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[alexrickyponting]

Johan's topic got me thinking about general movement as a batsman standing deeper/further out of crease/moving across/away from the stumps etc or even a bowler going wider/closer to stumps. Just wondering who actually uses the crease to their advantage as a bowler/batsmen, how they do it and how well it works?

I have tried doing the baseball style planting the back foot deep and pushing off into the ball but it didn't do anything for me, but i always stand out of the crease if the keeper is back to start with, sometimes moving into it if the bowler is trying yorkers or pitching it on a decent length and i cant drive and its not quite short enough to pull.
Moving back in those scenarios allows me to get under the yorker/turn it into a half volley and play the pull shot to what was a decent length ball. Obviously this all depends on the bowler not noticing i have moved/ not being able to readjust instantly.

On thoughts on the subject? Especially interested to hear about bowlers going wider etc..

[j.f.101]

I tend to use the crease quite a bit when bowling, mainly when its swinging so then you can get a Jimmy Anderson sort of shape to the delivery if you know what i mean - aiming at leg then straightening up on off. Ive found this gets more lbws/bowleds as the ball is always at the stumps so they have to play but ive also got quite a few wickets off edges at the same time, though if you stray a bit then its easy for the batsman just to swing over cow corner.

it works particularly well against offside dominant players as you can really tuck them up well 

[uknsaunders]

tend bat alot deeper in my crease than I use to. Partly due to our deck as against spinners the ball tends to "sit up" if bowled slightly short. Likewise if quicker guys are bowling it gives me another split second. The flipside is if a medium pacer is hitting a good length and the keepers back I might come outside crease. In some cases with weak keepers, I'll bat several yards outside my crease if I can get away with it. It's a sensible alternative to slogging.

[Buzz]

I was hoping more people would comment on this as I think it is a really important part of batting.

there are a few thoughts where people have added comments in this thread http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=10025.0

but using the crease forward, back and sidways is important - so long as you are still at the moment the ball is released...

[tommo256]

I saw eoin morgan do it the other day and mccullum, when they plan to charge down the track they drop deep into there crease. I tried it last night and makes you feel more comfartable cause your not out of your crease but you have disrupted the bowler