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[uknsaunders]

Good article from Martin Crowe

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/726847.html

[Buzz]

nah - it is all down to the head.

[GarrettJ]

Great article.

Surely a still head and level eyes is more important?

"Get your foot to the pitch of the ball" is not a great help to batsmen if the head and shoulder and weight aren't all in the right place

[Buzz]

"Get your foot to the pitch of the ball"

In my view this is one of the worst pieces of advice which is handed out by batting "coaches"

[GarrettJ]

I agree 100%

No good if you just move your foot and leave everything else behind.

Best advice is probably to move your head and shoulder towards it, your foot should follow and then young kids can understand stand the movement a little better.

[jamielsn15]

Peter Moore's has an interesting coaching article in All Out Cricket.  It mostly addresses a question regarding a guy who keeps nicking off, but the following applies here I think.

...batters are obsessed about getting their foot to the pitch of the ball, which you can't actually do.  When they try and do this they get stretched across and often can't hit the ball properly.  The top batsmen actually push forward for momentum, rather than follow the ball with their front foot.

I'm also minded of the KP masterclass (surely I get points for getting KP and Moores into one post agreeing?!) on Sky last summer.  "kiss the ball". In other words, placing more stock on head position than feet...

[Buzz]

I agree 100%

No good if you just move your foot and leave everything else behind.

Best advice is probably to move your head and shoulder towards it, your foot should follow and then young kids anyone can understand the movement a little better.

Batting on the front foot explained in one sentence.

[smilley792]

I rarely use my feet, but can score runs. And no quite a few others that are similar.

But

I know of no batsmen, that has his head all over the place yet still scores?

[brokenbat]

don't think its a bad article actually. i agree with the head being important, but Crowe has some good gems in here.

for example

 "To get the best out of your feet, the weight must be on the ball of each foot, for that is where the energy, the springy muscle, is, not the arch or the heel. Often the toes are referred to, yet it is in fact the ball of the foot, the round, sinewy area at the base of the big toe, that is the most vital part of the body when it comes to batting.

As you stand awaiting the bowler's delivery, the balls of the feet are priority, poised, ready to move quickly and efficiently. The best way to get on to the balls of the feet is to flex the knees. Straight legs send the weight to the wider part of the foot, including the heel, a sure way to slow movement. By flexing the knees and feeling the pressure on the balls of the feet, the body has its engine room fired up and ready to pounce.."

[ammo]

Batting on the front foot explained in one sentence.

Exactly what Woolmer says - if anyone knows their stuff - its him.

[GarrettJ]

It's a great article just the title is a little misleading

[procricket]

The head leads the body will follow

[brokenbat]

It's a great article just the title is a little misleading

agreed. the title totally gives the wrong impression. i don't think crowe would disagree with any of the earlier comments posted.