Print

[Ross]

To any sort of spin (left/right over/round off/leg) I take leg stump as I feel this way it opens up your playing cross batted shots and of course the trusty slog when the time comes.

To left arm over or right arm round I play them as if they are bowling straight at me so my bat will usually be around off stump because of this.

Against right arm over and left arm round I have middle and off because when I miss the ball it will hit my pad which still leaves me a chance of being given not out unlike being bowled. I do this because I trust myself off my pads too.

[Richie]

Bit complicated for me!!  It obviously works for you, but if a coach tried to tell me to do all of that i wouldn't bother.

[Chris1976]

Are Juniors taught about guards these days? I notice that 99% of our clubs juniors take middle stump... not got an issue with that guard really but just wondered if they had been told to take it... I get the impression they are taking it for the sake of any guard will do.

[Howzat]

I was never taught about guards - I just took middle as thats what everyone else did in U10's. More recently as I have learned through forums and reading books I have began to experiment with guards but never have I been taught or advised.

[Master-Basterd]

I bat on leg when the bowler is bowling around the wicket (easier to put through the offside), then for over the wicket, i take middle. often stray around a bit but oh well

[ianbuchanan]

i take middle, which is different to most of my mates my age. slightly off topic, but how does everyone mark out their guard? boot? bat? bail? do you mark it on the crease line, behind or in front?

[eaowbear]

I take 2 and always mark it out from the crease with my boot, although there was an occasion last year where a nipper decided to do a Chanderpaul and take the bail off which was different I suppose!

[ianbuchanan]

haha i've always wanted to do a 'Chanderpaul!'

[Chris1976]

I just mark it with my spikes.... I tend to re-take my guard whenever a new bowler comes on even if its the same guard as its my way of getting myself to concentrate again and part of my routine.

[Chrissy]

I just mark it out with my front spike on my boot starting from the front line on the crease.

[ianbuchanan]

iv got a habit of re marking my guard everytime the strike has changed!
for example if im off strike and i run a single, i naturally just mark my guard out straight away

[art]

There is a similar topic elsewhere at present.

It becomes a question of what is more important, your guard or your movement to play the ball and what you play at and what you let go.

From middle you can open or close your stance depending on how the bowling is bowling to you.

As an umpire there is almost nothing more annoying than someone wants to remark his guard constantly. lol. Middle is marked by the front spike, simple procedure.

[ianbuchanan]

i only ask the umpire for a guard once at the start of my innings, and just mark over the top of my original line.

[Apple]

I take 2, but my front foot is on two, my back on middle, so my bat is on off stump

[Dobbs]

Leg... stand outside leg... trigger movement means I end on leg.