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[parthnayak]

Hello ,
need an advice on how do you score of off spinners , . I can play leg spin pretty well but off spin has been a major issue in my batting. Invariably, I end up gifting my wickets to them -- majorly getting stumped in process of lifting them over infield. Any areas you all aim for? as a side note, I dont like playing sweep too as it doesnt come naturally to me. 

[FattusCattus]

One area to aim for may well be the ground.

If you keep getting stumped lifting them over the infield it must be time for a re-think. You could still get 4 an over if you just push them around, and then you are still in to smash everyone else!

[Buzz]

Have a read of this thread - there are some good comments and links to helpful articles

http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=11521.0

there is also some waffle on playing sping in
http://www.methodsinexcel.co.uk/Batting_book_v5.pdf

The key things I advocate is that using the crease doesn't just mean moving forward and back it means using the width of the crease to change the bowlers angles to ones that work for you.

Giving the bowler the charge is a very limited way of playing off spin and getting stumped is an aweful way to get out (in my rather old school English way...!)

[WalkingWicket37]

If you keep getting stumped trying to lift them over the infield there's a simple answer.
Stop trying to clear the infield! 

Maybe go deeper in your crease and focus on playing along the ground. You don't need to belt it out the park every ball, taking singles and playing along the floor you'll find the gap eventually.

If you take a single you don't have to worry either, your mate can deal with the offie while you belt the leggy at the other end over the infield 

[RichW]

As a rule of thumb you should always try and play spin bowlers with the spin, so assuming you are a right hand bat this means hitting on the leg side.

If the ball is short or very full of course you can cut and drive on the off side but mainly you should look to hit on the leg side.

For me the best way of playing spin is too get right forward to defend the ball or to angle the bat slightly to work the ball in the gap. It's important to keep your head over your front leg and to watch the ball closely, you don't want to get lazy and give leading edges back to the bowler.

If you can't get forward get right back, deep in the crease, stay tall and wait for the ball to get to you and play the ball down onto the wicket or work it away into gaps on the leg side.

If you do need to break the shackles a little, using your feet and hitting over the top is a good idea but you need to pick the right ball to attack. Wait until you see the bowler put a little bit more flight on the ball. When using your feet remember to get right to the pitch of the ball and the most important thing to remember is that just because you looking to attack if it's not the right ball or you've been beaten by the flight etc then just block it or even kick it away, your unlikely to be out LBW.

As with all batting if you have men around the bat catching when you defending make sure you have really soft hands you should be able to defend without using the bottom hand at all other than to give you a little more control.

Most important is find what works for you, practise hard and then practise again and keep it simple!

[SOULMAN1012]

Playing off spin is all about reading length and knowing when to Play on the front or back foot. Hitting over the top is a risky shot and in a lot of occasions not worth the risk. Personally I would say playing spin is one of my strongest suits and as has been said it's quite easy to score at 5-6 an over with minimal risk just be working the ball around. 

Using your feet to spin is also key but not to always bit over the top. Stay in line or just getting outside the line is the best option as it protects your stumps and also shouldn't allow you to be beaten by the turn. This allows you to play down the ground with minimal effort for 1-2 runs a time. Also picking the length will allow you to cut or pull the one that's dragged down and still achieve boundaries whilst staying in the crease and drive the full ball.

Hope that helps

[parthnayak]

  Yes , I definitely need to learn the art of going back and tabbing the ball around . I just end holding up one end so end up jumping out of my crease , not on the merit of ball but coz of inability to rotate the strike .
thank you friends for your advice . Will try them out .
Do you have go to shot incase you miss the flight of the ball ?

[WalkingWicket37]

My go to shot is a filthy sweep but you've already said you don't like playing that haha

[FattusCattus]

I like to charge a 1/3 of the way up the track and flat-bat it through the leg side for 4 on the full.

Letting it bounce is very poor form.

[SOULMAN1012]

If you miss the flight it's best in my view to defend and get something in the way of the ball, hard to be given LBW if your down the pitch so body in line of the flight. As has been said play with the spin so it should turn I to you off spin or away leggie so get body in the way. You may look silly but you get to bat another day.

[SOULMAN1012]

I like to charge a 1/3 of the way up the track and flat-bat it through the leg side for 4 on the full.

Letting it bounce is very poor form.

Bruce you really are a master batsmen lol. And yes your form is very poor lol

[arsenal123]

Off spin is one of the few types of bowling I have a real battle plan against.  Obviously this is only my plan, might not work for most.

I look to really smother the ball early doors (I'm quite tall with a bigish stride).  Getting really over it and playing it solidly, letting the bowler know you could play him all day long should you want to.

Then I start playing the bowler on length.  I don't really leave the crease unless the match really dictates it.  I have a back foot punch through the off side that I use frequently to the back of a length balls.  The really short ones you can put basically anywhere, my usual one being a big aerial pick up on the leg side.

The fuller stuff I look to milk as much as I can.  Respect good length.

Also, use your crease.  Nothing works better at making a good length ball a back of a length one than standing deep in the crease.

Or stand deep in the crease and step forward as he's bowling, try and upset his rhythm.  Bare in mind all offy's want is a rhythm to just hit a length all day long.  Anything you can do to upset that is useful (it doesn't always have to be tracking them!)

Just my crazy ramblings.  I love playing off spin 

[WalkingWicket37]

@arsenal123 as an Offie you're the type of batsman I love bowling to!

I prefer bowling to someone looking to milk me and put a bad ball away to someone who just wants to block, it's more of a battle (and I enjoy it much more when I turn one through the gate to rattle the timbers! )
As for those who just like to try and slog everything they tend to get figured out quickly too so it's not really much of a contest! 

[Gurujames]

Try batting left handed, then you have leg spin again.
On a serious note it is all about picking the length and this only comes with experience and practice. However, if you are facing a good off spinner and he bowls in such a way that it is hard to pick the flight then I recommend a sweep. it will mean your front foot is a good way down the track and can't really be LBW. Get your pad in line with the ball and the only way you get get out is top edging it. If you play on a good track this will be minimised as you get used to the bounce. You may not like the shot but that is what nets are for.

[Buzz]

I recommend a sweep. it will mean your front foot is a good way down the track and can't really be LBW.

In Surrey Championship cricket, if you are hit on the pad sweeping an off-spinner the umpire usually has the finger up before the bowler has appealed!