How to Bat & Bowl in Cricket

Batting styles and bowling actions in cricket are unique to the sport. Similarities with baseball are rare. For example, a batsman only runs after hitting the ball if he thinks he can reach the other end safely. He can bat for hours and score few runs. A bowler does not pitch, or throw, the ball--that is illegal. His arm must be straight at the elbow at the point of delivery.

Things You'll Need

  • Cricket bat
  • Protective equipment
  • Cricket ball
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Instructions

  1. Batting

    • 1

      Pick up the bat with your hands forming a V on the handle. Place your dominant hand on the bottom. Take guard from the umpire and mark that spot with a small line cutting the batting crease, which is parallel to the wickets.

    • 2

      Place your feet on either side of the batting crease, and rest the toe of the upright bat against your back foot and on the center mark. Look at the bowler along your shoulder. This is your stance.

    • 3

      Lift the bat back, to about horizontal, as the bowler's arm goes up for the delivery. This will give you time to bring it through for whatever stroke you want.

    • 4

      Move your feet. Step back toward the wickets if the ball is going to pitch too far away for you to reach it with one stride (this is a short delivery). Step out to good-length deliveries and defend, i,e. deaden the ball with soft hands. Play your early shots straight. When you are seeing the ball well, start attacking with shots square of the wicket.

    Bowling

    • 5

      Learn the basics with a one-step delivery. Stand at 90 degrees to your target. If you are right-handed, look along your left shoulder. If you are left-handed, look along your right shoulder and reverse the following instructions. Bring hands to your chest, left hand on right hand, and imagine a ball in the right hand.

    • 6

      Raise your left hand straight up and toward the target, still looking along your left shoulder. Keep a straight line down your left arm and through your right as it begins to rotate. In the same action step forward with your left foot. At the point of delivery, tuck your left arm into your body and bring your back foot through, taking another pace.

    • 7

      Practice this one-step delivery until you can bowl accurately, always keeping your elbow straight at the point of delivery.

    • 8

      Add a run-up to increase your delivery speed and give you rhythm and balance for accuracy. Fast bowlers need to run-up faster than spin bowlers, but even the slowest needs six to eight strides for rhythm. Most add a cross-over skip to get into their delivery stride.

    • 9

      Practice your run-up until it is second nature. Step it out, say nine paces, so you can put a mark down at the end of your run-up.