned....

Take a Leg Stick Guard.... That way you will be prone to playing more balls on off stump and thereabouts..

You make no mention of height, and your stance/grip...Thats quite important....It may mean to me that you are all bottom hand....And hence you play the way you do. Without seeing you, you also sound to me that you have no grip evenly across both hands.......

One tip, I used to have when I played and had a bad patch, was ask a bowler to just lob some full tosses before a game, so I could get my hand/eye and feet moving, nothing more than 10/15 and I woudl be able to hit the ball straight and get over the top of the ball....It looks like you are falling over a lot....

Also this is a top Miandad gave me many years ago, and it has NEVER left me or ever will...I found it great advice...always try and score your 1st ten runs in singles..no big shots unless you got something juicy... It happens when i play in club cricket even now...1st 10...simple....get in gain confidence...

Your thinking is wrong also...As an opener...you will face more on/outside off then middle/middle leg// Ur stance needs sorting out. Have a look at urself standign in the mirror....

omg! I use that tip too...the one about full tosses....I do it every night...especially before a match...either I'll get someone to give me some nice full tosses which I can drive down the ground....or I'll do it myself in the basement or garage

noman, three fingers...no bottom hand? no wonder why your missing the ball on the off. This is what Sachin does...I've picked up on it now. The perfect way to pick up a bat is like this: put the bat down, face down. Then put your left hand(assuming ur rightie..if ur not, reverse), whereyou want, and then theright hand directly beneath it. Then pick the bat up. Don't change the grip.

It's impossible to help you outright because we haven't seen you live. But hte bottom is so important on the off...you can twist the blade any way you want, to get it between fielders. What level of cricket are you at btw...your coach should have a look at your guard and grip
 
Tupac said:
yes but he can also play straight using the leg stump guard right?

Yes he can but it will be harder to judge the ball to leave on the off stump.

The stance is just one piece of the puzzle and has to work with your overall technique. If you take a leg stump guard but shuffle across a little befor the ball is bowled will pretty much put you where you would be if you took a middle leg guard.
 
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and the shuffle across may be why you're getting hit on the pads. i think a leg stump guard will work as well, but only if you're sure of your off stump and after the trigger, the weight isn't left on the back leg. when you're missing the ball on your legs, try to imagine where your head ends up. in line with the ball, or outside it, overbalancing?

great advice, Noddy bhai, something that i'll have to keep in mind from now on as well. too often an opener will see so many gaps in the outfield and attempt to go over the top or for a booming drive to get the first boundary. get in first, get those 10 runs next to your name and then open up.
 
good batting techniqes

does anyone know any good batting tips or techniques.



I have to get better against my friends. there learning pretty fast. harder to bat against now. especially when the do a malinga
 
First you have to believe in yourself and relieve your mind of all pressure and fear of getting out. After you do this, go on to bat as you normally do in an enthusiastic and confident manner.

- Have a good idea of the field placing in mind as you get ready.

- Don't move on the crease, stay still and determined.

- If you play against these friends often, know what bowler bowls in what way and prepare yourself accordingly.

- Don't pre-determine a shot, always play according to the bowl that comes to you.

- You know your strengths and weaknesses, play the ones where you are strong and avoid the ones you are weak with.

- Always pull the short ball if its in the right place, timing is the key.

- Don't think about playing a shot on the legside when you know you can play a better and effective shot on the offside.

- Play smart!

There are many other things, the rest depends on your physical abilities.
 
My biggest problem was i used to go on my knees most of the time. Like to hit my shots, and this caused me to plant my front foot, which caused problems to shot selection, i..e wont have much time 2 get into position if its a short ball, as ive already decided before its bowled that im going to hit it for a six.

My friend told me, to have a firm base, keep ure head stil, watch the ball, and have a ful follow through of the blade. With a full follow through, u got more chance of clearing the boundary, even if its a miss hit.
 
Quick Tip: Stand 5-6 feet infront of the batting crease when facing fast bowling in the nets. This will improve your reflexes and will make you better against pace bowling.
 
imranahmed_khan said:
Quick Tip: Stand 5-6 feet infront of the batting crease when facing fast bowling in the nets. This will improve your reflexes and will make you better against pace bowling.
:|

You want to die?
 
Zechariah said:
First you have to believe in yourself and relieve your mind of all pressure and fear of getting out. After you do this, go on to bat as you normally do in an enthusiastic and confident manner.

- Have a good idea of the field placing in mind as you get ready.

- Don't move on the crease, stay still and determined.

- If you play against these friends often, know what bowler bowls in what way and prepare yourself accordingly.

- Don't pre-determine a shot, always play according to the bowl that comes to you.

- You know your strengths and weaknesses, play the ones where you are strong and avoid the ones you are weak with.

- Always pull the short ball if its in the right place, timing is the key.

- Don't think about playing a shot on the legside when you know you can play a better and effective shot on the offside.

- Play smart!

There are many other things, the rest depends on your physical abilities.
What about when they do the malinga?
 
6hitter said:
Also,guys what do i do about the bouncers?

Depends how it is... if you feel you can leave it and wont be able to hit it well then leave it, if you right around the place of your chest/shoulders take a crack at it!
 
Zechariah said:
Depends how it is... if you feel you can leave it and wont be able to hit it well then leave it, if you right around the place of your chest/shoulders take a crack at it!
easier said then done
 
6hitter said:
The "malinga" is where they bowl like lasith malinga. those balls are scorchers. especially the yorkers.

Keep an eye on it, don't try to play it as a wild swing or etc. stop it with a straight bat facing the ground. :P

Or if you are really good, gently sweep it ;-)
 
By practice I meant try to play them in the matches... when you can.

Ya sure if you want.. go ahead.
 
Okay. I have made 2 100s. 5 50s. My top score is 118* My strike rate is like 80 and 90. I like to hit the ball far and also take a wild swing of the bat. I don't know how many matches i have played. Probally more than 30. My average is like 20 something.
 
The Blazer said:
:|

You want to die?
Cummon mate, if he is paying with tape ball then there is no harm..... even with the hard ball its not life threatening. Helmets are made to be used. ;)
 
6hitter said:
Okay. I have made 2 100s. 5 50s. My top score is 118* My strike rate is like 80 and 90. I like to hit the ball far and also take a wild swing of the bat. I don't know how many matches i have played. Probally more than 30. My average is like 20 something.

Impressive and your age?
 
6hitter said:
Okay. I have made 2 100s. 5 50s. My top score is 118* My strike rate is like 80 and 90. I like to hit the ball far and also take a wild swing of the bat. I don't know how many matches i have played. Probally more than 30. My average is like 20 something.
You wanna know the best advice ? Spend less time asking about cricket techniques on the internet and more time on practice.
 
imranahmed_khan said:
You wanna know the best advice ? Spend less time asking about cricket techniques on the internet and more time on practice.
it's night right now
 
6hitter said:
it's night right now
Agreed but I would suggest that the best way to improve your batting is to make a person stand where the umpire stands and observe your batting. Then he can tell you what mistakes you are making and what improvements you should make.

No one can tell the flaws in your technique without seeing the way you bat.
 
Batting is mainly about two things. Timing and footwork. For timing, you basically have to keep your eye on the bowl and apply lots of concentration. It can only improve with practice. When facing the bowler, put all other thoughts out of your mind such as what kind of shot you need to hit or where the gap is, don't pre-determine the shot, just wait for the ball to come. When it is released, you have to determine the line of the ball and get in line with it and also determine the length of the ball so you can determine which foot to play the ball on.

Footwork varies from shot to shot but basically there is the front foot and the back foot. Practice on your own without a bowler and take your stance and then go back and forth between your front foot and your back foot. Start with your back lift, some prefer to keep their bat in the air if they are playing fast bowlers as they don't have to use the extra time to lift tha bat and bring it down again. The higher you lift the bat in the back lift, the more power you will have in the shot. Time your back lift right and bring your bat down.

For front foot shots, it is important to stick your leg out in line with where the ball is pitching. Bring your bat straight down and drive through. This will insure that you don't miss the ball if it varies in pitch but the only thing that determines if it takes and edge or misses by the side of your bat is bringing the foot down to the line of the ball.

For shots on the back foot. Move back and also across if you want to pull the ball to the leg side. This means move your back foot both back and also towards the off stump and get all your weight on the back foot. Play the shot with extended arms and roll your wrist over the ball as you play it to keep it down. For cutting the ball to the off side, bring your back foot back and across to the leg side to give you more room to play. By moving the back foot back, your approach is more side on and then you wait and time the ball and open the face of the bat as you play the shot. This way you can direct the ball to square or behind the wicket.

These are some quick basics. Practice makes perfect.
 
Zechariah said:
First you have to believe in yourself and relieve your mind of all pressure and fear of getting out. After you do this, go on to bat as you normally do in an enthusiastic and confident manner.

- Have a good idea of the field placing in mind as you get ready.

- Don't move on the crease, stay still and determined.

- If you play against these friends often, know what bowler bowls in what way and prepare yourself accordingly.

- Don't pre-determine a shot, always play according to the bowl that comes to you.

- You know your strengths and weaknesses, play the ones where you are strong and avoid the ones you are weak with.

- Always pull the short ball if its in the right place, timing is the key.

- Don't think about playing a shot on the legside when you know you can play a better and effective shot on the offside.

- Play smart!

There are many other things, the rest depends on your physical abilities.

There is one Shahid Khan Afridi who needs to read this..... :21:
 
imranahmed_khan said:
Cummon mate, if he is paying with tape ball then there is no harm..... even with the hard ball its not life threatening. Helmets are made to be used. ;)
Chalo jee, let me get a hard ball and then you take guard 5 feet in front of the crease. See what happens. :P
 
The most important thing while batting is how you shift your weight between front foot and back foot.

Usually just before the bowler releases the ball ur back foot should shuffle across an inch..this transfers wait on your back foot, and if the ball is outside off you will find it easier to get in line with it since, as their is minimum wieght on ur front leg it will move across quickly and once u place it down the whole weight transfers onto the front leg allowing u to play the perfect cover drive.

As far as playing bouncers go. Keep your eyes on the ball, only if u are a natural hooker or a puller, u shud attempt to play the short ball..otherwise u might fluke it once but r like to top edge it.
 
The Blazer said:
Chalo jee, let me get a hard ball and then you take guard 5 feet in front of the crease. See what happens. :P
Okay deal, I'll give you a call whenever I am in London (might be there in about 2 months or so).... by the way I was talking about 5 feet infront of batting crease & not the bowling crease incase you misunderstood.

And get ready for some serious thumping ! :P
 
imranahmed_khan said:
Okay deal, I'll give you a call whenever I am in London (might be there in about 2 months or so).... by the way I was talking about 5 feet infront of batting crease & not the bowling crease incase you misunderstood.

And get ready for some serious thumping ! :P
Awesome. I'll show you how we do it in London.
 
MCMLXXXII said:
Batting is mainly about two things. Timing and footwork. For timing, you basically have to keep your eye on the bowl and apply lots of concentration. It can only improve with practice. When facing the bowler, put all other thoughts out of your mind such as what kind of shot you need to hit or where the gap is, don't pre-determine the shot, just wait for the ball to come. When it is released, you have to determine the line of the ball and get in line with it and also determine the length of the ball so you can determine which foot to play the ball on.

Footwork varies from shot to shot but basically there is the front foot and the back foot. Practice on your own without a bowler and take your stance and then go back and forth between your front foot and your back foot. Start with your back lift, some prefer to keep their bat in the air if they are playing fast bowlers as they don't have to use the extra time to lift tha bat and bring it down again. The higher you lift the bat in the back lift, the more power you will have in the shot. Time your back lift right and bring your bat down.

For front foot shots, it is important to stick your leg out in line with where the ball is pitching. Bring your bat straight down and drive through. This will insure that you don't miss the ball if it varies in pitch but the only thing that determines if it takes and edge or misses by the side of your bat is bringing the foot down to the line of the ball.

For shots on the back foot. Move back and also across if you want to pull the ball to the leg side. This means move your back foot both back and also towards the off stump and get all your weight on the back foot. Play the shot with extended arms and roll your wrist over the ball as you play it to keep it down. For cutting the ball to the off side, bring your back foot back and across to the leg side to give you more room to play. By moving the back foot back, your approach is more side on and then you wait and time the ball and open the face of the bat as you play the shot. This way you can direct the ball to square or behind the wicket.

These are some quick basics. Practice makes perfect.
What do i do if the ball is swinging like mad
 
Vegitto1 said:
The most important thing while batting is how you shift your weight between front foot and back foot.

Usually just before the bowler releases the ball ur back foot should shuffle across an inch..this transfers wait on your back foot, and if the ball is outside off you will find it easier to get in line with it since, as their is minimum wieght on ur front leg it will move across quickly and once u place it down the whole weight transfers onto the front leg allowing u to play the perfect cover drive.

As far as playing bouncers go. Keep your eyes on the ball, only if u are a natural hooker or a puller, u shud attempt to play the short ball..otherwise u might fluke it once but r like to top edge it.
What about yorkers?
 
6hitter said:
What about yorkers?
You dig 'em out.

Or else charge down the track like a hyena on a mission and convert the yorker into a full toss and hit it way back for a six. :P
 
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