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[Tumo]

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 ?

I play this way quite often. I also bat outside leg, because I'm weak through leg, but I cut well and drive okay, so I make full use of my better shots. Obviously I still get balls on my legs, and I'm still practising putting them away, but until then I'll be using this method.

[Mr Cricket]

people who are strong through the off side can find this advantageous as it allows them more chance to get a ball through that area, i personally am stronger off my legs so if i feel the need to make something happen i step across to give myself a better chance of getting a shot away through that area. its good for putting a bowler off his line and lengh if you vary how you play him.

its the same as most things in cricket, personal preference.

[pacman75cricket]

Personally think it can be of use in club cricket where you sometimes have shorter boundaries & field dependent.

I have used as strike the ball slightly in to out, also can helpif facing inswing as hitting ball from where it comes e.g extra cover

[johan95]

I don't really believe in this. IMO good cricket shots get you runs, if I gave myself room it would more be to put off the bowler than anything, and Buzz's point in the OP was valid.
More about playing the right shot for the ball, getting your head in line and hitting through the line of the ball. I tend to stand well outside my crease to fair pace as that can disrupt their length - I was doing that in my net yesterday and thus got a lot more drive-balls...

[johnnyw]

Just have a look at KOB batting today. I dont think he ever backed away

[procricket]

he backed into the bugger

that innings was just memorable top class once in a life time stuff..

Iam still sat here in total admiration for the skill in which he pulled it off

[Bulldog Cricket]

No backing away but plenty of clearing that front leg. What a knock

[johnnyw]

I think it is the best innings ever technically. There was no "Luke Wright" slogging. 

[Vantage Cricket]

I think it all depends on your strengths - Ill give a long winded and potentially boring example. I had the privelage of working one to one on a bowling machine with Chris Read. We worked on various aspects of an innings and against various bowler types and one area i really struggled to put the ball away was from cover round to backward point. This has always been a weakness for me but i hit through mid off/on very very well so have got away with it.

We discussed for a long time about ways to help hit through the former areas and a few attempts were made at giving myself room and doing so - still not great success. He explained that for him to hit through these areas were very easy for him because of how dominant his left eye/side is when playing shots, so he could watch the ball for longer with his leading eye, allowing him to turning the body and make good contact through cover/point etc but hitting through the leg side was much more of a weakness and still something he worked on regularly.

We discovered that i was massively right eye dominant so hitting through these areas was massivley difficuilt as my right eye needed to be on the ball at all times so turning my body to hit through these areas just couldnt happen. But hitting from mid off all the way round to fine leg was very very easy.

So my point of do what comes naturally and easiest applies here. If you find it easier to give your self room/stay leg sided of it and hit through the off side do it. But personally, i will always stand dead still and go straight/leg side. As thats my strength.

[Kulli]

I'd green dot that if I could, interesting stuff.

[Buzz]

this is quite an interesting topic - Kieron, I totally agree with the clearing your front leg - it is really effective as demonstrated today by KOB.
Dan - the interesting thing about Chris Read is he is a really good hockey player and has brilliant hand eye coordination which is what really helps hitting the ball through the offside.
As for the dominant right eye issue - I think that pushes the point well. I think not enough time and consideration is given to people's eyesight when batting - but that is a different topic for another day...
For the record, I encourage stepping across to the off side a little but I suspect it is because I like playing the ball through the leg side and also have a dominate right eye.

[Vantage Cricket]

Clearing your left leg or opening your body up in general is in my opinion a better way to go. Got more chance of keeping your head behind the ball - especially the straigher delivery.
Indeed he is Buzz and his control of the face of the bat was fantastic, he could manouvre straight balls into off side gaps and into places they probably shouldnt go. Think this is best displayed against spinners.
The whole stronger eye topic is definately one people neglect and indeed i did until then. There is a lot to be said for discovering why you have the strength and weaknesses you have. It will go along way to improving them.
Also rather than backing away or walking across your stumps, there is also the option of the depth of the crease or walking down the track.

[Bulldog Cricket]

Agree with Buzz and Dan.

It also depends on the type of bowler you are facing. Left Arm, Right Arm, Over or Around the wkt, pace or spin !! there are lots of variables including the wicket you are playing on. That wicket today was an absolute road !!

I guess you need to work out what your strength's are and then work on how best to apply them in a game situation.

I agree on the eye theory also. I have a stronger right eye and I bat left handed so I'm lucky !! They even do eye exercises on the players at Somerset now !!

[Buzz]

Do you remember Ganguly doing eye exercies at Lords just before his debut knock (and he scored a ton) that was in the mid 90's?
Very unusual to have a left handed batsman with a leading right ey, I normally consider that to be a disadvantage as it is harder to keep your eyes level.
Using the crease backwards and forwards is also a really good option - and much leass risky than backing away

[pacman75cricket]

Batting out of your ground allows you to take the ball early turns more into half volleys etc.