BATTING:SHOT SELECTION

Batting is about scoring as much as possible in cricket. Every batsman want to score more runs but many  of them fail to do so because of many inabilities but the main mistake is the faulty shot selection. Shot selection comes before the execution of the shot and a false shot selection leads to poor shot execution so you might get out. Good shot selection is a quality of a good batsman. Your technique may be perfect but if your shot selection is poor you are most likely to fail 8 out of 10 times. To build an innings, a batsman needs a sound judgement to work out which deliveries to defend, leave or score off. The shot selection should be made depending upon the line, length and the speed of the delivery.

There are three main lines:

Off stump and outside off

Middle stump

Leg stump and outside leg

There are five main lengths:

Bouncer

Short of length

Good length

Full length

Full toss

Along with sound judgement and shot selection good feet movements forward or backward is important for proper execution of the stroke.

FRONT FOOT SHOTS

The deliveries that are full in length are played on the front foot. The strokes played are executed efficiently by moving to the pitch of the ball. The general front foot strokes are:

Forward defence

Straight drive

Cover drive

On drive

Sweep shot

The straight drive and forward defence are played to a delivery that is full, straight and threatening the stumps.

Cover drive is played to a ball pitched on off stump and outside.

On drive is played to a ball pitching on leg stump.

Sweep shot is played to a spinner to the ball pitched on leg stump and outside.

Leg glance and flick are the other shots that can be played on the front foot.

BACK FOOT SHOTS

A ball that is short of length is generally played on the back foot. The shots played on the back foot are:

Pull

Hook

Square cut

Back foot defence

Back foot drive

Leg glance

The hook, pull and square cut are cross-batted shots where the arms are fully extended for maximum power.

Square cut is played to a ball that is short and outside off stump.

Pull and hook shots are played to a ball pitched short and on middle and leg stump.

These are some general strokes played but there are many innovative strokes that batsman plays on either front foot or back foot such as reverse sweep, scoop, switch hit, etc.