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[Buzz]

Mark Butcher as an analyst makes Simon Hughes look rather ordinary...

This is really insightful about how to get your innings going and getting pace on the ball in a low risk way by cocking your wrists.

http://www1.skysports.com/cricket/ICC-World-Cup/features/20126/9739753/kumar-sangakkara-mark-butcher-examines-sri-lanka-legends-imperious-batting

What cocking your wrists does is gets the weight of the bat above your hands in a low movement way and helps your bat speed - but without your bottom hand over taking the shot.

Something to think about.

Edit - I forgot to say that is it something that as a hockey player I haven't ever had to think about before as it is similar to the way you hit a hockey ball with a flick of the wrists to control direction

[jwebber86]

I started doing this a couple of weeks ago after a coaching session. The coach was trying to get me to take my hands and shoulders back to help with the flow of the shot. I found this difficult so decided to cock my wrists just before the ball is bowled I found this works much better for myself. Just took a bit of being use to and the fact my wrist hurt after half hour against the machine

[Buzz]

queue a series of suggestions of wrist strengthening exercise jokes coming your way!!

[procricket]

Been working on this since i saw the program and mentioned it to @RF on here when we had a net and it works and i find it easier to hit down the ground doing this. I found the only real issue was speed and felt it took a little longer to get the bat down but will keep working on it

[arsenal123]

Has anybody else taken this up at a late stage.  How drastic the benefits/drawbacks?

[praguetaz]

I started 'cocking my wrists' at the end of last season to get the face of my bat square and to experiment with increasing bat speed.

I think it did help but only if you can adjust your timing and get your bat down quick enough for full length balls and yorkers. I intend to carry on with it this season in net training keeping a close eye on whether the bat face comes down straight or whether it's allowing me to hit on/off drives further away from the bowler into the gaps.

I've also removed my 2nd grips to get weight down to help with getting the bat down and swinging through more quickly, as I have wrists on the thin side, but until I get in nets I won't know if I've lost anything in the pick-up/balance of my bats which the 2nd grip helps to do. Saying that in my youth I used to be more 'wristy' in my shots which I think a 2nd grip has impeded the last 4/5 seasons.

[GarrettJ]

there is a fine line between cocking and twisting/rotating.

clench your fist and your wrist is cocked, moving your knuckles back towards your forearm is not cocking your wrists.

a quick test to get it right it to do a thumbs up with your wrtist limp, point your thumb straight down towards the ground ... it should stop because of your wrist. now put your thumb in the air and pull it back towards the inside fold of your elbow. the wrist is now cocked. put the bat in your hand and you will feel no strain on your wrists and it feels pretty light as the bat is pointing upwards

[arsenal123]

Sorry @GarrettJ can you explain that last bit again.  I got a touch lost there and am struggling to figure out what you're saying.  This isn't a criticism, likely me being stupid but I'm genuinely interested as I know you're a good player.

[praguetaz]

Sorry @GarrettJ can you explain that last bit again.  I got a touch lost there and am struggling to figure out what you're saying.  This isn't a criticism, likely me being stupid but I'm genuinely interested as I know you're a good player.

Get a bat in your hand 'arsenal123'.. just tried it and it seemed to work for me.. saying that my bat face wasn't facing square so not 100% sure which direction 'GarretJ's' bat  faces, which at the end of the day may not make any difference as lots of players have their own way of standing, holding their bats etc... I guess it depends on what feels comfortable for you...let's see what he comes back with..

[GarrettJ]

the bat face will never have the edge completely perpendicular to the ground unless your v is in line with the outside edge which is real old school caribbean style!

will probably be 45 degrees

[Stuey]

Ricky Ponting demonstrates this on his sky master classes, think its the 2nd one.

[Akewstick]

Just from what Mark Butcher was saying in that vid, he seems to imply it's only worthwhile or necessary against spin, when there's no pace on the ball to use to your advantage.

I've never tried this but that seems right to me, I wouldn't want that complication to my timing when facing anything with a bit of pace. I might give it a go though and see how I fare.

[RF]

Rob Key mentioned this as well, I think it was after Glenn Maxwell scored a few reverse sweeping and then hitting over mid wicket too.
I guess Eoin Morgan plays like this too (when he gets it off the square)

Seemed to work OK for Dave last week at nets

[jchokshi]

Sorry, but does anybody if how we can watch the video in USA? Looks like there's a region restriction.

Thanks,
Jay

[procricket]

Sorry can't do the sangga one here Ponting though

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb6nFAeM2FM