Evolution in cricket never fades away. The techniques involved in cricket at present weren’t present in the beginning. It popped-in in the process of learning from every failure. The defence technique was brought in for survival in those uncovered pitches of those days. Likewise, everything would have had a first time, which has become the basic thing to play cricket.
Speaking of cricketing shots, they are made according to the demands of the situation. It is an instant process that gets the batter to decide when the ball is bowled within a fraction of seconds. So obviously, one needs perfect shots in his/her kit to have the run-making factor. The sword without effective shot-making is of no use.
Some basic shots should be definitely possessed by a batter. So let’s dig into the different types of shots and their making method.
Straight drive
Embed from Getty Images- The straight drive is played to send the ball towards the downtown.
- Mainly, the top hand has to do more contribution here.
- The head can either come slightly ahead of the front foot or stay in the line of the front foot while connecting the ball. It depends on the balance of the batter.
- The bat must be brought vertically down the ground to connect the overpitched ball on the stump line.
Bonus – The Evolution of Sachin Tendulkar’s straight drives!
Sweep shot
Embed from Getty Images- This shot is played against the good length ball of a spinner.
- The head leads the body towards the line of the ball, followed by the long stridden front foot and high backlift, which would bring the bat down horizontally.
- The wrist roll is essential according to the gap in which the ball is intended to play.
Bonus – Top Ten Sweep Shot Players in Cricket History!
Cover drive
Embed from Getty Images- The cover drive is the most elegant shot that pushes the ball towards the cover region.
- Anything pitched on a driving length and outside off is made for a cover drive.
- The cover driving process is similar to that of a straight drive.
- High elbow and body weight shifted to the balls of the front foot is the right way to deal with this shot.
Bonus: Top Ten Cover Drive Players in Cricket
Flick Shot
Embed from Getty Images- Flick shots are those to encounter the balls that are bowled onto the pads or that come in the middle and leg channel.
- This shot guides the ball towards the square leg or mid-wicket region.
- A steady press forward would bring the head in front of the knees- an essential factor in making this shot effective.
- The bat needs to be brought down as if playing an on-drive and the bat face has to be closed once the ball is connected. Hence, this shot has a lot to do with the flexible wrists.
Bonus: Top Ten Flick Shot Players in Cricket
Leg glance
Embed from Getty Images- Leg glance is one of the variants of Flick shot that sends the ball towards fine-leg or backward square-leg.
- For that, one needs his/her head over the knees.
- It can be played to those deliveries that are too leg for a Flick shot.
- A quick shift in the body weight to the front knee is needed so that the bat will have the required arc to guide the ball.
Bonus: 5 Shots that make Brian Lara Special!
Pull shot
Embed from Getty Images- Horizontal bat swing for the balls banged in short, rib high or chest high.
- The body weight must be shifted to the back foot as soon as the short ball is acknowledged.
- A higher backlift and extended bat swing give a classic reason to hear the magical sound of the sweet spot.
Bonus: Top Ten Pull Shot Players in Cricket
Hook shot
Embed from Getty Images- The hook shot is played to those deliveries that used to soar above the neck region.
- The technique is the same as that of the pull shot except for the bat swing, which goes horizontal and upwards, which would direct the ball over the fine-leg region.
- A batter would find it difficult to control this shot as the ball comes right on the face region or above, so it is better to give it full with the bat swing right on the ball to get it over the fence.
Bonus: 5 Shots that Make ABD Special!
Cut shot
Embed from Getty Images- Cut shots are to put off the back of the length ball, which comes well wide off.
- A good shuffle across off would help get into the ball’s line.
- Back foot dominated shot which needs quick horizontal bat throw on the ball towards the square of the wicket.
- Most importantly, the bat swing from high to the low is to make the necessary force for this shot.
Bonus: Top 5 Cricketing Shots of KL Rahul
Square drive
Embed from Getty Images- Driving length to a good length zone-wide off is required to make the square drive.
- A front foot oriented shot also requires equal balance from the back foot.
- Unlike cover drive, a batter doesn’t need to shift his/her body weight to the front foot. But the weight needs to be balanced between both legs.
- One needs to allow the ball to come in so that the connection of the ball can be made inside the body line.
