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[Joe]

I'm a pretty good batsman but have a massive gaping hole in my otherwise well rounded technique: I cannot play anything even a little bit short outside off-stump. I cannot cut, and I cannot play a backwards drive. I seem to play it too late; I almost get beaten for pace but even off dobbers and spinners. It's really frustrating as these are balls I should be putting away but keep missing - I really, really need help.

[Colesy]

I struggle cutting spinners, often edging to the keeper. Maybe some linked problem someone could help with..

[StonyFielder]

Let it go.

Most bowlers will get bored and start bowling to you.

If you feel the need to score then develop a shot that allows you to rotate the strike from those balls - you don't have to smash boundaries.

For me it is the run to third man. If you're going to play it though make sure you get yourself nice and in line - the closer your head is to the ball the easier it is going to be.

[Joe]

I literally cannot play any shot to a wide ball. I get into position and then... the ball is past me.

[ProWannabe88]

You're probably leaning away from the ball rather than over it. If your body is swaying.to leg you're always fighting a losing battle. Try to get someone to throw ball after ball wide, short etc in the nets and start leaning into the shot rather than away from it. Unemderarm from close and really focus on going with the shot instead of away from it

[Burdy]

I am no coach first off lets get this straight. But if it is against a spinner and you are not a good cutter, there surely must be enough time for you to note that the ball will pitch wider when it is released and try to take a pace across and play the ball like a straight delivery maybe? If not, leave well alone, no harm done depending what the match situation is.

Or could try to net with someone who put balls down to you at a constant wide''ish delivery and practice practice practice. Only true way you will get the feel for this shot.

Try not to get frustrated with yourself if you do practice this. When practicing certain aspects of shots you are weak with, being in a bad frame of mind makes it harder, try to enjoy it.

I used to struggle with short deliveries, but had an extra net at training for a long while and had ball put down to me at throat height, now i am really comfortable with bouncers and short pitch deliveries at decent pace. Practice is the best way.

[mad_abt_cricket]

How much is your back-lift. Generally I have noticed this weakness if the back-lift is pretty low, it is hard to bring the bat up rather than bringing it down specially while playing horizontal bat shots against the fast bowlers.
Also for a right hand batsman, the right foot should move back and across to the offstump in order to play the ball close to the body..

[Buzz]

Let it go.

Most bowlers will get bored and start bowling to you.

If you feel the need to score then develop a shot that allows you to rotate the strike from those balls - you don't have to smash boundaries.

For me it is the run to third man. If you're going to play it though make sure you get yourself nice and in line - the closer your head is to the ball the easier it is going to be.

pretty much this.

length outside off is frequently a "get out ball"
if you are going to go for a shot, the back foot drive, but make sure you get your back foot right across to the line.

if in doubt leave it.

[StonyFielder]

Without watching it is impossible to tell but my first thought would be that what you aren't doing is infact getting into position.

One sees many a batsman out at club level to wideish full balls as their foot plonks down on middle and off and their bat wafts somewhere a foot and a half outside off stump.

If you really can't then until you're confident with a shot, just leave the balls, they can't get you out.

[Burdy]

Maybe next time you have a net, get someone to video you. Easier for people to give advice and see what action may be needed.

[The_Bird]

Practice cutting the ball!!! Get into line using your back foot instead of your front foot