How to Be a Better Cricket Batter

A good cricket batter has quick reflexes, strength, speed and stamina, as well as the ability to see scoring opportunities. A cricket batter who wants to do to improve batting skill needs to perfect the basics and then take them to the next skill level.

Things You'll Need

  • Cricket bat
  • Helmet
  • Padding
  • Cricket ball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Grip the cricket bat with moderate tension: neither too lose nor too tight. The left hand should be on top of the grip, with the right hand below it, forming a V-shape with the thumbs. The dominant hand is usually on the bottom of the bat. Left-handed batters may switch hand placement.

    • 2

      Square up to the bowler, keeping a solid base between your feet and your shoulders. Keep your weight lightly on the balls of your feet, so you can transfer quickly between feet, depending on the length of the bat. Quick feet means you're able to play the ball better. Make sure any movement forward or back is complete before dropping the bat.

    • 3

      Watch the ball from the time it leaves the bowler's hand all the way up to when it meets the bat. Identify which is the shiny side and which is the rough side of the ball, as the rough side is easier to hit and direct into the field. Watch the bowler's wrist movement to determine the type and direction of the spin on the ball, so you can play it accordingly.

    • 4

      Strategize which deliveries to defend, leave or score off. There are five main lengths of delivery: bouncer/long hop, short of length, good length, full length/half volley and full toss. Know the shot that delivers the best hit on these throws.

    • 5

      Designate good batters for batting first and second, with the best batters up third and fourth. This allows some of the shine to be taken off the ball so the best batters can deliver hits out of the field.