Basics of batting in cricket
Being a cricketer has been a dream for many young champs all over the world. But the journey of becoming a good cricketer is quite challenging and is full of competition.
And when it comes to being a batsman the competition becomes even tougher for any individual.
Batting is not just about hitting boundaries, there is a lot to learn in it. To become a good batsman it’s quite important to stick to the basics of batting.
In this article, we will be teaching you some shear basics of batting, if you are starting it from scratch as a batsman.
1. GRIPING OF THE BAT
2. STANCE OF THE BATSMAN
3. BACKLIFT OF THE BAT WHILE BATTING
GRIPING OF THE BAT
Gripping of the bat refers to the way of holding the bat for batting. This is one of the most important factor to become a good batsman. Perfect gripping helps a batsman to play the delivery according to the merit.
There are two techniques for gripping the bat.
Techniques of perfect gripping of Bat
1st technique
Let the bat rest on the ground.
Make a ‘V’ shape between the thumb and index finger of both the hands and place on the handle as it is.
Now lift the bat and the ‘V’ shape created within your thumb and index finger of both the hands is the proper way of gripping the bat.
2nd technique
Hold your bat straight upward (handle towards the ground and the base of the bat towards the sky).
Place your left hand at the edge of the bat such that the thumb covers the middle portion of the bat and the other fingers rest at the edge itself.
Now slide it down slowly towards the handle and stop it leaving 2-3 inches before the hand ends.
In the same way, now place your right hand at the top of the bat but in this case, the hand should be in the middle of the bat.
Now slide it down slowly towards the handle and rest it on the handle such that the gap between the right hand and left hand should be around 1 inch.
Then have a look at the placement of your hand, it would have automatically acquired the ‘V’ shape.
Keep your left hand (lower hand) tight and the right hand (upper hand) loose.
This is the perfect gripping of the bat.
STANCE OF THE BATSMAN
Perfect stance during batting helps the batsman adjust the movement of the leg and body with the pitching of the ball.
An ideal stance distributes the entire weight of the body evenly on the two legs. Many batsmen face injuries due to their faulty stance.
Technique
First stand straight such that the distance between your two legs should be equal to the length of your shoulder.
Bend your knees slightly forward.
Keep your feet in such a position that the right feet are slightly forward than the left foot. This helps you to play the ball in all the direction.
If you keep your legs parallel to each other then you may face problems in playing the shots on the leg side.
Your back should be straight. Remember that you should not lean down much on the bat because it may cause back injuries.
The front shoulder should be pointing straight down the pitch in the line of the stumps at the opposite end.
Keep your head still and eyes focused on the hand of the bowler.
Your right hand (front hand) should rest on the thigh and the bat should be grounded around the toes.
BACK LIFT OF THE BAT
Back lift is another major basics of batting. This has the most vital role because the shots you deliver completely depends upon the angle of the movement of the bat.
Techniques
The batsman should lift the bat when the bowler is in action.
Any mistake in the timing of the lifting of the bat either late or early may lead to misjudgment of the ball.
The bat should be lifted to a normal height neither too high or too low.
A high back lift may take a certain time to reach the pitching of the ball and a low back lift will restrict you from driving the ball smoothly.
The bat should be slant towards the first slip or second slip.
The position of the head and eyes should not deviate during lifting the bat. The head should be straight and still and the eyes should be focused on the hand of the bowler.
This is all about the basics you need to look after if you are dreaming to become a good batsman and pursue your career as a cricketer.
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