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[Buzz]

Please can anyone explain the advantages of stepping away and "giving yourself room" when batting!!

I have watched a fair amount of cricket and it seems that in an effort to force the pace batsman frequently try to give themselves room by backing away to the leg side and end up getting bowled missing a straight one. I could list about 1000 examples of batsman in one day cricket giving their wicket away like this.

If the bowler is trying to bowl straight yorkers or slower balls, exposing your stumps doesn't seem to me to be a good option. I understand the concept of wanting to be able to increase the bat speed and straightening the arms to increase hitting power. However, flaying the ball over cover or mid off by backing away is a really difficult skill and a very low percentage shot, yet consistently we see people trying it...and consistently getting bowled.

what do other people think about this?

[100 not out]

Making room to swing the arms. Also to hit over the off side when the field is in

[procricket]

Agree buzz but with modern day one day fields i think it a high risk yet high scoring area if done correct with the cover point man going round more..

Not many have mastered it though and i think you have to be in to pull it off when you see people doing it ball one is plain daft


The Prior shoot was and is as stupid as a schoolboy trying to cut a ball spinning off spinner

If you look at the field to Prior it was a maximum scoring shot of 2 and not worth the risk he could have turned it round the corner for 2

[roco]

I can't comment too much as it is one of my shots at the end of an innings as I like to hit over cover/straight and it helps me to do that but alot of that tonight was slogging not shot making if you slog does not matter if you back away or stand still but if you watch bell back away it is a thing of beauty

[Buzz]

Just to add to this - the reason it is such a hard skill is because
1) you are playing the ball away from your eyes - normally you play a shot under you eyes
2) you have moved your usual standing position so you have moved your head and may not be still and you are not in a normal "unconscious competence" position with your stumps in a set position behind you
3) it is difficult to play a controlled shot as the temptation to hit the ball too hard takes over

It further is high risk because you are exposing your stumps, looking to play with a horizontal/crossbat or "45 degree" bat and likely to be trying to hit the ball in the air.

effectively you are trying to play a golf shot with a cricket bat - I suspect this is where a mongoose comes into its own.

My own view is that the risks don't justify the rewards - you can play other shots which are lower risks and will get you as many runs. I agree that watching Ian Bell batting is a delight as he really makes batting look easy.

But the questions remain - what are the advantages to taking on the risk of this shot? 

[procricket]

scoring runs in the area there not covering deep straight point for 4 or 6...

I only play the shot when iam in and the wicket is true and depends on two area how wide there mid off is and how straight there deep square cover fielder is

Also if pulled of well there bowling in areas they might not like ie leg stump  then it opens up other areas..

it comes down to disruption and risk for shots                           

[tim2000s]

Take a position with your feet planted and watch the ball carefully. Then play it like baseball. Using a Mongoose Baseball Cricket Club, this would work surprisingly well... You might want to be positioned in such a way that you can slog as best you can across the line, so maybe at 45 degrees to the wicket.

Seems to work in the nets when I have tried it.

[procricket]

my advice is on the shot move early and be adaptable and keep the head as still as possible

Buzz what about opning your stumps up the other side as well coming inside the line of the ball

[mdl_1979]

I don't see the point of 'giving yourself room'.  If bowlers are looking to go full and use the yorker or dig it in short, going legside or offside won't necessarily give the batsman an advantage.  What I do like to do personally is use the depth of the crease or to come at the bowler.  When I hit I know the areas I am strong in and want to hit the ball (an arc from deep midwicket to long off) so I try to find ways of getting the ball in to those areas.

[Bulldog Cricket]

The more "modern" way of giving yourself room is to clear the front leg. By this I mean standing deep in your crease and then in the bowlers delivery stride move your front leg to the leg side. This give more options to hit both leg side and off side.

Hope that makes sense ?

[Simmy]

i do this in the nets some times. just to get out of way really so i dont feel cramped and just try hit ball as hard as i can

tbh i think its better just to walk down the track rather than give my self room.

i have a open stance anyway so not something i really tend to do

[procricket]

horses for courses i know it brings me runs but only when iam well set...

I guess turning a straight ball to leg on a true wicket is taboo to some on here but i sometimes can tell a good batsman by how the do it ...

It all about calculated risk

Yep Keiron i agree with you notion mate

[tim2000s]

The more "modern" way of giving yourself room is to clear the front leg. By this I mean standing deep in your crease and then in the bowlers delivery stride move your front leg to the leg side. This give more options to hit both leg side and off side.

Hope that makes sense ?

Been trying to do this in the nets...

[Bulldog Cricket]

bit on it here  http://www.pitchvision.com/how-to-score-quickly-in-twenty20-cricket

Takes some practice Tim but once you get the hang of it it really gives you more options at the end of an innings.

[roco]

Nets is the best place to see if you can do it I have worked on a shot for about 18 months in nets and a few Sunday games and will be used this season