Posture after the back foot defensive shot

Back foot defensive shot as the name suggests is a back foot shot usually played of a just shot good length delivery.Playing off the front foot of this just shot good length delivery will increase the risk of getting out.So, going backwards to meet the delivery will make you much comfortable and also it will aid you full control of the shot.

Play with soft hands, which means relax your hands on the bat handle that helps you to take the pace off the ball and reduces the chances of getting caught near the wicket.

How to play back foot defense in cricket?

Step1

The back foot should move back towards the stumps, but stay inside the line of the ball.The weight should be on the ball of the back foot, but the head should remain forward.

Step 2

Move the front foot towards the back leg, but remain side-on to the bowler.

Step 3

At the point of playing the shot, Swing the bat down, keeping the front elbow in a high position and with the full face of the bat directed straight down the wicket.The bat, angled slightly towards the pitch or ground, should make contact with the ball directly beneath the eyes.

Video showing back foot defense shot tips in cricket

Front foot defensive shot posture at the time of playing the shot

Front foot defence as the name suggests is a defensive shot meant mainly to block the cricket ball rather than to score runs.The front foot or forward defence is usually played off a good length delivery.

How to play the front foot defence?

Step 1

The head and front shoulder should lean into the line of the ball.The front leg should stride towards the pitch of the ball, bending to take the weight.The back leg remains straight.

Step 2

The bat should swing down and make contact with the ball beneath the eyes and the face of the bat should be angled towards the pitch.

Step 3

At the point of playing the shot, the bat should come forward slightly of the front leg and close to the batting pad.The heel of the back foot must be raised at the time of playing the shot, which is the finishing position rather than following through.

Video showing front foot defense tips

Dilshan playing his unique scoop shot

Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has described Tillakaratne Dilshan a worthy winner of player of the tournament award.

Thilakaratne Dilshan had got the player of the tournament award in the 2nd ICC Twenty-20 world cup tournament.The improvised scoop shot played by Dilshan has added more entertainment to the twenty-20 tournament, a compliment to Dilshan by Clive Lloyd.

Clive Lloyd also said that Dilshan is a real strength for the Sri Lankan cricket side and he also impressed everyone with his unique scoop shot which is difficult to explain how he plays the shot.

In the 2nd ICC Twenty-20 world cup tournament, Dilshan scored 317 runs at a strike-rate of 144.74 and an average above 52.He also hit more boundaries than any other player (46 fours and 3 sixes).

The Dilshan Shot

Back foot leg glance

The techniques behind the back foot leg glance is almost same as that of the front foot leg glance but it is played off the back foot.It is played when the ball bounces to the hip or waist height.This shot is played with the help of a little flick at the moment of impact with the ball.

How to play the Back foot leg glance

Step 1

To play this shot, move both feet back towards the stumps, opening your body out towards the ball.But make sure you keep your leg stump covered.Keep your head forward and in line with the ball.

Step 2

Bring the cricket bat straight and then slightly turn the face of the bat to the leg side at the moment of the contact with the ball.You have to make contact with the ball in front of the body.

Step 3

while glancing the ball away, control the shot with the top hand which also helps the ball to travel along the ground.

Sachin Tendulkar plays a front foot leg glance

Front foot leg glance is a straight batted front foot shot and it is played to the leg side with a mere flick of the wrists.

The front foot leg glance depends more on the deflection of bat and correct timing rather than a powerful stroke.The shot uses the pace of the bowler.The placement of the ball comes from the flick of the wrists at the time of impact, so the bat face is angled at the instant of connecting with the cricket ball.

Ensure that your head is over the ball, with your weight on your front foot while playing the shot.This helps to keep the ball on the ground.

How to play the Front foot leg glance

Step 1

Lean towards the line of the ball with head and front shoulder, placing the weight on the bent front leg.

Step 2

Bring the cricket bat as straight bat as possible.At the time of contact with the ball, turn the face of the bat slightly towards the leg side.connect the ball in front of the front pad.

Step 3

while glancing the ball away, control the shot with the top hand which also helps the ball to travel along the ground.

Video tips showing front foot leg glance

The stroke involves deflecting the bat-face towards the leg side at the last moment.According to the foot work, Leg Glance is classified into two, namely Front foot Leg Glance and Back foot Leg Glance.

Mike Gatting famous reverse sweep in the 1987 cricket World Cup final

Reverse sweep shot as the name suggests, it is opposite to that of sweep shot in cricket.Sweep shot is played to the leg side but a reverse sweep is played in the opposite direction that is to the off side, towards backward point or third man.The advantage of a reverse sweep is that it effectively reverses the fielding positions and thus is very difficult to set a field to.

Mushtaq Muhammed

Reverse Sweep was regularly played in the 1970s by the Pakistani batsman Mushtaq Mohammad.But it is said that Mushtaq’s brother Hanif Mohammad invented this shot.Late English player Bob Woolmer has been credited with popularising the stroke.Damien Martyn of Australia has been said to have “the most brutal reverse-sweep in the game”.

Hanif Mohammad

The reverse sweep is usually played by premeditating the shot.Sometimes this will end up in losing your own wicket.So you must have to be confident in yourself to play this shot.constant practise is needed to develop the reflex action to play the reverse sweep.

Bob Woolmer